affirm
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
her actions affirm my concerns
...while the large, deep-brown eyes fixed on me in a mixture of appeal and affirmation.
affirmation = support
Definition
Generally this sense of affirm means:to demonstrate support or demonstrate the truth of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
apathy
1 use
between curiosity and apathy
apathy = lack of interest
Definition
Generally apathy means:lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
candid
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
your candid opinion
But candor compelled me to admit that there hadn't been much of an evening to ruin.
candor = honesty and directness
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
complacent
4 uses
I should not be too complacent because...
complacent = contented (unworried and satisfied)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
contempt
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
"His contempt for me is a shield," Cass wrote.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
decorum
6 uses
Sadie would treat the Boss with an icy decorum, meeting him only and strictly in the course of business, standing quietly before him while he talked.
decorum = proper manners and conduct
Definition
Generally decorum means:manners and conduct considered to be proper and in good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
dubious
2 uses
Mr. Simms seemed dubious, promised to do what he could, and then said, "But nine outa ten you won't git her, Mister."
dubious = doubtful
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
eccentric
2 uses
Easy now, it's no disgrace. It's just eccentric. ... That you can't see somebody with something broken without wanting to fix it.
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
fastidious
3 uses
...slowly and fastidiously as though you were peeling an endless strip of skin off the live flesh.
fastidiously = with careful attention to detail
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
And the skin will be inclined to break down.
inclined = with a tendency
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
2 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
Adam inclined his head in acceptance, and went out.
inclined = bent
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
And the perfect mathematical irony of it—the perfect duplication of what Duffy had done—struck me, and I felt like laughing out loud.
irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
2 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
But her irony was not the sort of thing Tom Stark would hear or understand, for he...
irony = saying one thing while meaning something else
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
recollect
19 uses
Then I recollected how he'd done right well in his law practice.
recollected = remembered
Definition
Generally recollect means:to remember — especially experiences from long ago
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
reprehensible
1 use
...it is most reprehensible that those responsible for this agreement should have been so lax in their protection of the public interest as to accept...
reprehensible = bad and unacceptable
Definition
Generally reprehensible means:bad — deserving severe criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
reproach
7 uses
He appeared at the bathroom door, braced against the door-jamb, staring at me with a face of sad reproach bedewed with the glitter of cold sweat.
reproach = criticism
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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
repudiate
2 uses
Maybe somebody might give Callahan a little shovelful on somebody else and Callahan might grow a conscience all of a sudden and repudiate his endorser.
repudiate = strongly reject
Definition
Generally repudiate means:strong rejection — especially when the idea or thing being rejected was once embraced
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
He resigned as Attorney General to become counsel and vice-president for the American Electric Power Company,
resigned = quit (a job)
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:to quit — especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
I am resigned to it all now, Jack.
resigned = having 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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
scrutiny
2 uses
She was still scrutinizing my face.
scrutinizing = looking at very carefully
(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.)
(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.)
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |