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Top-Ranked Words with Typical Sample Sentences

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arbitrary
1 use
It was an arbitrary decision.
arbitrary = based on chance or impulse
DefinitionGenerally arbitrary means:
based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
Web Links
bias
2 uses
Everyone knows she is too biased to act as an impartial judge.
biased = has a prejudice that prevents objective consideration
DefinitionGenerally bias means:
a personal preference — especially a prejudice that prevents objective consideration

or:

any tendency to move in a particular direction — such as a car that tends to want to swerve toward the right
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library5 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
Web Links
contrast
1 use
1  —1 use as in:
contrast their writing styles
Contrast winter in Panama with winter in Alaska.
contrast = point to differences between
DefinitionGenerally this sense of contrast means:
point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 100
Web Links
delude
4 uses
She is a sincere but deluded idealist.
deluded = with a false belief
DefinitionGenerally delude means:
deceive (convince to have a false belief)
Word Statistics
Book4 uses
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
dissent
1 use
The Alien and Sedition Acts were attempts to silence early political dissent in America.
dissent = disagreement
DefinitionGenerally dissent means:
to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
goad
2 uses
She goaded him into an argument.
goaded = provoked (angered or annoyed)
DefinitionGenerally goad means:
to a human:  to provoke or encourage someone to do something — usually something bad and often provoking in an annoying manner

to an animal:  to prod with a pointed stick to make it move
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
harass
5 uses
This man harasses his female co-workers
harasses = persistently annoys
DefinitionGenerally harass means:
persistently annoy

or:

repeatedly attack to weaken or hinder
Word Statistics
Book5 uses
Library9 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
inevitable
3 uses
It is as inevitable as death and taxes.
inevitable = certain to happen
DefinitionGenerally inevitable means:
certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
Book3 uses
Library23 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 500
Web Links
initiate
5 uses
1  —5 uses as in:
initiate into the fraternity
The photo is from the ceremony when she was initiated into the sorority.
initiated = accepted into the group in a special ceremony
DefinitionGenerally this sense of initiate means:
to accept someone's membership into an organization — typically in a ceremony — sometimes including a period of instruction and/or test
Word Statistics
Book5 uses
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
Web Links
innate
1 use
She has an innate musical talent that cannot be taught.
innate = present at birth
DefinitionGenerally innate means:
of a quality:  present at birth; or arising from within rather than having been learned or acquired
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library3 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
interject
3 uses
"That's not true," she interjected.
interjected = inserted (a comment)
DefinitionGenerally interject means:
to quickly insert a comment that interrupts what another is saying

or more rarely and more generally:  to insert — as in "She interjects religion into politics," or "She interjects herself into my business."
Word Statistics
Book3 uses
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
intervene
1 use
1  —1 use as in:
intervened in the war
They do not like America to intervene in the Middle East.
intervene = get involved
DefinitionGenerally this sense of intervene means:
get involved; or come between
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
Web Links
intimidate
5 uses
I was intimidated on my first day at the job, but I'm comfortable now.
intimidated = afraid (of being inadequate)
DefinitionGenerally intimidate means:
make fearful of inadequacy

or:

threaten
Word Statistics
Book5 uses
Library14 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
pathetic
1 use
1  —1 use as in:
a pathetic attempt to insult me
It was a pathetic attempt to insult me.
pathetic = so bad it was laughable
DefinitionGenerally this sense of pathetic means:
very bad — possibly so bad it is laughable (possibly mixed with some feeling of pity)
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library8 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
reciprocate
1 use
She was attracted to him, and he seemed to reciprocate.
reciprocate = return the feeling
DefinitionGenerally reciprocate means:
to give in return — such as invitations, gifts, actions, or feelings
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library2 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
Web Links
scrutiny
2 uses
She scrutinized her reflection in the mirror.
scrutinized = looked very carefully at

(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.)
DefinitionGenerally scrutiny means:
careful examination of something
Word Statistics
Book2 uses
Library10 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 1000
Web Links
seduce
4 uses
She was seduced by the temptation of easy money.
seduced = persuaded to do something
DefinitionGenerally seduce means:
to persuade someone to do something by tempting them with something pleasurable or desired — often to make them want to have sex
Word Statistics
Book4 uses
Library10 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
tentative
1 use
1  —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
The puppy approached us tentatively until it knew we wouldn't harm it.
tentatively = in a careful way (indicating a lack of confidence)
DefinitionGenerally this sense of tentative means:
done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
Word Statistics
Book1 use
Library7 uses in 10 avg bks
SAT®*top 500
Web Links
wary
7 uses
She was taught to be wary of strangers.
wary = distrustful
DefinitionGenerally wary means:
nervous about (or distrustful of) someone or something
Word Statistics
Book7 uses
Library22 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
wrath
4 uses
She could hardly contain her wrath when she learned he had betrayed her.
wrath = extreme anger
DefinitionGenerally wrath means:
extreme anger or angry punishment
Word Statistics
Book4 uses
Library9 uses in 10 avg bks
Web Links
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