Although the three year old was often described as mature for his age, he was petulant and whiny whenever his father forgot to remove the crust from his sandwiches.
adjective: guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill.
While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water.
adjective: marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked.
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus--even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.
adjective: marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field.
China's housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008.
characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
Maggie's enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team.
Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murderer.
adjective: dangerously unstable and unpredictable
The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here.
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.
Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.
adjective: admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
The President's first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was careful to make his position completely unequivocal.
adjective: being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles
I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages.
The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.
verb: consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.
an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust
Sure, he was the best salesman in the company; but Michael had abused the trust of the firm, sharing product secrets with a competitor, and for such perfidy he was terminated.
On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock.
adjective: known by only a few
Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.
The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from boredom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends.
The speeding car had the gall to switch five lanes at once, run through a red light, and then cut off a police car before finally coming to a stop in front of a sea of flashing red lights.
occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause
Though Maria's neighbor Ernie "bumped into" her at the Farmer's Market, the encounter wasn't nearly as fortuitous as Maria was led to believe: Ernie desperately wanted to ask Maria out on a date and had been following her about town.
According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous—daily temperatures should return to their old averages, they believe.
The professor, despite his sleep-inducing lectures, was venerated amongst his colleagues, publishing more papers yearly than all of his peers combined.
noun: the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.
adjective: being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer’s questions impertinent—after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline’s favorite snack was?
Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother’s harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.
Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.
Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy's father's interminable harangues against the government.
verb: to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade
Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of home at the age of thirty-five.
Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate.
Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted.
Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too parochial; "After all," she quipped on her blog, "he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."
to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof
Even seven Tour de France wins cannot vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the public--that the athlete used performance enhancing drugs invalidates all those win
At first Manfred’s teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy’s precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade.
Comments by mohitanand
mohitanand commented on the word ignoble
adjective: dishonorable
In 1919, the World Series was rigged--an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.
October 20, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word indifference
noun: the trait of seeming not to care
In an effort to fight indifference, the president of the college introduced a new, stricter grading system.
October 20, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word petulant
adjective: easily irritated or annoyed
Although the three year old was often described as mature for his age, he was petulant and whiny whenever his father forgot to remove the crust from his sandwiches.
October 20, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word abstruse
adjective: difficult to understand; incomprehensible
Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics.
October 20, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word laudable
adjective: worthy of high praise
To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; he overthrew an empire without violence.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word decorum
noun: propriety in manners and conduct
"You will obey the rules of decorum for this courtroom or spend the night in a jail cell," said the judge to the prosecutor.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word contingent
noun: a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered around the castle to defend it.
adjective: dependent on (usually used with upon)
Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players getting injured
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word opaque
adjective: not clearly understood or expressed
The meaning of the professor's new research was opaque to most people, so no one asked any questions.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word denigrate
verb: charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word pragmatic
adjective: guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word unscrupulous
djective: without scruples or principles
In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word underscore
verb: give extra weight to (a communication)
While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word exonerated
verb: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
The document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to exonerate him of any charges.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word acerbic
adjective: harsh in tone
Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word incorrigible
adjective: impervious to correction by punishment
Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match his fierce individual spirit.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word tortuous
adjective: marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word adamant
adjective: refusing to change one's mind
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus--even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word largess
noun: extreme generosity and giving
Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word apocryphal
adjective: being of questionable authenticity
The web is notorious for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word blatant
adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word exalt
verb: praise or glorify
The teenagers exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word pedantic
adjective: marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word construe
verb: interpreted in a particular way
The author's inability to take a side on the issue was construed by both his opponents and supporters as a sign of weakness.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word temperance
noun: the trait of avoiding excesses
Welles wasn't known for his temperance--he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word implausible
adjective: describing a statement that is not believable
The teacher found it implausible that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word soporific
adjective: inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word bumbling
adjective: lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
Within a week of starting, the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word expound
verb: add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth
The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word burgeon
verb: grow and flourish
China's housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word reconcile
verb: make (one thing) compatible with (another)
Peggy was unable to reconcile her kind friend Jane with the cruel and merciless character Jane played on television.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word espouse
verb: to adopt or support an idea or cause
As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism, growing his beard out and railing against the evils of the free-market.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word copious
adjective: in abundant supply
In midsummer, there are copious popsicle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word forthcoming
adjective: available when required or as promised
The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill.
adjective: at ease in talking to others
As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn't demand to know details, Larry would never share them with her.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word admonition
admonitory
adjective: serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word idiosyncrasy
noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and owning a pet aardvark.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word intransigent
unwilling to change one's beliefs or course of action
Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word ingratiate
gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
Even though Tom didn't like his new boss, he decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word aberrant
adjective: markedly different from an accepted norm
When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word discrete
constituting a separate entity or part
What was once known as Czechoslovakia has since split into two discrete, independent nations
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word exacting
requiring and demanding accuracy
Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word refute
prove to be false or incorrect
No one could refute his theories or propositions, and that is why he was esteemed by all his colleagues in the philosophy department.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word hackneyed
lacking significance through having been overused
Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's hackneyed advice to "be true to yourself."
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word myopic
lacking foresight or imagination
The company ultimately went out of business because the myopic managers couldn't predict the changes in their industry.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word provincial
characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
Maggie's enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word implacable
adjective: incapable of making less angry or hostile
Win or lose, the coach was always implacable, never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word frustrate
verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
I thought I would finish writing the paper by lunchtime, but a number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word precocious
characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
Though only seven years old, she was a precocious chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word tenacious
stubbornly unyielding
Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word haughty
adjective: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
The haughty manager didn't believe that any of his subordinates could ever have an insight as brilliant as his own.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word treacherous
adjective: tending to betray
Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murderer.
adjective: dangerously unstable and unpredictable
The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word languid
not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying around the house.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word quotidian
adjective: found in the ordinary course of events
Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle's arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such as exercising and eating regularly.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word ascetic
adjective: practicing self-denial
His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty.
noun: one who practices great self-denial
Historically, ascetics like Gandhi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word denote
be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes "stop" to all motorists in America.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word avaricious
adjective: excessively greedy
Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust--sins of excess--it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word heretic
noun: a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word ephemeral
lasting a very short time
The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word disaffected
discontented as toward authority
After watching his superior take rations from the soldiers, he quickly became disaffected and rebelled.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word vehement
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word refractory
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word itinerant
traveling from place to place to work
Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients' homes.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word belligerent
characteristic of one eager to fight
Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his belligerent tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word travesty
noun: an absurd presentation of something; a mockery
What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty of the form.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word supplant
verb: take the place or move into the position of
For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don't even have a traditional phone anymore.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word delineate
verb: describe in detail
After a brief summary of proper swimming technique, the coach delineated the specifics of each stroke, spending 30 minutes alone on the backstroke.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word unequivocal
adjective: admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
The President's first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was careful to make his position completely unequivocal.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word jubilant
adjective: full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success
My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word forlorn
marked by or showing hopelessness
After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word jingoism
fanatical patriotism
North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cult of personality.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word rudimentary
adjective: being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles
I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word apathy
noun: an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout on election day.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word contrive
verb: to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word eminent
standing above others in quality or position
Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word ameliorate
verb: make something bad better
"Three Cups of Tea" tells the story of western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word vilify
verb: spread negative information about
Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word mollify
verb: to make someone angry less angry; placate
In the morning, Janine was unable to mollify Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he'd had his cup of coffee.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word elucidate
verb: make clearer and easier to understand
Youtube is great place to learn just about anything--an expert elucidates finer points so that even a complete novice can learn.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word circumvent
verb: cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations
One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word subsume
erb: contain or include
The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.
verb: consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word juxtapose
place side by side for contrast
The appeal of her paintings comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word insidious
working in a subtle but destructive way
Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word spurious
plausible but false
When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word tantamount
being essentially equal to something
In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word eclectic
comprised of a variety of styles
Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music, one moment dancing to disco the next "air conducting" along to Beethoven's 9th symphony.
October 19, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word incongruous
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
The vast economic inequality of modern society is incongruous with America's ideals.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word fallacious
of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious, based on one false report.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word mawkish
overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting
The film was incredibly mawkish, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illness by the end of the movie.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word culpability
a state of guilt
Since John had left his banana peel at the top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability for Martha's broken leg.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word perfidy
an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust
Sure, he was the best salesman in the company; but Michael had abused the trust of the firm, sharing product secrets with a competitor, and for such perfidy he was terminated.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word obscure
verb: make unclear
On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock.
adjective: known by only a few
Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word culminate
reach the highest or most decisive point
Beethoven's musical genius culminated in the 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word deferential
showing respect
If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be deferential.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word banal
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from boredom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word vociferous
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
In giving Marcia a particular vociferous response, Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn around and look at them angrily.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word gossamer
characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged.
October 15, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word didactic
instructive (especially excessively)
Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word gall
The speeding car had the gall to switch five lanes at once, run through a red light, and then cut off a police car before finally coming to a stop in front of a sea of flashing red lights.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word glut
an excessive supply
The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word apathetic
marked by a lack of interest
Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally apathetic students took interest.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word frivolous
not serious in content or attitude or behavior
Compared to Juliet's passionate concern for human rights, Jake's non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word preclude
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
The manager specified that all other gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons without tickets entering the arena undetected.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word torpor
inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy
After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in a state of complete torpor.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word voluble
volubility
noun: the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
The professor's volubility knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point from one St. Patrick's Day to the next.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word impudent
improperly forward or bold
In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word platitude
a trite or obvious remark
The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere platitudes.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word exacerbate
make worse
Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold--when she woke up the next day, her sinuses were completely blocked.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word reticent
disinclined to talk, not revealing one's thoughts
When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word gainsay
deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
I can't gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don't trust his conclusion.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word aesthetic
concerned with the appreciation of beauty
The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word audacious
willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks
As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word dogmatic
highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct
Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat, claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are computer generated.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word diffident
showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence
As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word meticulous
marked by extreme care in treatment of details
The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person take over the task.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word recondite
difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book, waiting instead to read it with someone else so we could penetrate its meaning together
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word aesthete
one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature
A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word querulous
habitually complaining
The querulous old woman was beginning to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her ceaseless complaining.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word prescience
the power to foresee the future
Baxter's warnings about investing in technology stocks seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word conspicuous
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
American basketball players are always conspicuous when they go abroad--not only are they American, but some are over seven feet tall.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word superfluous
serving no useful purpose
How can we hope to stay open if we don't eliminate all superfluous spending, like catered meetings and free acupuncture Tuesday?
adjective: more than is needed, desired, or required
The third paragraph in your essay is superfluous and can be deleted.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word eschew
avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word decorous
characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
Sally's parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word fortuitous
occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause
Though Maria's neighbor Ernie "bumped into" her at the Farmer's Market, the encounter wasn't nearly as fortuitous as Maria was led to believe: Ernie desperately wanted to ask Maria out on a date and had been following her about town.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word rustic
characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial
The vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing, but despite these inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word predilection
a strong liking
Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word entrench
fixed firmly or securely
By the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word engender
give rise to
The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word mitigate
verb: make less severe or harsh
I can only spend so much time mitigating your disagreements with your wife, and at certain point, you need to do it on your own.
verb: lessen the severity of an offense
If it weren't for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word inexorable
impossible to stop or prevent
The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word germane
relevant and appropriate
The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn't germane to the charges in the cases.
October 12, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word enervate
verb: to sap energy from
John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after he’d spent the day sightseeing.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word anomalous
adjective: not normal
According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous—daily temperatures should return to their old averages, they believe.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word censure
verb: to express strong disapproval
After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word equivocal
adjective: confusing or ambiguous
The findings of the study were equivocal—the two researchers had different opinions on what the results signified.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word venerate
verb: to respect deeply
The professor, despite his sleep-inducing lectures, was venerated amongst his colleagues, publishing more papers yearly than all of his peers combined.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word profligate
adjective: spending resources recklessly or wastefully
The composer Wagner, while living on a limited salary, was so profligate as to line all the walls of his apartment with pure silk.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word frugal
adjective: not spending much money (but spending wisely)
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word venality
noun: the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word impertinent
adjective: being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer’s questions impertinent—after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline’s favorite snack was?
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word chastise
verb: to reprimand harshly
Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother’s harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word upbraid
verb: to reproach; to scold
Bob took a risk walking into the "Students Barbershop"—in the end he had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word iconoclast
somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a "meat dress" to a prominent awards show.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word belie
to give a false representation to; misrepresent
The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word auspicious
favorable, the opposite of sinister
Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word undermine
to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)
The student undermined the teacher’s authority by questioning the teacher’s judgment on numerous occasions.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word restive
restless
The crowd grew restive as the comedian’s opening jokes fell flat.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word wanting
lacking
She did not think her vocabulary was wanting, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn't know.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word harangue
noun: a long pompous speech; a tirade
Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy's father's interminable harangues against the government.
verb: to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade
Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of home at the age of thirty-five.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word ingenuous
to be naïve and innocent
Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word disinterested
unbiased; neutral
The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist only of disinterested members.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word gregarious
to be likely to socialize with others
Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word commensurate
adjective: to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount
The convicted felon’s life sentence was commensurate with the heinousness of his crime.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word prevaricate
to speak in an evasive way
The cynic quipped, “There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate”.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word extant
still in existence (usually refers to documents).
Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word ambivalent
mixed or conflicting emotions about something
Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word parsimonious
extremely frugal; miserly
Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word parochial
narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too parochial; "After all," she quipped on her blog, "he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word egregious
standing out in a negative way; shockingly bad
The dictator’s abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders demanded that he be tried in an international court for genocide.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word involved
complicated, and difficult to comprehend
The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate’s eyes glazed over.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word maintain
to assert
The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word laconic
(describes a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words
While Martha always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies, her boyfriends inevitably were very talkative—and not very hunky.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word demur
to object or show reluctance
Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they go skiing in the Alps.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word vindicate
to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof
Even seven Tour de France wins cannot vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the public--that the athlete used performance enhancing drugs invalidates all those win
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word intimate
o suggest something subtly
At first Manfred’s teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy’s precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word veracious
truthful
While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious, history has shown that such a hope is naive.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word amorphous
shapeless
His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word artful
exhibiting artistic skill
Picasso is generally considered the most artful member of the Cubist movement.
adjective: clever in a cunning way
Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word amalgam
a mixture of multiple things
The band’s music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with surprising results.
October 11, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word mercurial
(of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood
The fact that Ella’s moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic for her relationships—it didn’t help that she lived in Chicago
October 1, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word calumny
making of a false statement meant to injure a person’s reputation
With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the mud already waist-high.
October 1, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word acrimony
bitterness and ill will
The acrimony between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: the health of the current administration was imperiled.
October 1, 2016
mohitanand commented on the word amenable
Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping
October 1, 2016