Invisible Man — Vocabulary
Ralph Ellison
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Exemplary sample	Uses	Broad Use
	1	top 1000
profounddeep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence She shared a profound way of thinking about the problem.more Show sample from book what profound conclusions were they drawing?18 more deep or far-reaching in intellect or insight
	18	top 1000
profound#2intense (of great emotional depth) Her apology was heartfelt--expressing profound sorrow and regret.more Show sample from book with profound respect18 more of great intensity Show general definition for profound (as in: profound sadness) of greatest intensity or emotional depth
	12	top 100
contradictdisagree with Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more Show sample from book I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory.†11 more contradict → contradictory:in disagreement Show general definition disagree in various senses, including: to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony." to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened." to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
	10	top 500
integritystrong moral principles They agreed to have her judge the contest because everyone admires her integrity.more Show sample from book My ambition and integrity were nothing to them9 more having strong moral principles Show general definition for integrity (as in: a person of high integrity) having strong moral principles -- especially honesty
	9	top 200
subtlemaking use of slight distinctions She used subtle reasoning to expose the absurdity of his argument.more Show sample from book Sometimes it appeared as though they played some vast and complicated game with me and the rest of the school folk, a game whose goal was laughter and whose rules and subtleties I could never grasp.8 more subtle → subtleties:distinctions that are hard to notice Show general definition for subtle (as in: a subtle difference or thinker) not obvious, but noticeable with enough insight and knowledge or: able to notice or understand things that require insight and sensitivity
	13	top 2000
anguishpain I felt unbearable anguish when my 4-year-old child died from brain cancer.more Show sample from book For, despite my anguish and anger, I knew of no other way of living,12 more extreme pain, suffering, or distress Show general definition extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
	7	top 100
neverthelessdespite that (used to connect contrasting ideas) The class was hard. Nevertheless, it was my favorite.more Show sample from book Nevertheless, I know now that few really listen to this music.†6 more Show general definition despite that Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 was just stated, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
	11	top 2000
denouncepublicly condemn Leaders gathered to denounce the cruel new law as a violation of human rights.more Show sample from book ...they denounced the American scene as corrupt and degenerate,10 more denounce → denounced:strongly and publicly criticized Show general definition to strongly criticize or accuse publicly or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
	11	top 1000
expelexpel → expulsion:the act of forcing out (in this case, kicking someone out of school) Her records show expulsion from two schools.more Show sample from book I thought of the glee certain folks at home would feel if I were expelled.†10 more expel → expelled:forced out Show general definition force out especially in 2 primary senses: kicking someone out of an organization -- such as a school or country squeezing something to eliminate a liquid or gas
	9	top 1000
distortalter in an unnatural or untrue way These sunglasses distort my vision.more Show sample from book Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows, it is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass.†8 more distort → distorting:to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way Show general definition to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
	9	top 1000
eloquenteloquent → eloquence:powerful use of language Her eloquence is unquestioned even amongst those who disagree with her.more Show sample from book I had no words and no eloquence, and when Ras thundered, "Hang him!" I stood there facing them, and it seemed unreal.8 more Show general definition powerful use of language
	7	top 200
malicemalice → malicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more Show sample from book Heretofore all the campus gossip had seemed merely malicious and disrespectful; now I could see the advantage for Dr. Bledsoe.†6 more malice → malicious:the intention or desire to see others suffer Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
	8	top 1000
tauttight The string is pulled taut.more Show sample from book The dozen white-gloved hands waiting taut upon the silken ropes.†7 more pulled or drawn tight; OR subjected to great tension Show general definition pulled or drawn tight; or: subjected to great tension
	24
evictioneviction → evicted:forced someone to leave their home The owner evicted the tenants because they didn't pay their rent.more Show sample from book You were legally evicted.23 more eviction → evicted:forced to move from your home Show general definition the process of forcing someone to leave a place -- typically from a home due to non-payment
	5	top 2000
stolidemotionless She listened to both arguments thoughtfully, but with a face as stolid as a cow's.more Show sample from book I stood beneath his photograph with my brief case in hand and smiled triumphantly into his stolid black peasant's face.†4 more having or revealing little emotion Show general definition having or revealing little emotion -- sometimes indicating qualities of not changing or being dependable or (much more rarely): of an object: not interesting -- often large and unmoving
	3	top 200
inhibitinhibit → inhibits:slows or prevents The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.more Show sample from book Somehow I felt that Bledsoe and Norton were behind it, and all day I was inhibited in both speech and conduct, for fear that I might say or do something scandalous.2 more inhibit → inhibited:limited Show general definition for inhibit (as in: inhibited the growth of...) to limit the activity of someone or something
	5
sensuouspleasing to the physical senses (sexy) She claims the tango as the most sensuous of dance forms.more Show sample from book A clarinet was vibrating sensuously and the men were standing up and moving eagerly forward.†4 more sensuous → sensuously:in a way that relates to physical pleasure Show general definition relating to pleasure from the body's senses rather than from the intellect
	5
pawn shopa shop that offers loans to people who use their personal property as collateral She put up her wedding ring at the pawn shop to get a 1-week loan so she could fix her car.more Show sample from book THE district offices were located in a converted church structure, the main floor of which was occupied by a pawn shop, its window crammed with loot that gleamed dully in the darkened street.†4 more a shop that offers loans to individuals who use their personal property as collateral Show general definition a shop that either offers loans to individuals who use their personal property as collateral, or that purchases the personal property outright Show editor's word notes At a pawn shop, collateral refers to personal property of the borrower that that is left at the pawn shop. If the loan isn't repaid with interest, the pawn shop keeps (the property an sells it to someone else. Otherwise, the property is returned to the borrower.
	1	top 1000
sublimeimpressively wonderful I love good movies, from the silly to the sublime.more Show sample from book Was she calling me beautiful or boogieful, beautiful or sublime ….1 more Show general definition for sublime (as in: she is sublime) impressively wonderful -- often beautiful or morally admirable
	1	top 1000
sublime#2pure or extreme With a sublime ignorance of human nature, she set out to save the world.more Show sample from book No indeed, the world is just as concrete, ornery, vile and sublimely wonderful as before, only now I better understand my relation to it and it to me.1 more sublime → sublimely:extremely