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An Enemy of the People

Extra Credit Words with Typical Sample Sentences

instructions
acquiesce
1 use
She is opposed, but will ultimately acquiesce to the will of the majority.
acquiesce = reluctantly accept
DefinitionGenerally acquiesce means:
reluctant or unenthusiastic compliance, consent, or agreement
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 1
Web Links
ardent
1 use
I am her most ardent fan.
ardent = enthusiastic (feeling intense emotion)
DefinitionGenerally ardent means:
showing or feeling intense emotion — typically strong positive feelings such as enthusiasm or love
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library4 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 4
Web Links
askance
1 use
He looked askance at the offer.
askance = with disapproval, distrust, or suspicion
DefinitionGenerally askance means:
with disapproval, distrust, or suspicion

or:

directed to one side — especially a sideways glance
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 2
Web Links
confound
2 uses
She confounded her critics.
confounded = frustrated
DefinitionGenerally confound means:
to confuse, prove wrong, frustrate, or express frustration
in various senses, including:
confuse or surprise — sometimes specifically to confuse one thing with another
  • "confounded by the puzzle" — confused or perplexed
  • "Test results confounded the experts." — surprised and confused
  • "Do not confound confidence with correctness." — mistake one thing for another
prove wrong, defeat, or frustrate
  • "The test results confounded my theory." — proved wrong
  • "Their defense confounded our offense." — defeated or frustrated
make worse
  • "She confounded the problem by painting without sanding." — made worse
  • "The task is complicated by other confounding factors." — making worse
an exclamation expressing anger or frustration
  • "Confound it! Will I ever get this thing to work?"
  • "I don't understand the confounded directions!"
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 4
Web Links
conscientious
3 uses
She is conscientious in the lab.
conscientious = careful and thorough
DefinitionGenerally conscientious means:
careful to do what is right—especially to perform duties in a thorough manner (as when guided by conscience)
Word Statistics
Book3 uses
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 1
Web Links
deference
1 use
They changed their strategy in deference to the President's wishes.
deference = respect
DefinitionGenerally deference means:
polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library5 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 500
1st useAct 4
Web Links
depravity
2 uses
It is a terrible story of an innocent who trusted a man who treated her with ruthless depravity.
depravity = immorality or evilness
DefinitionGenerally depravity means:
complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 4
Web Links
derive
1 use
She likes to win, but she doesn't derive pleasure from watching others lose.
derive = get
DefinitionGenerally derive means:
to get something from something else

(If the context doesn't otherwise indicate where something came from, it is generally from reasoning—especially deductive reasoning.)
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library5 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useAct 2
Web Links
disinclined
1 use
She is disinclined to spend money while she is still in debt.
disinclined = reluctant
DefinitionGenerally disinclined means:
feeling reluctant to do something
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 2
Web Links
exorbitant
1 use
The rent in that building is exorbitant.
exorbitant = a lot more than is reasonable or typical
DefinitionGenerally exorbitant means:
a lot more than is reasonable or typical — often said of price
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 2
Web Links
external
1 use
External trade makes up almost half of the country's economy.
external = outside (in this case, trade with people and companies in other countries)
DefinitionGenerally external means:
outside
in various senses, including:
  • coming from or existing outside a place, organization or thing — as in "external trade"
  • forming or relating to an outside boundary — as in "external walls"
  • on the surface or superficial as contrasted to something that is deep or complete — as in "external appearances"
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library6 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
1st useAct 1
Web Links
indigent
1 use
We serve meals and provide shelter for the indigent.
indigent = poor people who lack basic necessities like food and shelter
DefinitionGenerally indigent means:
so poor as to lack basic necessities like food and shelter; or people in that condition
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 5
Web Links
obstinate
2 uses
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 2
Web Links
persecution
1 use
Everyone knows about the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis.
persecution = very bad and unfair treatment
DefinitionGenerally persecution means:
very bad and unfair treatment of others — usually because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political beliefs
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library5 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 2000
1st useAct 2
Web Links
prolific
1 use
She is a prolific artist.
prolific = producing abundantly
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 1
Web Links
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
Book1 use
Library0 uses in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 2
Web Links
reproach
2 uses
She reproached him for being thoughtless and lazy.
reproached = criticized
DefinitionGenerally reproach means:
a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 2000
1st useAct 2
Web Links
tacit
1 use
There was a tacit understanding that Jessica would play good cop and Tyler would play bad cop.
tacit = implied (not directly said, but understood)
DefinitionGenerally tacit means:
implied or understood, but not expressed directly
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 4
Web Links
temperate
1 use
Northern Florida is temperate; while the south is subtropical.
temperate = lacking extremes (in this case, in weather)
DefinitionGenerally temperate means:
lacking extremes — especially of weather, climate, or behavior
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 2
Web Links
testimonial
3 uses
Her testimonial for the candidate was especially persuasive.
testimonial = statement that serves as evidence
DefinitionGenerally testimonial means:
something that recommends (or expresses commendation) — especially a verbal statement
Word Statistics
Book3 uses
Library1 use in 10 avg bks
1st useAct 1
Web Links
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