acrimony
1 use
The meeting ended in acrimony.
acrimony = anger
Definition
Generally acrimony means:anger—often accompanied by bitterness
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
amorous
2 uses
She rejected his amorous advances.
amorous = romantic or sexual
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 2 |
byline
1 use
They moved her byline from the bottom of the article to the top.
byline = printed line giving the name of the writer of an article
Definition
Generally this sense of byline means:a line giving the name of the writer of an article — typically at the top of the article
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 2 |
caustic
1 use
Don't get it on your skin. It's caustic.
caustic = harsh or capable of hurting skin (like a strong acid)
Definition
Generally caustic means:of a chemical substance: corrosive; capable of destroying or eating away such as a strong acid
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
contentious
1 use
We started with the most contentious item on the agenda.
contentious = likely to cause disagreement
Definition
Generally contentious means:causing or likely to cause disagreement; or argumentative
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 26 |
correspond
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a correspondence course
She took a correspondence course while she was in prison.
correspondence = done from afar via written communication
Definition
Generally this sense of correspondence means:done from afar
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
fatuous
1 use
We could always count on her to make a fatuous remark about the day's headlines.
fatuous = unintelligent
Definition
Generally fatuous means:without intelligence — often implying a smugness or complacency
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 21 |
flaccid
2 uses
His flaccid handshake, didn't fill me with confidence.
flaccid = lacking firmness or strength
Definition
Generally flaccid means:lacking in firmness or strength
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 24 |
foreshadow
1 use
The author is known for creative use of foreshadowing.
foreshadowing = using events as signs of future events
Definition
Generally foreshadow means:to be a sign of future events
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Chapter 34 |
gullible
1 use
She looks for gullible tourists who are easily separated from their money.
gullible = easily tricked because of being too trusting
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
immutable
1 use
It is an immutable law of physics.
immutable = unchangeable
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 13 |
inextricable
1 use
the inextricable tie between culture, religion, and politics
inextricable = impossible to disentangle
Definition
Generally inextricable means:impossible to extract, disentangle, or avoid; or hopelessly intricate
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 15 |
inquest
1 use
The coroner's inquest ruled the death a homicide.
inquest = formal inquiry or investigation
Definition
Generally inquest means:a formal inquiry or investigation — typically into the cause of an undesirable event — often an investigation of an unexpected death
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 21 |
limber
1 use
Yoga has helped me to become more limber.
limber = flexible
Definition
Generally this sense of limber means:of a person's body: flexible (capable of moving, bending, and stretching easily)
or:
readily adaptable — especially of someone's mind
or:
readily adaptable — especially of someone's mind
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 18 |
obsolete
1 use
My mother still has a twenty-year-old obsolete computer in storage.
obsolete = no longer in general use because it was replaced by something better
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Chapter 34 |
pugnacious
1 use
Nicknamed, "The Pit Bull", he is known as a pugnacious supporter of workers' rights.
pugnacious = quick to fight or argue
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 5 |
recidivism
1 use
The recidivism rate for sexual predators is very high.
recidivism = habitual relapse into a negative behavior
Definition
Generally recidivism means:habitual relapse into a negative behavior — such as crime or substance abuse
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 3 |
tacit
2 uses
There was a tacit understanding that Jessica would play good cop and Tyler would play bad cop.
tacit = implied (not directly said, but understood)
Definition
Generally tacit means:implied or understood, but not expressed directly
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 13 |
variant
1 use
It was a variant of the same old story.
variant = something a little different from others of the same type
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 36 |
veto
1 use
Congress passed the legislation, but the President vetoed it.
vetoed = blocked (prevented it from taking effect)
Definition
Generally veto means:to exercise the right to override another's decision by preventing their intended action
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 26 |