belligerent
1 use
"What're you trying to do," the white man asked belligerently, "kill this man's sale?"
belligerently = with an attitude of one eager to fight
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
benevolent
1 use
People read this poison—and it's often presented in a benevolent tone, even a kind tone.
benevolent = kind or charitable
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
condone
4 uses
Did their silence condone the lynching?
condone = allow (bad behavior) without taking a stand against it
Definition
Generally condone means:accept without criticism; or approve of
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
By the very tone of his question he revealed his contempt for us.
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
He spat out the word with the deepest despair I have ever heard in a human voice.
despair = hopelessness
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
discriminate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
suffered discrimination
I have learned that men in uniform, particularly officers, rarely descend to show discrimination, perhaps because of the integration of the armed forces.
discrimination = unfair treatment of different groups of people differently (in this case based upon race)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally this sense of discriminate means:to treat people of different groups differently — especially unfair treatment due to race, religion or gender
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
establish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
"Yes, but Negroes have more illegitimate children, earlier loss of virginity and more crime—these are established facts," he insisted without unkindness.†
established = proven
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
guile
2 uses
I saw again their large eyes, guileless, not yet aware that doors into wonderlands of security, opportunity and hope were closed to them.
guileless = innocent — without cunning (shrewdness, cleverness) or deceit
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in guileless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in guileless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
gullible
1 use
Black people who had witnessed this all over the country could only despair at the gullibility of white people who, seeing all this, swallowed the old line that it was caused by communists and black agitators.
gullibility = the trait of being easily tricked because of being too trusting
Definition
Generally gullible means:easily tricked because of being too trusting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
haughty
2 uses
"You keep him quiet—or else," Christophe said haughtily.
haughtily = condescendingly (in a superior or self-important way)
Definition
Generally haughty means:arrogant or condescending (acting superior or self-important)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
Martin Luther King Jr.
12 uses
People like Martin Luther King, they said, were just troublemakers and subversives.
Martin Luther King = inspiring U.S. civil rights leader and Baptist minister who campaigned against the segregation of blacks; assassinated (1929-1968)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
ostentatious
1 use
We went to the car, which P. D. carefully and ostentatiously pretended to unlock.
ostentatiously = in a manner intended to attract notice
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
petulant
2 uses
He knows by the white man's look of disapproval and petulance that he is being told to get on his way, that he is "stepping out of line."
petulance = annoyance or upset
Definition
Generally petulant means:unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
prejudice
13 uses
And in the midst of it, the picture of the prejudice and bigotry from which I had just come flashed into my mind,
prejudice = unreasonable and unfair belief or feeling (in this case against members of a race)
Definition
Generally prejudice means:to have unreasonable belief that is unfair to members of a race, religion, or other group
or more generally:
to have (or create in others) an unreasonable belief that prevents objective (unbiased) consideration of an issue or situation
or more generally:
to have (or create in others) an unreasonable belief that prevents objective (unbiased) consideration of an issue or situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
profound (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
profound idea
"Maritain has some profound things to say about the religion of racists," he said, leafing the book.
profound = deep or far-reaching in intellect or insight
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:deep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
2 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
I could only conclude that his attitude came from an overwhelming love for his child, so profound it spilled over to all humanity.
profound = of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
reticent
4 uses
The youth knew me and had no reticence in talking...
reticence = reluctance
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
subtle (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle poison
Some were shamelessly open, some shamelessly subtle.
subtle = working in an indirect or hidden way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
2 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
The experience had subtler points that did not escape Rutledge.
subtler = harder to notice or understand
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
superficial
4 uses
Their children resembled mine in all ways except the superficial one of skin color,
superficial = relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating
Definition
Generally superficial means:relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |