acquiesce
1 use
She is opposed, but will ultimately acquiesce to the will of the majority.
acquiesce = reluctantly accept
Definition
Generally acquiesce means:reluctant or unenthusiastic compliance, consent, or agreement
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
ardent
1 use
I am her most ardent fan.
ardent = enthusiastic (feeling intense emotion)
Definition
Generally ardent means:showing or feeling intense emotion — typically strong positive feelings such as enthusiasm or love
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
askance
1 use
He looked askance at the offer.
askance = with disapproval, distrust, or suspicion
Definition
Generally askance means:with disapproval, distrust, or suspicion
or:
directed to one side — especially a sideways glance
or:
directed to one side — especially a sideways glance
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 2 |
confound
2 uses
She confounded her critics.
confounded = frustrated
Definition
Generally 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
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
conscientious
3 uses
She is conscientious in the lab.
conscientious = careful and thorough
Definition
Generally conscientious means:careful to do what is right—especially to perform duties in a thorough manner (as when guided by conscience)
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
deference
1 use
They changed their strategy in deference to the President's wishes.
deference = respect
Definition
Generally deference means:polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Act 4 |
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
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
derive
1 use
She likes to win, but she doesn't derive pleasure from watching others lose.
derive = get
Definition
Generally 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.)
(If the context doesn't otherwise indicate where something came from, it is generally from reasoning—especially deductive reasoning.)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Act 2 |
disinclined
1 use
She is disinclined to spend money while she is still in debt.
disinclined = reluctant
Definition
Generally disinclined means:feeling reluctant to do something
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 2 |
exorbitant
1 use
The rent in that building is exorbitant.
exorbitant = a lot more than is reasonable or typical
Definition
Generally exorbitant means:a lot more than is reasonable or typical — often said of price
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 2 |
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)
Definition
Generally 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
Book | 1 use |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Act 1 |
indigent
1 use
We serve meals and provide shelter for the indigent.
indigent = poor people who lack basic necessities like food and shelter
Definition
Generally indigent means:so poor as to lack basic necessities like food and shelter; or people in that condition
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 5 |
obstinate
2 uses
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 2 |
persecution
1 use
Everyone knows about the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis.
persecution = very bad and unfair treatment
Definition
Generally persecution means:very bad and unfair treatment of others — usually because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political beliefs
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Act 2 |
prolific
1 use
She is a prolific artist.
prolific = producing abundantly
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
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 | Act 2 |
reproach
2 uses
She reproached him for being thoughtless and lazy.
reproached = criticized
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Act 2 |
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)
Definition
Generally tacit means:implied or understood, but not expressed directly
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
temperate
1 use
Northern Florida is temperate; while the south is subtropical.
temperate = lacking extremes (in this case, in weather)
Definition
Generally temperate means:lacking extremes — especially of weather, climate, or behavior
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 2 |
testimonial
3 uses
Her testimonial for the candidate was especially persuasive.
testimonial = statement that serves as evidence
Definition
Generally testimonial means:something that recommends (or expresses commendation) — especially a verbal statement
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |