anonymous
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an anonymous, uninteresting house
Mine is the third house on a block of anonymous brick houses.
anonymous = lacking individuality or interesting features
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
apparent
3 uses
The effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the dry fields.
apparent = clear or obvious
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it is appropriate
These clothes aren't appropriate for work.
appropriate = suitable (fitting)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
distill
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
distill the central idea
Distill the essential ideas to fit on a single page.
distill = extract (separate)
Definition
Generally this sense of distill means:extract (separate essential ideas)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
elaborate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
an elaborate design
It's part of her elaborate plan for getting accepted at Harvard.
elaborate = complicated
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:having details and complexity — sometimes fancy or ornate
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
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 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
evade
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
evade the question
She evaded his question by asking one of her own.
evaded = avoided answering
Definition
Generally this sense of evade means:to avoid or try to avoid either a responsibility or telling the whole truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
flexible
2 uses
The job has flexible working hours.
flexible = adaptable to different conditions
Definition
Generally flexible means:bendable or adaptable
in various senses, including:
- easily bent without physical damage or injury — as of a hose or gymnast
- able to adjust readily to different conditions — as of a plan
- willing to make concessions — as of a negotiator or a boss
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
grotesque
1 use
She was wearing a grotesque mask that was quite disturbing.
grotesque = distorted or ugly
Definition
Generally grotesque means:distorted and unnatural in shape or size — especially in a disturbing way
or:
ugly, gross, or very wrong
or:
ugly, gross, or very wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
paralysis
2 uses
She suffers paralysis of her legs.
paralysis = loss of the ability to move
Definition
Generally paralysis means:loss of the ability to move the body or a part of it
or:
inability to act or make a decision
or:
inability to act or make a decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
perversion
1 use
It was an unacceptable perversion of justice.
perversion = the conversion of something to a wrong use
Definition
Generally perversion means:the conversion of something so it is not what it should be — especially a sexual practice considered unacceptable by society
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
recite
1 use
She recited a poem.
recited = said the lines of
Definition
Generally recite means:to say or read something aloud — especially something previously memorized such as a poem
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
recoil
1 use
She recoiled in horror.
recoiled = suddenly moved back (away from)
Definition
Generally recoil means:to move backward suddenly (sometimes figuratively)
especially:
- the backward jerk of a gun or cannon when it is fired
- when a person flinches (suddenly draws back) from someone or something, as with fear, disgust, or pain
- when a person is emotionally repulsed, as by disgust
- when something intended to go in one direction figuratively falls back in the opposite direction; for example, a story told to hurt someone that comes back to hurt the teller
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
remorse
1 use
There was no sign of remorse until the police caught her.
remorse = regret for doing something wrong
Definition
Generally remorse means:a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
subconscious
1 use
In the experiment, the image flashed too quickly to be seen consciously, but it impacted the subconscious.
subconscious = mental activity of which we are not aware, but which can influence feelings and behavior
(editor's note: Many people use this as a synonym for unconscious; though experts in the mind may distinguish a difference.)
(editor's note: Many people use this as a synonym for unconscious; though experts in the mind may distinguish a difference.)
Definition
Generally subconscious means:mental activity of which one is not aware, but which can influence feelings and behavior; or the part of the mind that engages in such activity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
subversion
1 use
The Chinese activist was imprisoned for encouraging subversion of state power.
subversion = gradual destruction (of an established order)
Definition
Generally subversion means:undermining (gradually destroying from within) — an established order such as a government, institution, or morality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
suppress
1 use
She claimed that Facebook suppressed and promoted news that met a political agenda.
suppressed = kept from spreading
Definition
Generally suppress means:trying to keep under control
The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example:
- "suppressed the revolution" — to stop others from doing something by force
- "suppressed a smile" — kept something from happening
- "suppressed the story" — kept news from spreading
- "suppressed her fear" — controlled an emotion
- "suppressed the memory" — avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
virtual
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
virtual organization
We call ourselves a virtual organization because we have no headquarters and no employees. But we are comprised of six key people who cooperate and assemble resources as needed to complete our projects.
virtual = to effectively be something without entirely being it
Definition
Generally this sense of virtual means:to almost be something; or to effectively be something without entirely being it in a traditional sense
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
wane
1 use
Our passion has waned over the years, but our love has grown.
waned = gradually decreased
Definition
Generally wane means:a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number) — especially the part of the moon that is visible
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
wrought
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
wrought iron
The windows have decorative wrought iron bars for security.
wrought = worked or crafted
Definition
Generally this sense of wrought means:worked — as when iron is shaped to fit by bending or beating
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |