accentuate
1 use
It's a difficult situation, but she accentuates the positive and does not get overwhelmed.
accentuates = emphasizes
Definition
Generally accentuate means:to emphasize or draw attention to — possibly to emphasize by increasing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
acknowledge
7 uses
She acknowledged that she might have forgotten.
acknowledged = admitted
Definition
Generally acknowledge means:express recognition of someone or something; or admit something
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
amnesia
2 uses
The movie is about a woman who suffers amnesia and doesn't even remember her husband.
amnesia = loss of memory
Definition
Generally amnesia means:loss of memory (partial or total)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
cajole
2 uses
She is working to convince, cajole, and pressure other Representatives to vote for the bill.
cajole = gently persuade
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
confront
13 uses
You must confront your problems.
confront = deal directly with an unpleasant situation
Definition
Generally confront means:to deal directly with an unpleasant situation or person
or:
to challenge someone — often by presenting evidence
or:
to challenge someone — often by presenting evidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 27 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
denotes
2 uses
The asterisk ("*") denotes a footnote.
denotes = indicates
Definition
Generally denotes means:means literally; or indicates
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
digress
1 use
She always digresses when telling a story.
digresses = wanders from a direct course
Definition
Generally digress means:wander from a direct or straight course — typically verbally
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 7 |
emerge
12 uses
China recently emerged as a world power.
emerged = came out (became)
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
expedient
1 use
It was a necessary expedient to get the job done.
expedient = a speedy or practical action
(The word necessary, implies that there were undesired aspects of the action.)
(The word necessary, implies that there were undesired aspects of the action.)
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 9 |
fastidious
1 use
She is fastidious in her work.
fastidious = careful and attentive 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 7 |
grovel
1 use
She wasn't content just to win. She wanted to see me grovel.
grovel = show complete submission
Definition
Generally grovel means:to show submission or fear — sometimes by crawling or lying face down
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
inevitable
1 use
It is as inevitable as death and taxes.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 9 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
She was being ironic when she said she couldn't wait to see you again.
ironic = saying one thing, while meaning the opposite
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 | Part 6 |
malevolent
1 use
She tells vicious lies and spreads malevolent rumors.
malevolent = evil
Definition
Generally malevolent means:evil
- of a person — wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
- of a thing — exerting an evil or harmful influence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 8 |
placate
1 use
She's trying to walk a line that will placate both farmers and environmentalists.
placate = calm someone who is or may become angry or concerned
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
scapegoat
4 uses
She is a convenient scapegoat because she was chosen by the last administration.
scapegoat = someone to blame for the errors of others
(editor's note: This expression comes from an ancient Jewish ritual in which the sins of the people were ritually transferred to a goat which was then driven into the desert away from the community.)
(editor's note: This expression comes from an ancient Jewish ritual in which the sins of the people were ritually transferred to a goat which was then driven into the desert away from the community.)
Definition
Generally scapegoat means:someone blamed or punished for the errors of others
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 9 |
senile
2 uses
Her memory is getting worse and she's afraid of going senile.
senile = (into) mental weakness caused by old age
Definition
Generally senile means:mental weakness caused by old age; or describing a medical condition as caused by old age
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
sensuous
2 uses
She claims the tango as the most sensuous of dance forms.
sensuous = pleasing to the physical senses (sexy)
Definition
Generally sensuous means:relating to pleasure from the body's senses rather than from the intellect
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
sequential
3 uses
She has a gift for breaking a complex task into a simple series of sequential steps.
sequential = happening in a specific order — especially chronological order
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 8 |
summon
14 uses
I was summoned to the principal's office.
summoned = called to come
Definition
Generally summon means:to call forth
The exact meaning of summon can depend upon its context. For example:
- "summon to court" — officially demand that someone appear in court (call them to court)
- "summon the team to a meeting" — call upon the team members to attend a meeting
- "summon help" — call others to come and help
- "summon her courage" — call forth her courage from within
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 35 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |