afflict
3 uses
She is afflicted by diabetes.
afflicted = made to suffer
Definition
Generally afflict means:cause suffering — such as illness, pain, or unhappiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
agony
1 use
She was in agony from a toothache.
agony = intense suffering
Definition
Generally agony means:intense feelings of suffering — can be from mental or physical pain
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
compassion
2 uses
If I see one hungry child, I feel compassion, but when I hear of a million hungry children, I'm overwhelmed and turn my mind to other things.
compassion = sympathy for another's suffering and wanting to help
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
conscious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
environmentally conscious
She prides herself on being socially conscious.
conscious = aware and concerned
Definition
Generally this sense of conscious means:aware or concerned about something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 24 uses in 10 avg bks |
conspiracy
1 use
She discovered a conspiracy to overthrow the government.
conspiracy = a secret agreement or plot
Definition
Generally conspiracy means:a secret agreement or plot — especially to do something illegal or harmful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
contrived
1 use
The novel has a contrived ending.
contrived = unnatural seeming (due to careful planning)
Definition
Generally contrived means:unnatural seeming (due to careful planning)
or more rarely:
arranged (that something should happen)
or more rarely:
arranged (that something should happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
despise
1 use
She despises the people he has to work for.
despises = dislikes strongly and looks down upon
Definition
Generally despise means:to dislike strongly and to look down upon with disrespect
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
disheveled
1 use
Her clothing was disheveled.
disheveled = messy (not properly in place)
Definition
Generally disheveled means:messy (untidy or disordered) — especially of a person's clothes and hair
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
dissipate
1 use
Airborne radiation dissipates over time and distance.
dissipates = gradually disappears
Definition
Generally dissipate means:to gradually disappear; or to gradually waste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
endure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
endured the pain
I endured insult and injury without complaint.
endured = suffered through
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
intuitive
1 use
The were perfect partners—one highly intuitive and the other highly analytical.
intuitive = known instinctively rather than through reasoning
Definition
Generally intuitive means:based on feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning
or:
easy to understand without training or study
or:
easy to understand without training or study
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
minute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
minute size
Don't eat a lot of poppy seeds for a few days before a drug test. They have a minute amount of a chemical that can cause a false positive when testing for heroin use.
minute = tiny
Definition
Generally this sense of minute means:small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
mortgage
1 use
We are the proud owners of a new home and a $100,000 mortgage.
mortgage = property loan
Definition
Generally mortgage means:a real estate loan; or to offer real estate as collateral for a loan
(collateral is something that has to be given to the lender if the loan isn't paid as agreed)
(collateral is something that has to be given to the lender if the loan isn't paid as agreed)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
obstinate
1 use
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
postpone
1 use
Due to her illness, we postponed our vacation for a week.
postponed = delayed until a later time
Definition
Generally postpone means:delay until a later time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
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 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.
resignation = (accepted) something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
reticent
1 use
She was reticent initially, but eventually she opened up.
reticent = reluctant to speak
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
solemn
1 use
He took a solemn oath.
solemn = very serious
Definition
Generally solemn means:in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
tantalize
1 use
I have to walk past the bakery with its tantalizing aromas.
tantalizing = making someone excited about getting something — especially something they can't get
Definition
Generally tantalize means:to make someone excited about getting something — often something they cannot get
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |