anguish
4 uses
He saw the anguish in Miles's eyes, and Brian was reminded of the way Miles had looked at Missy's funeral, trying and failing to make sense of all that had happened.
anguish = suffering
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
apathy
1 use
The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy, rooted in the numbing realization that she'd never really known him at all.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
coherent
1 use
Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world, and though Miles needed to talk to him, he wanted him to at least seem coherent.
coherent = able to think clearly
Definition
Generally coherent means:sensible and clear; or describing parts as fitting together in a consistent or pleasing manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
compulsion
6 uses
With the compulsion gone, I thought I had put the nightmare behind me.
compulsion = a strong (possibly uncontrollable) urge to do something
Definition
Generally compulsion means:a strong (possibly uncontrollable) urge to do something; or a force or a requirement that forces an action
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
corroborate
4 uses
If he corroborates the story, we could cut a deal so he testifies.
corroborates = supports (tells a story consistent with)
Definition
Generally corroborate means:to support an opinion — typically with additional evidence or testimony
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
diligent
2 uses
Kids matured at different rates, and some kids practiced with more diligence.
diligence = 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 7 |
evade
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
evade the question
"I don't know yet," she said evasively.
evasively = in a manner that avoided answering directly
Definition
Generally this sense of evade means:to avoid or try to avoid either a responsibility or telling the whole truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
implication
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the implication is that...
The tone he used and the obvious implications made the hairs on the back of Miles's neck suddenly stand on end.
implications = things suggested indirectly or that logically follow
Definition
Generally this sense of implication means:Something that follows from something else.
The thing that follows could be:
- something suggested indirectly (not said directly)
- something that can be concluded (often a logical consequence)
- something that results from something else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
It just seemed so ironic, you know? I'd spent my early twenties trying not to get pregnant. I used to panic if I forgot to take my birth control pills. I never even considered that I might not be able to have children.
ironic = 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
mitigate
1 use
He'd been a minor when it happened; there were mitigating circumstances, the judge would acknowledge his sorrow and take pity.
mitigating = making less harmful
Definition
Generally mitigate means:make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |
objective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an objective viewpoint
As soon as Brian began, Miles slipped into a different posture, that of someone who wanted to listen objectively, without interruption, the way he'd been trained as a sheriff.
objectively = without bias (the influence of personal feelings or preferences)
Definition
Generally this sense of objective means:fact-based without the influence of personal feelings or preferences
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
oblivious
8 uses
Jonah and Mark raced by again, oblivious to their presence.
oblivious = unaware of
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
ominous
4 uses
Her voice took on a more ominous tone.
ominous = threatening
Definition
Generally ominous means:threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
parole
2 uses
Instead of finishing the year he still had to serve, he was placed on probation and told to report to a parole officer.
parole officer = person responsible for seeing that special conditions are met by a person who was released from prison early
Definition
Generally this sense of parole means:conditional early release from imprisonment in which a person is required to comply with special conditions
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
persist
3 uses
She reached for Sarah's hand again, and even though Sarah pulled it away at first, she persisted until Sarah relented.
persisted = continued despite difficulty
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
satiate
1 use
The urge to watch them would be satiated and guilt would set in, and on those evenings, I would despise what I had done.
satiated = filled to satisfaction
Definition
Generally satiate means:to satisfy a hunger; or fill to satisfaction (typically said of hunger for food, but can be said of anything desired—such as of knowledge or sensual pleasure)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
scrutiny
1 use
She'd been avoiding her mother's curious scrutiny all morning.
scrutiny = careful look or inspection
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 27 |
skeptical
2 uses
Sarah raised a skeptical eyebrow.
skeptical = doubtful (that something is true)
Definition
Generally skeptical means:doubtful (that something is true or worthwhile)
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
suppress
6 uses
Miles's face began to twitch with barely suppressed rage.
suppressed = kept under control
Definition
Generally suppress means:trying to keep under control
The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example:
- "suppressed the revolution" — to stop others from doing something by force
- "suppressed a smile" — kept something from happening
- "suppressed the story" — kept news from spreading
- "suppressed her fear" — controlled an emotion
- "suppressed the memory" — avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
testify
9 uses
I don't testify, and I remain anonymous.
testify = provide oral evidence in court
Definition
Generally testify means:provide evidence of something — especially to say something under oath in a court of law
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |