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The Perfect Game

Top-Ranked Words with Typical Sample Sentences

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admonish
4 uses
He admonished the child for his bad behavior
admonished = expressed disapproval
DefinitionGenerally admonish means:
to express disapproval to someone of their actions; or to warn or advise someone
Word Statistics
Book4 uses
Library4 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 2000
1st useChapter 1.4
Web Links
anarchy
2 uses
It's not the government I want, but it's better than anarchy.
anarchy = the complete absence of political authority
DefinitionGenerally anarchy means:
the complete absence of political authority; or more generally, complete absence of order
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 2000
1st useChapter 1.3
Web Links
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
Book2 uses
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useChapter 1.5
Web Links
austere
1 use
He took a vow of silence and leads an austere life at the monastery.
austere = lacking luxury (and stern)
DefinitionGenerally austere means:
a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration

or:

of a person:  stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st usePro.
Web Links
candid
1 use
1  —1 use as in:
a candid photograph
A photographer will take traditional wedding pictures. I'm just going to get some candid shots.
candid = unposed
DefinitionGenerally this sense of candid means:
unposed — typically said of a photograph
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useChapter 3.24
Web Links
complacent
1 use
She had become complacent after years of success.
complacent = unworried and satisfied
DefinitionGenerally complacent means:
contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useChapter 1.2
Web Links
diligent
1 use
She's the kind of diligent worker we want to hire.
diligent = showing hard work and care
DefinitionGenerally this sense of diligent means:
hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library5 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useChapter 3.20
Web Links
disdain
2 uses
She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority.
disdain = lack of respect
DefinitionGenerally disdain means:
a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority

or:

to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 500
1st useChapter 2.15
Web Links
disparage
1 use
She has a reputation for disparaging the efforts of her co-workers.
disparaging = criticizing or making seem less important
DefinitionGenerally disparage means:
to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 500
1st useChapter 1.2
Web Links
divine
1 use
1  —1 use as in:
to forgive is divine
Her pies are divine.
divine = wonderful
DefinitionGenerally this sense of divine means:
wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library8 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useChapter 3.20
Web Links
elicit
7 uses
Her comments elicited public outrage.
elicited = brought out in response
DefinitionGenerally elicit means:
get or bring out in response — such as information or a feeling
Word Statistics
Book7 uses
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useChapter 1.4
Web Links
forfeit
9 uses
We had to forfeit the deposit.
forfeit = lose
DefinitionGenerally forfeit means:
to lose or surrender something — often as a penalty
Word Statistics
Book9 uses
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useChapter 2.19
Web Links
interject
9 uses
"That's not true," she interjected.
interjected = inserted (a comment)
DefinitionGenerally interject means:
to quickly insert a comment that interrupts what another is saying

or more rarely and more generally:  to insert — as in "She interjects religion into politics," or "She interjects herself into my business."
Word Statistics
Book9 uses
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
1st usePro.
Web Links
mitigate
1 use
Don't judge her so harshly until you consider the mitigating circumstances.
mitigating = serving to make less harmful or unpleasant
DefinitionGenerally mitigate means:
make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useChapter 1.2
Web Links
pervasive
3 uses
We were losing 35 to 0 at halftime and there was a pervasive sense of gloom in the locker room.
pervasive = existing throughout something
DefinitionGenerally pervasive means:
existing throughout something; or generally widespread
Word Statistics
Book3 uses
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useChapter 2.9
Web Links
pious
2 uses
1  —2 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
The cartoon with a drawing of Muhammad outraged many pious Muslims.
pious = highly religious
DefinitionGenerally this sense of pious means:
religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st usePro.
Web Links
revere
1 use
Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
revere = deeply respect and admire
DefinitionGenerally revere means:
regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library11 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useChapter 2.15
Web Links
satiate
1 use
The candy satiated my craving for sugar.
satiated = satisfied
DefinitionGenerally 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
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 500
1st useChapter 2.11
Web Links
savor
7 uses
Savor the soup.
savor = take pleasure from
DefinitionGenerally savor means:
to take great pleasure from; or the pleasure or flavor enjoyed
Word Statistics
Book7 uses
Library11 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useChapter 2.12
Web Links
scrutiny
1 use
She scrutinized her reflection in the mirror.
scrutinized = looked very carefully at

(editor's note:  The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
DefinitionGenerally scrutiny means:
careful examination of something
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library10 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useChapter 2.10
Web Links
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