Voc & Grammar 2nd Quarter 2013 G-720/360

dif·fuse adjective \di-ˈfyüs\

1dif·fuse adjective \di-ˈfyüs\ Definition of DIFFUSE 1 : being at once verbose and ill-organized <a diffuse report from the scene of the earthquake> 2 : not concentrated or localized <diffuse lighting> — dif·fuse·ly adverb — dif·fuse·ness noun See diffuse defined for English-language learners » See diffuse defined for kids » Examples of DIFFUSE The forest was filled with a soft, diffuse light. <a diffuse speech that took a great deal of time to make a very small point> Origin of DIFFUSE Middle English, from Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere to spread out, from dis- + fundere to pour — more at found First Known Use: 15th century Related to DIFFUSE Synonyms circuitous, circumlocutory, wordy, garrulous, logorrheic, long-winded, pleonastic, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy Antonyms compact, concise, crisp, pithy, succinct, terse Related Words chatty, communicative, conversational, gabby, loquacious, talkative, talky, voluble; periphrastic; redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated; bombastic, gaseous, gassy, grandiloquent, highfalutin (also hifalutin) Near Antonyms brief, short; aphoristic, epigrammatic, sententious; compendious, summary; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, shortened; abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), curt, laconic, snippy more See Synonym Discussion at wordy Rhymes with DIFFUSE Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, condu... [+]more 2dif·fuse verb \di-ˈfyüz\ dif·fuseddif·fus·ing Definition of DIFFUSE transitive verb 1 a : to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely b : extend, scatter c : to spread thinly or wastefully 2 : to subject to diffusion; especially : to break up and distribute (incident light) by reflection intransitive verb 1 : to spread out or become transmitted especially by contact 2 : to undergo diffusion — dif·fus·ible adjective See diffuse defined for English-language learners » Examples of DIFFUSE The heat from the radiator diffuses throughout the room. The heat was diffused throughout the room. The photographer uses a screen to diffuse the light. an area of diffused light

an·thol·o·gy noun \an-ˈthä-lə-jē\

: a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music 2 : assortment <an anthology of threadbare clichés of ... bistro cuisine — Jay Jacobs> — an·tho·log·i·cal adjective See anthology defined for English-language learners » See anthology defined for kids » Examples of ANTHOLOGY an anthology of American poetry The band will be releasing an anthology of their earlier albums. Origin of ANTHOLOGY New Latin anthologia collection of epigrams, from Middle Greek, from Greek, flower gathering, from anthos flower + logia collecting, from legein to gather; akin to Sanskrit andha herb — more at legend First Known Use: 1621 Related to ANTHOLOGY Synonyms album, collectanea, compendium, compilation, florilegium, miscellany, reader Related Words almanac, ana, analects, chapbook, digest, garland, symposium; casebook, sourcebook; archives, corpus, library, miscellanea more Other Printing Terms epigraph, errata, leader, mechanical, notch, tittle, underscore, widow Rhymes with ANTHOLOGY andrology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrolo... [+]more

con·flu·ence noun \ˈkän-ˌflü-ən(t)s, kən-ˈ\

: a coming or flowing together, meeting, or gathering at one point <a happy confluence of weather and scenery> 2 a : the flowing together of two or more streams b : the place of meeting of two streams c : the combined stream formed by conjunction See confluence defined for English-language learners » See confluence defined for kids » Examples of CONFLUENCE the Mississippi River's confluence with the Missouri River <a happy confluence of beautiful weather and spectacular scenery during our vacation> First Known Use of CONFLUENCE 15th century Related to CONFLUENCE Synonyms convergence, conjunction, convergency, meeting Antonyms divergence Related Words combination, combining, connecting, connection, consolidation, coupling, joining, junction, juncture, linking, merging, unification, union more Rhymes with CONFLUENCE influence

par·ti·san noun \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən, -ˌzan, chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan\

: a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance 2 a : a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy b : a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines — partisan adjective — par·ti·san·ly adverb — par·ti·san·ship noun Variants of PARTISAN par·ti·san also par·ti·zan Origin of PARTISAN Middle French partisan, from north Italian dialect partiźan, from part part, party, from Latin part-, pars part First Known Use: 1555 Rhymes with PARTISAN advance man, Alcoran, also-ran, Ameslan, anchorman, as one man, astrakhan, Astrakhan, ataman, Athelstan, attackman, balmacaan, Bantustan, ... [+]more 2par·ti·san noun \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən\ Definition of PARTISAN : a weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries with long shaft and broad blade Variants of PARTISAN par·ti·san or par·ti·zan

max·im noun \ˈmak-səm\

: a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct 2 : a proverbial saying See maxim defined for English-language learners » See maxim defined for kids » Examples of MAXIM <it's a common maxim that "a watched pot never boils," but that's not literally true> Origin of MAXIM Middle English maxime, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin maxima, from Latin, feminine of maximus, superl. of magnus large — more at much First Known Use: 1567 Related to MAXIM Synonyms adage, aphorism, apothegm, byword, epigram, saying, proverb, saw, sententia, word Related Words bromide, cliché (also cliche), commonplace, platitude, wheeze; expression, felicity; axiom, motto, precept, truism, truth; formula; comment, note, reflection, remark more Other Literature Terms apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

1par·o·dy noun \ˈper-ə-dē, ˈpa-rə-\

: a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule 2 : a feeble or ridiculous imitation — pa·rod·ic adjective — par·o·dis·tic adjective See parody defined for English-language learners » See parody defined for kids » Examples of PARODY He has a talent for writing parodies. a writer with a talent for parody Origin of PARODY Latin parodia, from Greek parōidia, from para- + aidein to sing — more at ode First Known Use: 1598 Related to PARODY Synonyms burlesque, caricature, put-on, rib, send-up, spoof, takeoff, travesty Related Words lampoon, mockery, satire; comedy, farce, humor, sketch, slapstick, squib; distortion, exaggeration; imitation, impersonation, mimicking Near Antonyms homage, tribute more See Synonym Discussion at caricature Other Literature Terms apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody 2parody transitive verb parodiedparody·ing Definition of PARODY 1 : to compose a parody on <parody a poem> 2 : to imitate in the manner of a parody Examples of PARODY It was easy to parody the book's fancy language. She parodied her brother's poetry. First Known Use of PARODY circa 1745 Related to PARODY Synonyms burlesque, caricature, do, imitate, mock, mimic, send up, spoof, travesty Related Words lampoon, pasquinade, satirize; deride, gibe (or jibe), ridicule; ape, copycat, monkey, parrot; duplicate, emulate, replicate, reproduce; act, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pretend, sham, simulate; elaborate, embellish, embroider, exaggerate, magnify, pad, play up, stretch; amplify, enhance, enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out), overdraw, overstate, put on; mime, pantomime; impersonate, perform, personate, play more Other Literature Terms apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody parody noun (Concise Encyclopedia) In literature, a work in which the style of an author is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule. Differing from both burlesque (by the depth of its technical penetration) and travesty (which treats dignified subjects in a trivial manner), parody mercilessly exposes the tricks of manner and thought of its victim and therefore cannot be written without a thorough appreciation of the work it ridicules. Examples date from as early as ancient Greece and occur in nearly all literatures and all periods.

pa·tri·cian noun \pə-ˈtri-shən\

: a member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome 2 a : a person of high birth : aristocrat b : a person of breeding and cultivation — patrician adjective See patrician defined for English-language learners » See patrician defined for kids » Examples of PATRICIAN <the Southern patricians who once resided in these stately plantation homes> Origin of PATRICIAN Middle English patricion, from Anglo-French patrician, from Latin patricius, from patres senators, from plural of pater father — more at father First Known Use: 15th century Related to PATRICIAN Synonyms aristocrat, blue blood, gentle, noble, gentleperson Related Words socialite, swell; magnate, magnifico, mogul, nabob; gentlefolk (also gentlefolks) Near Antonyms canaille, commoner, pleb, plebeian, proletarian, roturier; boor, fellah, peasant, peon more Other Sociology Terms bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture Rhymes with PATRICIAN addition, admission, ambition, attrition, audition, beautician, clinician, cognition, coition, commission, condition, contrition, demissio... [+]more patrician noun (Concise Encyclopedia) In ancient Rome, any member of a group of citizen families who, in contrast to the plebeians, formed a privileged nobility. They attempted to hold on to magistracies, priesthoods, and legal and religious knowledge, and the great civil struggle of the Roman republic was the effort of the plebeians to achieve equality and break the patrician monopoly. Gradually the patricians lost their monopoly—except in a few areas, such as selected priesthoods and the office of interrex—and in the late republic (1st century BC) the distinction lost political importance. After 27 BC, patrician rank was necessary for ascent to the imperial throne. After Constantine's reign (AD 337), the term became an honorary title with no particular power.

1re·spite noun \ˈres-pət also ri-ˈspīt, British usually ˈres-ˌpīt\

: a period of temporary delay 2 : an interval of rest or relief See respite defined for English-language learners » See respite defined for kids » Examples of RESPITE The bad weather has continued without respite. But in the middle of each semester there came a short respite, separate from the traditional holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. —Martha Southgate, The Fall of Rome, 2002 [+]more Origin of RESPITE Middle English respit, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin respectus, from Latin, act of looking back — more at respect First Known Use: 13th century Rhymes with RESPITE affright, air right, airtight, albite, Albright, alight, all right, all-night, a mite, aright, backbite, backlight, bauxite, bedight, birt... [+]more 2re·spite transitive verb \ˈres-pət also ri-ˈspīt, British usually ˈres-ˌpīt\ re·spit·edre·spit·ing Definition of RESPITE 1 : to grant a temporary period of relief to : grant a respite to 2 : put off, delay Origin of RESPITE (see 1respite) First Known Use: 14th century Rhymes with RESPITE despot 3re·spite adjective \ˈres-pət also ri-ˈspīt, British usually ˈres-ˌpīt\ Definition of RESPITE : providing or being temporary care in relief of a primary caregiver <respite care> <a respite worker> Origin of RESPITE

pec·ca·dil·lo noun \ˌpe-kə-ˈdi-(ˌ)lō\

: a slight offense See peccadillo defined for English-language learners » See peccadillo defined for kids » Origin of PECCADILLO Spanish pecadillo, diminutive of pecado sin, from Latin peccatum, from neuter of peccatus, past participle of peccare First Known Use: 1600 Rhymes with PECCADILLO Manzanillo Learn More About PECCADILLO Spanish-English Dictionary: Translation of "peccadillo"

1za·ny noun \ˈzā-nē\

: a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal : merry-andrew 2 : a slavish follower : toady 3 a : one who acts the buffoon to amuse others b : nut, kook See zany defined for kids » Examples of ZANY <hired a zany to entertain the children at the birthday party> <one of the challenges of hosting a radio call-in program is preventing the zanies from completely taking over the discussion> Origin of ZANY Italian zanni, a traditional masked clown, from Italian dialect Zanni, nickname for Italian Giovanni John First Known Use: 1588 Related to ZANY Synonyms buffo, buffoon, harlequin, clown Related Words cutup, madcap; antic [archaic], fool, gracioso, jester, motley, scaramouch (or scaramouche); mime, mimic, mummer, pantaloon; comedian, comedienne, comic, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist, joker, jokester, merry-andrew, second banana, stand-up, top banana, wag, wit Near Antonyms conformer, conformist, follower, sheep more Other Performing Arts Terms diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary Rhymes with ZANY Beni, brainy, grainy, rainy, veiny 2zany adjective za·ni·erza·ni·est Definition of ZANY 1 : being or having the characteristics of a zany 2 : fantastically or absurdly ludicrous <a zany movie> — za·ni·ly adverb — za·ni·ness noun See zany defined for English-language learners » Examples of ZANY <a zany plan to drive cross-country on a motorized scooter> First Known Use of ZANY 1609 Related to ZANY Synonyms absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, bubbleheaded, cockeyed, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dippy, dotty, fatuous, featherheaded, fool, half-baked, harebrained, half-witted, inept, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, lunkheaded, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, senseless, silly, simpleminded, stupid, tomfool, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, foolish Antonyms judicious, prudent, sagacious, sage, sane, sapient, sensible, sound, wise Related Words airheaded, birdbrained, boobish, brain-dead, chowderheaded, chuckleheaded, clueless, dense, dim, dim-witted, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, dunderheaded, empty-headed, fatuous, feebleminded, gormless [chiefly British], idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), knuckleheaded, lamebrain (or lamebrained), mindless, moronic, oafish, obtuse, opaque, pinheaded, simple, slow, slow-witted, soft, softheaded, thoughtless, thick, thickheaded, unintelligent, vacuous, witless; fallacious, illogical, invalid, irrational, nonrational, surd, unreasonable, unreasoning, unsound, weak; farcical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous; notional; buffoonish, clownish; ill-advised, unconsidered, unreasoned Near Antonyms brainy, bright, clever, intelligent, smart; logical, rational, reasonable, valid; well-advised more

nu·ance noun \ˈnü-ˌän(t)s, ˈnyü-, -ˌäⁿs; nü-ˈ, nyü-ˈ\

: a subtle distinction or variation 2 : a subtle quality : nicety 3 : sensibility to, awareness of, or ability to express delicate shadings (as of meaning, feeling, or value) — nu·anced adjective See nuance defined for English-language learners » See nuance defined for kids » Examples of NUANCE He listened to the subtle nuances in the song. a poem of little depth and nuance Between the lines of lexicographical nuance and quotation, Johnson was paying old debts and seeking out wisdom about himself and his adopted city, as well as compiling perhaps the greatest commonplace book in the history of mankind. —Andrew O'Hagan, New York Review, 27 Apr. 2006 [+]more Origin of NUANCE French, from Middle French, shade of color, from nuer to make shades of color, from nue cloud, from Latin nubes; perhaps akin to Welsh nudd mist First Known Use: 1781 Rhymes with NUANCE jouissance, Provence, séance

man·i·fes·to noun \ˌma-nə-ˈfes-(ˌ)tō\

: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer See manifesto defined for English-language learners » See manifesto defined for kids » Examples of MANIFESTO The group's manifesto focused on helping the poor and stopping violence. Origin of MANIFESTO Italian, denunciation, manifest, from manifestare to manifest, from Latin, from manifestus First Known Use: 1620

ran·cor noun \ˈraŋ-kər, -ˌkȯr\

: bitter deep-seated ill will See rancor defined for English-language learners » See rancor defined for kids » Examples of RANCOR She answered her accusers calmly and without rancor. In the end, the debate created a degree of rancor among the committee members. Origin of RANCOR Middle English rancour, from Anglo-French rancur, from Late Latin rancor rancidity, rancor, from Latin rancēre First Known Use: 14th century Related to RANCOR Synonyms animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, gall, grudge, hostility, jaundice, enmity Antonyms amity Related Words blood feud, feud, score, vendetta; hate, hatred, loathing; vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; alienation, disaffection, estrangement; conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension; inhospitableness, unfriendliness; malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom Near Antonyms amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding more See Synonym Discussion at enmity Rhymes with RANCOR anchor, banker, canker, chancre, flanker, franker, hanker, ranker, spanker, tanker, thanker

opaque adjective \ō-ˈpāk\

: blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light : exhibiting opacity (see opacity) 2 a : hard to understand or explain <opaque prose> b : obtuse, thickheaded — opaque noun — opaque·ly adverb — opaque·ness noun See opaque defined for English-language learners » See opaque defined for kids » Examples of OPAQUE the opaque water of the muddy river <somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics> In the opening hour, a group of strangers receive a maddeningly opaque cell-phone summons to join a secret cross-country race with a $32 million prize. The thing is, the summons can also be a threat (one competitor's wife is possibly being help captive), and the consequences of falling behind are murderous. —Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007 [+]more Origin of OPAQUE Latin opacus (see opacity) First Known Use: 1641 Related to OPAQUE Synonyms ambiguous, arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical (or elliptic), enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, fuliginous, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, occult, obscure Antonyms accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal Related Words abstruse, esoteric, recondite; cloaked, concealed, disguised, masked, shrouded; beclouded, bedimmed, befogged, clouded, cloudy, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, muddy, obfuscatory, obnubilated, obscurant (or obscurantic), shaded, shadowlike, shadowy, sphinxlike; indefinite, inexact, inexplicit, noncommittal, questionable, unclear, uncertain, undefined, undetermined, vague; impenetrable, incomprehensible, indecipherable, inexplicable; eerie (also eery), uncanny, weird; impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible; unanswerable, unknowable; baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, unfathomable; circuitous, indirect, roundabout; complex, complicated, difficult, obtuse Near Antonyms comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, knowable, legible, pellucid, understandable; bright, distinct, evident, self-evident, self-explanatory; certain, firm, strong, sure; defined, determined; direct, straightforward; definite, exact, explicit; appreciable, palpable, tangible, visible; blatant, patent, unmistakable more

cir·cum·spect adjective \ˈsər-kəm-ˌspekt\

: careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : prudent <diplomacy required a circumspect response> — cir·cum·spec·tion noun — cir·cum·spect·ly adverb See circumspect defined for English-language learners » See circumspect defined for kids » Examples of CIRCUMSPECT <she has a reputation for being quiet and circumspect in investigating charges of child abuse> Origin of CIRCUMSPECT Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French circonspect, from Latin circumspectus, from past participle of circumspicere to look around, be cautious, from circum- + specere to look — more at spy First Known Use: 15th century Related to CIRCUMSPECT Synonyms alert, cautious, chary, careful, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary Antonyms careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary Related Words advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful; hypercautious; foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful; cagey (also cagy), calculating, canny, shrewd; deliberate, slow; ultracareful, ultracautious Near Antonyms bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome; asleep, inattentive, regardless; inconsiderate, thoughtless; lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss; imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious; absentminded, forgetful; inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned more See Synonym Discussion at cautious Rhymes with CIRCUMSPECT acrolect, architect, birth defect, deselect, dialect, disaffect, disconnect, disinfect, disrespect, edge effect, genuflect, grapholect, in...

pu·ta·tive adjective \ˈpyü-tə-tiv\

: commonly accepted or supposed 2 : assumed to exist or to have existed — pu·ta·tive·ly adverb See putative defined for English-language learners » Examples of PUTATIVE <the putative reason for her dismissal was poor job performance> This has always been a nation willing to sell out its past for putative progress. —Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 3 June 2002 [+]more Origin of PUTATIVE Middle English, from Late Latin putativus, from Latin putatus, past participle of putare to think First Known Use: 15th century Related to PUTATIVE Synonyms assumed, evident, ostensible, ostensive, presumed, prima facie, apparent, reputed, seeming, supposed Related Words demonstrable, external, outward, superficial, visible; conceivable, plausible, possible, supposable; likely, probable; clear, distinct, manifest, obvious, plain; deceptive, delusive, delusory, illusive, illusory, imaginary; misleading, specious; fake, faked, feigned, phony (also phoney), pretended, pseudo, put-on; alleged, claimed, professed, purported, so-called Near Antonyms hidden, inapparent; implausible, impossible, improbable, inconceivable, unlikely; actual, authenticated, confirmed, corroborated, established, genuine, real, substantiated, sure, valid, validated, verified more

grit·ty adjective \ˈgri-tē\

: containing or resembling grit 2 : courageously persistent : plucky <a gritty heroine> 3 : having strong qualities of tough uncompromising realism <a gritty novel> — grit·ti·ly adverb — grit·ti·ness noun See gritty defined for English-language learners » Examples of GRITTY I admire her gritty determination to succeed. The book describes the gritty realities of life on the streets. He gave us all of the gritty details of his divorce. First Known Use of GRITTY 1598 Rhymes with GRITTY bitty, kitty, pity

inane adjective \i-ˈnān\

: empty, insubstantial 2 : lacking significance, meaning, or point : silly <inane comments> — inane·ly adverb — inane·ness noun See inane defined for English-language learners » See inane defined for kids » Examples of INANE I quickly tired of their inane comments. The film's plot is inane and full of clichés. All around us swirls the battering of gargantuan films, Styrofoam epics with megatons of special effects, gleefully inane adolescent films, horror films that really are horrible. —Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic, 15 Mar. 2004 [+]more Origin of INANE Latin inanis First Known Use: 1662 Related to INANE Synonyms empty, meaningless, pointless, senseless Antonyms meaningful, significant Related Words frivolous, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dotty, empty-headed, fatuous, foolish, half-witted, harebrained, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, mad, mindless, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, silly, simpleminded, stupid, tomfool, unintelligent, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, zany; irrational, unreasonable; aimless, haphazard, purposeless Near Antonyms eloquent, expressive, pregnant, revealing, suggestive, telling; logical, rational, reasonable, valid; consequential, eventful, important, key, major, momentous, substantial, weighty more See Synonym Discussion at insipid 2inane noun \i-ˈnān\ Definition of INANE : void or empty space <a voyage into the limitless inane — V. G. Childe> Examples of INANE And thus likewise we sometimes speak of place, distance, or bulk in the great inane beyond the confines of the world. —John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1689

ar·ro·gant adjective \ˈer-ə-gənt, ˈa-rə-\

: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner <an arrogant official> 2 : showing an offensive attitude of superiority : proceeding from or characterized by arrogance <an arrogant reply> — ar·ro·gant·ly adverb See arrogant defined for English-language learners » See arrogant defined for kids » Examples of ARROGANT She's first in her class, but she's not arrogant about it. <the arrogant young lawyer elbowed his way to the head of the line of customers, declaring that he was too busy to wait like everybody else> Tim Blixseth, the founder of the Yellowstone Club and other gated hideaways, tells Frank: "I don't like most rich people. They can be arrogant." This from a man who owns two Shih Tzus named Learjet and G2. —Alex Beam, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 2007 [+]more Origin of ARROGANT Middle English, from Latin arrogant-, arrogans, present participle of arrogare (see arrogate) First Known Use: 14th century Related to ARROGANT Synonyms assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity Antonyms humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious Related Words misproud; authoritarian, bossy, dominant, dominating, domineering, magisterial, pontifical, pontificating; condescending, disdainful, patronizing; impertinent, impudent, saucy; snobbish, snobby, snooty; blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering, vain, vainglorious; complacent, conceited, egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), hubristic, narcissistic, orgulous, prideful, proud, self-affected, self-applauding, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up; self-flattering, self-loving, self-promoting; brash, forward, uninhibited, unreserved; extroverted (also extraverted), immodest Near Antonyms bashful, cowering, cringing, demure, diffident, introverted, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, self-critical, self-doubting, sheepish, shrinking, shy, subdued, timid; acquiescent, compliant, deferential, meek, passive, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive, unassuming, unobtrusive, yielding; quiet, reserved, retiring

ra·pa·cious adjective \rə-ˈpā-shəs\

: excessively grasping or covetous 2 : living on prey 3 : ravenous <a rapacious appetite> — ra·pa·cious·ly adverb — ra·pa·cious·ness noun See rapacious defined for English-language learners » See rapacious defined for kids » Examples of RAPACIOUS <nothing livens things up like a whole team of rapacious basketball players descending upon the pizza parlor> <rapacious mammals, such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats> Origin of RAPACIOUS Latin rapac-, rapax, from rapere to seize — more at rapid First Known Use: 1651 Related to RAPACIOUS Synonyms edacious, esurient, gluttonous, greedy, hoggish, piggish, voracious, ravenous, swinish Related Words hearty, wolfish; devouring, gobbling, gorging, gormandizing, gulping; insatiable, unquenchable, unslakable; empty, famished, hungry, peckish [chiefly British], starved, starving; malnourished, underfed, undernourished Near Antonyms content, full, glutted, sated, satiated, satisfied, stuffed more See Synonym Discussion at voracious Rhymes with RAPACIOUS audacious, bodacious, capacious, cetaceous, crustaceous, curvaceous, drupaceous, edacious, fallacious, flirtatious, fugacious, hellacious,... [+]more

ex·tra·ne·ous adjective \ek-ˈstrā-nē-əs\

: existing on or coming from the outside <extraneous light> 2 a : not forming an essential or vital part <extraneous ornamentation> b : having no relevance <an extraneous digression> 3 : being a number obtained in solving an equation that is not a solution of the equation <extraneous roots> — ex·tra·ne·ous·ly adverb — ex·tra·ne·ous·ness noun See extraneous defined for English-language learners » See extraneous defined for kids » Examples of EXTRANEOUS She sped up the process by eliminating all extraneous steps. <the architect's streamlined modern style shuns any sort of extraneous ornamentation> Obviously, some degree of packaging is necessary to transport and protect the products we need, but all too often manufacturers add extraneous wrappers over wrappers and layers of unnecessary plastic. —Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006 [+]more Origin of EXTRANEOUS Latin extraneus — more at strange First Known Use: 1638 Related to EXTRANEOUS Synonyms accidental, adventitious, alien, extrinsic, external, foreign, supervenient Antonyms inherent, innate, intrinsic Related Words exterior, outside; immaterial, inapplicable, insignificant, irrelevant; nonessential, unessential, unnecessary Near Antonyms congenital, deep-seated, inborn, inbred; inside, interior, internal; basic, essential, necessary more See Synonym Discussion at extrinsic Rhymes with EXTRANEOUS cutaneous, spontaneous

quix·ot·ic adjective \kwik-ˈsä-tik\

: foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action 2 : capricious, unpredictable — quix·ot·i·cal adjective — quix·ot·i·cal·ly adverb See quixotic defined for English-language learners » See quixotic defined for kids » Examples of QUIXOTIC They had quixotic dreams about the future. <in this age of giant chain stores, any attempt at operating an independent bookstore must be regarded as quixotic> In ... an earnest book-length essay of neo-Victorian public-mindedness that deplores the "nasty, knowing abuse" that the author would have us fear contaminates too much American humor lately, David Denby, a movie critic for The New Yorker, sets for himself what has to be one of the most quixotic projects that a moral reformer can undertake. —Walter Kirn, New York Times Book Review, 22 Feb. 2009 [+]more Origin of QUIXOTIC Don Quixote First Known Use: 1718 Related to QUIXOTIC Synonyms idealist, idealistic, quixotical, romantic, starry, starry-eyed, utopian, visionary Antonyms clear-eyed, clear-sighted Related Words impractical, unrealistic; crusading, messianic, zealous; dewy-eyed, moonstruck, moony, sentimental, tender-minded; hopeful, optimistic, Pollyannaish (also Pollyannish), rosy, upbeat; doctrinaire, ideological (also ideologic) Near Antonyms hardheaded, hard-nosed, tough-minded, unsentimental; practical, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic more See Synonym Discussion at imaginary Rhymes with QUIXOTIC aquatic, biotic, chaotic, cirrhotic, demotic, despotic, ergotic, erotic, exotic, hypnotic, kyphotic, leprotic, lordotic, meiotic, mitotic,... [+]more

os·ten·si·ble adjective \ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-bəl, ə-\

: intended for display : open to view 2 : being such in appearance : plausible rather than demonstrably true or real <the ostensible purpose for the trip> See ostensible defined for English-language learners » See ostensible defined for kids » Examples of OSTENSIBLE <the ostensible reason for the meeting turned out to be a trick to get him to the surprise party> That intelligence and those facts, of course, all pertained to Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, the war's ostensible casus belli, which we now know did not exist. —Frank Rich, New York Review, 6 Apr. 2006 [+]more Origin of OSTENSIBLE French, from Latin ostensus, past participle of ostendere to show, from obs-, ob- in the way + tendere to stretch — more at ob-, thin First Known Use: circa 1771 Related to OSTENSIBLE Synonyms assumed, evident, apparent, ostensive, presumed, prima facie, putative, reputed, seeming, supposed Related Words demonstrable, external, outward, superficial, visible; conceivable, plausible, possible, supposable; likely, probable; clear, distinct, manifest, obvious, plain; deceptive, delusive, delusory, illusive, illusory, imaginary; misleading, specious; fake, faked, feigned, phony (also phoney), pretended, pseudo, put-on; alleged, claimed, professed, purported, so-called Near Antonyms hidden, inapparent; implausible, impossible, improbable, inconceivable, unlikely; actual, authenticated, confirmed, corroborated, established, genuine, real, substantiated, sure, valid, validated, verified more See Synonym Discussion at apparent Rhymes with OSTENSIBLE condensable

1res·o·lute adjective \ˈre-zə-ˌlüt, -lət\

: marked by firm determination : resolved <a resolute character> 2 : bold, steady <a resolute gaze> — res·o·lute·ly adverb — res·o·lute·ness noun See resolute defined for English-language learners » See resolute defined for kids » Examples of RESOLUTE She is a resolute competitor. He has remained resolute in his opposition to the bill. a leader with a stern and resolute manner Origin of RESOLUTE Latin resolutus, past participle of resolvere First Known Use: 1533 Related to RESOLUTE Synonyms bent (on or upon), bound, decisive, do-or-die, firm, hell-bent (on or upon), intent, out, purposeful, determined, resolved, set, single-minded Antonyms faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed Related Words bitter, vehement; certain, cocksure, confident, positive, sure; earnest, serious; steady, unfaltering, unhesitating, unswerving, unwavering; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, obdurate, persistent, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful) Near Antonyms distrustful, doubtful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure; disinclined, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant more See Synonym Discussion at faithful Rhymes with RESOLUTE absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbers... [+]more 2resolute noun Definition of RESOLUTE : a resolute person

os·ten·ta·tious adjective \ˌäs-tən-ˈtā-shəs\

: marked by or fond of conspicuous or vainglorious and sometimes pretentious display — os·ten·ta·tious·ly adverb — os·ten·ta·tious·ness noun See ostentatious defined for English-language learners » See ostentatious defined for kids » Examples of OSTENTATIOUS an ostentatious display of knowledge <wears an ostentatious diamond ring on his little finger> The power of the government was present, in its watchmen, supervisors of the market and police force, but it did not express itself in large and ostentatious buildings. —Albert Hourani, A History of the Arab Peoples, 1991 [+]more Origin of OSTENTATIOUS (see ostentation) First Known Use: 1673 Related to OSTENTATIOUS Synonyms flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, glitzy, loud, noisy, gaudy, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank (or swanky) Antonyms conservative, quiet, understated, unflamboyant, unflashy Related Words excessive, extravagant, fulsome, hammy, overdone, over-the-top, overwrought; pretentious; baroque, bedizened, ornate; fancy, snazzy, zooty; blaring, bright, florid, glaring, glittery, overbright, spectacular; graceless, inelegant, lurid, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, tinselly, vulgar Near Antonyms appropriate, fitting, proper; inconspicuous, muted, restrained, subdued, toned (down), unobtrusive; elegant, graceful, tasteful; modest, plain, simple, unpretentious more See Synonym Discussion at showy Rhymes with OSTENTATIOUS arenaceous, carbonaceous, contumacious, disputatious, efficacious, farinaceous, foliaceous, gallinaceous, orchidaceous, perspicacious, pertinacious, solanaceous, violaceous

pen·sive adjective \ˈpen(t)-siv\

: musingly or dreamily thoughtful 2 : suggestive of sad thoughtfulness — pen·sive·ly adverb — pen·sive·ness noun See pensive defined for English-language learners » See pensive defined for kids » Examples of PENSIVE The child sat by himself, looking pensive. <rainy days often put her in a pensive mood> ... the combination of national crisis and imminent electoral victory creates an atmosphere at once pensive and elated. —Yossi Klein Halevi, New Republic, 25 Dec. 2000 [+]more Origin of PENSIVE Middle English pensif, from Anglo-French, from penser to think, from Latin pensare to ponder, frequentative of pendere to weigh — more at pendant First Known Use: 14th century Related to PENSIVE Synonyms broody, cogitative, meditative, melancholy, musing, contemplative, reflective, ruminant, ruminative, thoughtful Antonyms unreflective Related Words introspective, retrospective, self-reflective; earnest, grave, sedate, serious, serious-minded, severe, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre), weighty; philosophical (also philosophic); analytic (or analytical), logical, rational; deliberate, purposeful; absentminded, abstracted, preoccupied Near Antonyms featherbrained, flighty, flippant, frivolous, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, scatterbrained; brainless, mindless, silly, thoughtless, unthinking more

pa·ro·chi·al adjective \pə-ˈrō-kē-əl\

: of or relating to a church parish 2 : of or relating to a parish as a unit of local government 3 : confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish : limited in range or scope (as to a narrow area or region) : provincial, narrow — pa·ro·chi·al·ly adverb See parochial defined for English-language learners » See parochial defined for kids » Examples of PAROCHIAL our pastor and other parochial leaders voters worried about their own parochial concerns It has never been clearer that the country's best self is a global inheritance, its worst a parochial self-certainty. —Jedediah Purdy, New York Times Book Review, 22 Feb. 2009 [+]more Origin of PAROCHIAL Middle English parochiall, from Anglo-French parochial, from Late Latin parochialis, from parochia parish — more at parish First Known Use: 14th century Related to PAROCHIAL Synonyms illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow-minded, narrow, petty, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded Antonyms broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant Related Words inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded; bigoted, intolerant; biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced; brass bound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced (or straightlaced), stuffy; dogmatic (also dogmatical), opinionated, opinionative; limited; hick, unsophisticated Near Antonyms impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced; freethinking

nom·i·nal adjective \ˈnä-mə-nəl, ˈnäm-nəl\

: of, relating to, or being a noun or a word or expression taking a noun construction 2 a : of, relating to, or constituting a name b : bearing the name of a person 3 a : existing or being something in name or form only <nominal head of his party> b : of, being, or relating to a designated or theoretical size that may vary from the actual : approximate <the pipe's nominal size> c : trifling, insignificant <his involvement was nominal> <charged only nominal rent> 4 of a rate of interest a : equal to the annual rate of simple interest that would obtain if interest were not compounded when in fact it is compounded and paid for periods of less than a year b : equal to the percentage by which a repaid loan exceeds the principal borrowed with no adjustment made for inflation 5 : being according to plan : satisfactory <everything was nominal during the launch> — nom·i·nal·ly adverb See nominal defined for English-language learners » See nominal defined for kids » Examples of NOMINAL Her title of vice president had been nominal only. They charge a nominal fee for the service. What gave it resonance was that she was reflecting—in a fun-house mirror—the thuggish behavior of her nominal betters. —Hendrik Hertzberg, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2005 [+]more Origin of NOMINAL Middle English nominalle, from Medieval Latin nominalis, from Latin, of a name, from nomin-, nomen name — more at name First Known Use: 15th century Related to NOMINAL Synonyms formal, paper, titular Antonyms big, consequential, considerable, important, material, significant Related Words so-called; phantom, virtual; apparent, assumed, evident, ostensible, presumed, seeming, supposed Near Antonyms actual, real, true more Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile 2nom·i·nal noun \ˈnä-mə-nəl, ˈnäm-nəl\ Definition of NOMINAL : a word or word group functioning as a noun Origin of NOMINAL

pe·dan·tic adjective \pi-ˈdan-tik\

: of, relating to, or being a pedant(see pedant) 2 : narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned 3 : unimaginative, pedestrian — pe·dan·ti·cal·ly adverb Examples of PEDANTIC It may seem pedantic to harp on what looks like mere procedure, but this is one case where the process is the forest. —Hendrik Hertzberg, New Yorker, 29 May 2000 [+]more Origin of PEDANTIC (see pedant) First Known Use: circa 1600 Rhymes with PEDANTIC Atlantic, gigantic, romantic, semantic

por·ten·tous adjective \pȯr-ˈten-təs\

: of, relating to, or constituting a portent <suspense, portentous foreshadowing, hints of sinister and violent mysteries — Francine Prose> 2 : eliciting amazement or wonder : prodigious 3 a : being a grave or serious matter <portentous decisions> b : self-consciously solemn or important : pompous <portentous declamation unsalted by the least trace of humor — W. H. Pritchard> c : ponderously excessive <that discipline's overwrought, portentous phrases — R. M. Coles> — por·ten·tous·ly adverb — por·ten·tous·ness noun See portentous defined for English-language learners » See portentous defined for kids » Examples of PORTENTOUS <an eerie and portentous stillness hung over the camp the night before the battle> <in 1969 people regarded the first landing on the moon as a truly portentous event> First Known Use of PORTENTOUS 15th century Related to PORTENTOUS Synonyms baleful, dire, direful, doomy, foreboding, ill, ill-boding, inauspicious, menacing, minatory, ominous, sinister, threatening Antonyms unthreatening Related Words black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, desolate, dim, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dreich [chiefly Scottish], elegiac (also elegiacal), forlorn, funereal, gloomy, glum, godforsaken, gray (also grey), lonely, lonesome, lugubrious, miserable, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine, sepulchral, somber (or sombre), sullen, sunless, tenebrific, tenebrous, wretched; discouraging, disheartening, hopeless, unfavorable, unpromising, unpropitious; ill-fated, ill-starred, star-crossed, troubled, unfortunate, unlucky; evil, malign, malignant Near Antonyms auspicious, benign, bright, encouraging, favorable, golden, heartening, hopeful, promising, propitious, prosperous more See Synonym Discussion at ominous Other Occult Terms augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith Rhymes with PORTENTOUS apprentice, momentous

apos·tate noun \ə-ˈpäs-ˌtāt, -tət\

: one who commits apostasy — apostate adjective See apostate defined for English-language learners » See apostate defined for kids » Examples of APOSTATE <an apostate from communism, he later became one of its harshest critics> <became an apostate to liberalism after he had gotten wealthy> First Known Use of APOSTATE 14th century Related to APOSTATE Synonyms renegade, defector, deserter, recreant Antonyms loyalist Related Words betrayer, double-crosser, quisling, traitor, traitress (or traitoress), turnabout, turncoat; abandoner, come-outer, dropout, leaver; defier, insurgent, insurrectionary, insurrectionist, mutineer, rebel, red, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist, revolutionizer; discontent, malcontent; recusant, refusenik (also refusnik), refuser Near Antonyms adherent, disciple, follower, supporter; fanatic, militant, partisan (also partizan), zealot more Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra Rhymes with APOSTATE abdicate, abnegate, abrogate, acclimate, acerbate, acetate, activate, actuate, acylate, adsorbate, advocate, adulate, adumbrate, aggravate... [+]more

pro·fuse adjective \prə-ˈfyüs, prō-\

: pouring forth liberally : extravagant <profuse in their thanks> 2 : exhibiting great abundance : bountiful <a profuse harvest> — pro·fuse·ly adverb — pro·fuse·ness noun See profuse defined for English-language learners » See profuse defined for kids » Examples of PROFUSE He offered profuse apologies for being late. They were profuse in their thanks. Origin of PROFUSE Middle English, from Latin profusus, past participle of profundere to pour forth, from pro- forth + fundere to pour — more at found First Known Use: 15th century Related to PROFUSE Synonyms copious, galore, gushing, lavish, riotous Antonyms dribbling, trickling Related Words abounding, abundant, ample, bounteous, bountiful, liberal, plenteous, plentiful; extravagant, luxuriant; fat, fecund, fertile; free, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting; excessive, immoderate, redundant; adequate, complete, enough, sufficient Near Antonyms meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, spare, sparse, stingy; deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, lacking, scarce, unsatisfactory, wanting; bare, mere, minimal more Synonym Discussion of PROFUSE profuse, lavish, prodigal, luxuriant, lush, exuberant mean giving or given out in great abundance. profuse implies pouring forth without restraint <profuse apologies>. lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion <a lavish party>. prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources <prodigal spending>. luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance <a luxuriant beard>. lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance <a lush green lawn>. exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly <an exuberant imagination>. Rhymes with PROFUSE Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, condu... [+]more

pur·port·ed adjective \-ˈpȯr-təd\

: reputed, alleged <took gullible tourists to purported ancient sites> See purported defined for English-language learners » Examples of PURPORTED the purported value of the estate First Known Use of PURPORTED 1836 Rhymes with PURPORTED assorted, ill-sorted

anal·o·gous adjective \ə-ˈna-lə-gəs\

: showing an analogy or a likeness that permits one to draw an analogy 2 : being or related to as an analogue — anal·o·gous·ly adverb — anal·o·gous·ness noun See analogous defined for English-language learners » See analogous defined for kids » Examples of ANALOGOUS I could not think of an analogous situation. <bad-mouthing your sister is analogous to slapping her in the face—it's just as bad> ... gluons, force particles analogous to the photons of electromagnetism. —Andrew Watson, Science, 22 Jan. 1999 ... great stretches of algae, analogous to terrestrial woodlands, in which kelp fills the role of trees. —William K. Stevens, New York Times, 5 Jan. 1999 ... not by means superior to, though analogous with, human reason ... —Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 1859 [-]hide Origin of ANALOGOUS Latin analogus, from Greek analogos, literally, proportionate, from ana- + logos reason, ratio, from legein to gather, speak — more at legend First Known Use: 1646 Related to ANALOGOUS Synonyms akin, alike, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto, like, matching, parallel, resemblant, resembling, similar, such, suchlike Antonyms different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin, unlike Related Words commensurate, proportionate; tantamount, virtual; allied, congeneric, congenerous, congenial, connatural, kin, kindred, relatable, related; approaching, approximating, close, coextensive, coincident, conformable, conforming, consistent, consonant, duplicate, equal, equivalent, fungible, identical, indistinguishable, interchangeable, me-too, redundant, same, selfsame, substitutable, synonymous, twin; entire, homogeneous, homogenous, unchanging, uniform, unvaried, unvarying Near Antonyms disparate, distinct, distinguishable, nonequivalent, noninterchangeable; variable, varied, various, varying; imprecise, inaccurate, inexact; unconnected, unrelated more See Synonym Discussion at similar anal·o·gous adjective \ə-ˈnal-ə-gəs\ (Medical Dictionary) Medical Definition of ANALOGOUS : having similar function but a different structure and origin <analogous organs>

pau·ci·ty noun \ˈpȯ-sə-tē\

: smallness of number : fewness 2 : smallness of quantity : dearth See paucity defined for English-language learners » See paucity defined for kids » Examples of PAUCITY <a paucity of useful answers to the problem of traffic congestion at rush hour> If you had one of those Yugoslav names with a paucity of vowels, you might sprinkle in a few ... —Calvin Trillin, Time, 22 May 2000 [+]more Origin of PAUCITY Middle English paucite, from Latin paucitat-, paucitas, from paucus little — more at few First Known Use: 15th century Related to PAUCITY Synonyms crunch, dearth, deficit, drought (also drouth), failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, deficiency, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want Antonyms abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth Related Words absence, omission; meagerness, poorness, skimpiness; necessity, need, privation Near Antonyms bountifulness, copiousness; excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus more

plau·si·ble adjective \ˈplȯ-zə-bəl\

: superficially fair, reasonable, or valuable but often specious <a plausible pretext> 2 : superficially pleasing or persuasive <a swindler... , then a quack, then a smooth, plausible gentleman — R. W. Emerson> 3 : appearing worthy of belief <the argument was both powerful and plausible> — plau·si·ble·ness noun — plau·si·bly adverb See plausible defined for English-language learners » See plausible defined for kids » Examples of PLAUSIBLE <it's a plausible explanation for the demise of that prehistoric species> I watch the ospreys who nest on Perch Island high atop their white spruce. Our sense of a plausible summer depends much on their diligent success at nest-building and procreation, and on their chicks fledging in late August. —Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008 ... I'd mastered the quick size-up. Does the person seem agreeable over coffee at the drugstore counter and picking up his mail at the post office, drive a plausible vehicle, and know the weather forecast? —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, June 2007 Now, two NASA scientists, both also astronauts, suggest a simpler, safer, and much more plausible way of diverting an offending asteroid. Their method relies on the gravitational tug of a massive, unmanned spacecraft to pull the rock away from a damaging rendezvous with Earth. —R. Cowen, Science News, 12 Nov. 2005 ... string theorists can exhibit plausible models of a unified Universe, but unfortunately they cannot explain why we inhabit a particular one. —Michael Atiyah, Nature, 22-29 Dec. 2005 [-]hide Origin of PLAUSIBLE Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plausus, past participle of plaudere First Known Use: 1565 Related to PLAUSIBLE Synonyms credible, creditable, likely, believable, presumptive, probable Antonyms far-fetched, implausible, improbable, incredible, unbelievable, unlikely, unplausible Related Words cogent, compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, forceful, persuasive, satisfying, strong, telling; acceptable, cogitable, conceivable, imaginable, possible, practical, reasonable; dependable, reliable, trustworthy; sophistic (or sophistical), specious Near Antonyms absurd, doubtful, dubious, fantastic (also fantastical), flimsy, outlandish, preposterous, questionable, ridiculous; impossible, inconceivable, unimaginable, unthinkable; skeptical, suspect, suspicious, uncertain, unsure; hopeless, unworkable, useless more

ar·mi·stice noun \ˈär-mə-stəs\

: temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement between the opponents : truce See armistice defined for English-language learners » See armistice defined for kids » Examples of ARMISTICE <both sides in the conflict agreed to an armistice during the solemn holy days> Origin of ARMISTICE French or New Latin; French, from New Latin armistitium, from Latin arma + -stitium (as in solstitium solstice) First Known Use: circa 1707 Related to ARMISTICE Synonyms truce, cease-fire Related Words accord, reconcilement, reconciliation; détente (or detente); peace, peacetime Near Antonyms conflict, hostilities, hot war, war more

myr·i·ad noun \ˈmir-ē-əd\

: ten thousand 2 : a great number <a myriad of ideas> See myriad defined for English-language learners » See myriad defined for kids » Usage Discussion of MYRIAD Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective. As the entries here show, however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The noun myriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (plural myriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it. Examples of MYRIAD There are a myriad of possibilities. <the car can be outfitted with a myriad of options> Mr. McCullough hails Adams for being uncannily prescient ... foreseeing a myriad of developments, from the difficulty of defeating the British ... to the divisive consequences of slavery. —Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 22 May 2001 [+]more Origin of MYRIAD Greek myriad-, myrias, from myrioi countless, ten thousand First Known Use: 1555 Related to MYRIAD Synonyms abundance, barrel, basketful, boatload, bucket, bunch, bundle, bushel, carload, chunk, deal, dozen, fistful, gobs, good deal, heap, hundred, lashings (also lashins) [chiefly British], loads, mass, mess, mountain, much, multiplicity, lot, oodles, pack, passel, peck, pile, plateful, plenitude, plentitude, plenty, pot, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, sheaf, shipload, sight, slew, spate, stack, store, ton, truckload, volume, wad, wealth, yard Antonyms ace, bit, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, handful, hint, lick, little, mite, mouthful, nip, ounce, peanuts, pinch, pittance, scruple, shade, shadow, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), speck, spot, sprinkle, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, taste, touch, trace Related Words epidemic, plague, rash; bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, plethora, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus; deluge, flood, overflow; army, bevy, cram, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mob, multitude, press, score, sea, swarm, throng; gazillion, jillion, kazillion, million, thousands, trillion, zillion Near Antonyms atom, crumb, dot, fleck, flyspeck, fragment, grain, granule, iota, jot, modicum, molecule, mote, nubbin, particle, ray, scintilla, scrap, shred, tittle, whit; smatter, smattering; dash, drop, morsel, shot; piece, portion, section; absence, dearth, famine, lack, paucity, poverty, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want; deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency, meagerness, scantiness, scantness, skimpiness more Other Number-Related Terms jubilee, quarantine, score, twain Rhymes with MYRIAD nereid, Nereid, period 2myr·i·ad adjective \ˈmir-ē-əd\ Definition of MYRIAD 1 : innumerable <those myriad problems>; also : both numerous and diverse <myriad topics> 2 : having innumerable aspects or elements <the myriad activity of the new land — Meridel Le Sueur> See myriad defined for English-language learners » Examples of MYRIAD The old system's problems were myriad. <the myriad problems that today's cities face> ... the more quotations that could be found, the more easily the subtle differences between the (possibly) myriad usages and meanings of any single word could be identified. This is how historical dictionaries are made ... —Simon Winchester, The Meaning of Everything, 2003 [+]more

1pains·tak·ing noun \ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ\

: the action of taking pains : diligent care and effort First Known Use of PAINSTAKING 1538 Rhymes with PAINSTAKING backbreaking, bookmaking, breathtaking, caretaking, dressmaking, earthshaking, filmmaking, glassmaking, groundbreaking, heartbreaking, hou... [+]more 2painstaking adjective Definition of PAINSTAKING : taking pains : expending, showing, or involving diligent care and effort — pains·tak·ing·ly adverb See painstaking defined for English-language learners » See painstaking defined for kids » Examples of PAINSTAKING The book describes the election process in painstaking detail. <she was always painstaking about her work> First Known Use of PAINSTAKING 1696 Related to PAINSTAKING Synonyms careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, meticulous, scrupulous Antonyms careless Related Words assiduous, diligent, indefatigable, persevering, sedulous; exhaustive, thorough, thoroughgoing; alert, attentive, observant, vigilant, watchful; accurate, exact, precise, strict; critical, demanding, discriminating, exacting, fastidious, finicky, particular; cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful, mindful, wary; deliberate, plodding, slow; studied, thoughtful; all-out, determined, dogged, intensive, patient, tenacious, tireless, zealous Near Antonyms cursory, halfhearted; heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary; lax, neglectful, negligent, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly; imprecise; inaccurate, uncritical, undemanding, undiscriminating; bold, impetuous, rash, reckless; apathetic, indifferent, lackadaisical, lazy, lazyish

rhet·o·ric noun \ˈre-tə-rik\

: the art of speaking or writing effectively: as a : the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times b : the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion 2 a : skill in the effective use of speech b : a type or mode of language or speech; also : insincere or grandiloquent language 3 : verbal communication : discourse See rhetoric defined for English-language learners » See rhetoric defined for kids » Examples of RHETORIC a college course in rhetoric <the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program> The media almost never discuss what the sweeping dismantling of public services inherent in the rhetoric of the antigovernment movement would mean in practice. —E. J. Dionne, Jr., Commonweal, 20 Nov. 2009 [+]more Origin of RHETORIC Middle English rethorik, from Anglo-French rethorique, from Latin rhetorica, from Greek rhētorikē, literally, art of oratory, from feminine of rhētorikos of an orator, from rhētōr orator, rhetorician, from eirein to say, speak — more at word First Known Use: 14th century Related to RHETORIC Synonyms bombast, fustian, gas, grandiloquence, hot air, oratory, verbiage, wind Antonyms inarticulateness Related Words claptrap, drivel, gibberish, hogwash, humbug, jabberwocky, jazz, moonshine, nonsense; affectedness, floweriness, grandiosity, loftiness, pomposity, pretension, pretentiousness; garrulity, garrulousness, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness more Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

pa·thol·o·gy noun \-jē\

: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them 2 : something abnormal: a : the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease b : deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial c : deviation giving rise to social ills <connections between these pathologies ... and crime — Wendy Kaminer> See pathology defined for English-language learners » See pathology defined for kids » Examples of PATHOLOGY the pathology of lung diseases Origin of PATHOLOGY New Latin pathologia & Middle French pathologie, from Greek pathologia study of the emotions, from path- + -logia -logy First Known Use: 1611 Other Psychology Terms fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal Rhymes with PATHOLOGY andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytolog... [+]more pa·thol·o·gy noun \-jē\ (Medical Dictionary) plural ; pa·thol·o·gies Medical Definition of PATHOLOGY 1 : the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them 2 : the anatomic and physiological deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease 3 : a treatise on or compilation of abnormalities <a new pathology of the eye> pathology noun (Concise Encyclopedia) Medical specialty dealing with causes of disease and structural and functional changes in abnormal conditions. As autopsies, initially prohibited for religious reasons, became more accepted in the late Middle Ages, people learned more about the causes of death. In 1761 Giovanni Battista Morgagni (1682-1771) published the first book to locate disease in individual organs. In the mid-19th century the humoral theories of infection were replaced first by cell-based theories (see Rudolf Virchow) and then by the bacteriologic theories of Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur. Today pathologists work mostly in the laboratory and consult with a patient's physician after examining specimens including surgically removed body parts, blood and other fluids, urine, feces, and discharges. Culturing of infectious organisms, staining, fibre-optic endoscopy, and electron microscopy have greatly expanded the information available to the pathologist.

pa·tron·ize transitive verb \ˈpā-trə-ˌnīz, ˈpa-\

: to act as patron of : provide aid or support for 2 : to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly 3 : to be a frequent or regular customer or client of — pa·tron·i·za·tion noun — pa·tron·iz·ing·ly adverb Examples of PATRONIZE The family patronizes the arts. He hated being patronized and pitied by those who didn't believe his story. "I'm sure you did your best even though you failed." "Please don't patronize." I patronize the library regularly. For the court to come around, at this late date, to acknowledging our existence as "free persons" is shockingly patronizing; it's condescension that has been cast as liberation. —John Cloud, Time, 7 July 2003 [+]more Origin of PATRONIZE (see patron) First Known Use: 1589 Related to PATRONIZE Synonyms lord (it over), condescend, talk down (to) Related Words cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub; queen (it over) Near Antonyms baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down more Rhymes with PATRONIZE advertise, agonize, alchemize, analyze, anglicize, anodize, anywise, aphorize, arborize, atomize, authorize, autolyze, balkanize, barbariz... [+]more

re·pu·di·ate transitive verb \ri-ˈpyü-dē-ˌāt\

: to divorce or separate formally from (a woman) 2 : to refuse to have anything to do with : disown 3 a : to refuse to accept; especially : to reject as unauthorized or as having no binding force <repudiate a contract> b : to reject as untrue or unjust <repudiate a charge> 4 : to refuse to acknowledge or pay <repudiate a debt> — re·pu·di·a·tor noun Examples of REPUDIATE a generation that has repudiated the values of the past He has publicly repudiated the government's policies. He published an article that repudiates the study's claims. She says she has evidence which repudiates the allegations. During the Algerian war of independence, the United States had also repudiated France's claimed right to attack a town in neighboring Tunisia that succored Algerian guerrillas ... —Christopher Hitchens, Harper's, February 2001 [+]more Origin of REPUDIATE Latin repudiatus, past participle of repudiare, from repudium rejection of a prospective spouse, divorce, probably from re- + pudēre to shame First Known Use: 1545 Related to REPUDIATE Synonyms contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, reject, deny Antonyms acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own Related Words traverse; challenge, confute, disprove, rebut; disagree (with), dispute Near Antonyms accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify more See Synonym Discussion at decline Rhymes with REPUDIATE abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alien... [+]more

pal·li·ate transitive verb \ˈpa-lē-ˌāt\

: to reduce the violence of (a disease); also : to ease (symptoms) without curing the underlying disease 2 : to cover by excuses and apologies 3 : to moderate the intensity of <trying to palliate the boredom> — pal·li·a·tion noun — pal·li·a·tor noun Examples of PALLIATE treatments that can palliate the painful symptoms of the disease <don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies> Origin of PALLIATE Middle English, from Late Latin palliatus, past participle of palliare to cloak, conceal, from Latin pallium cloak First Known Use: 15th century Related to PALLIATE Synonyms deodorize, excuse, explain away, extenuate, gloss (over), gloze (over), whitewash Antonyms aggravate, exacerbate Related Words sugarcoat, varnish; apologize, atone, confess; account (for), explain, justify, rationalize; minimize, play down, soft-pedal; alleviate, ease, lessen, lighten, mitigate, moderate, soften, temper; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate Near Antonyms harm, hurt, impair, injure; heighten, intensify, sharpen more Other Medicine Terms analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, pandemic Rhymes with PALLIATE abdicate, abnegate, abrogate, acclimate, acerbate, acetate, activate, actuate, acylate, adsorbate, advocate, adulate, adumbrate, aggravate... [+]more pal·li·ate transitive verb \ˈpal-ē-ˌāt\ (Medical Dictionary) pal·li·at·ed; pal·li·at·ing Medical Definition of PALLIATE : to reduce the violence of (a disease) : ease without curing —pal·li·a·tion (audio pronunciation) noun

1re·vere transitive verb \ri-ˈvir\

: to show devoted deferential honor to : regard as worthy of great honor <revere the aged> <revere tradition> Examples of REVERE The family reveres old traditions. <in some cultures people revere their ancestors, even leaving food offerings for them> Origin of REVERE Latin revereri, from re- + vereri to fear, respect — more at wary First Known Use: 1615 Related to REVERE Synonyms adore, deify, glorify, worship, reverence, venerate Related Words admire, honor, love, regard, respect; apotheosize, canonize, dignify, exalt, lionize, magnify; extol (also extoll), laud, praise; delight, gratify, please, satisfy Near Antonyms blaspheme, desecrate, profane, violate; affront, dishonor, disrespect, insult, offend, outrage, pique, ridicule, scorn, slight; displease; defame, disparage, libel, malign, slander, slur, smear more Synonym Discussion of REVERE revere, reverence, venerate, worship, adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling <a professor revered by her students>. reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring <reverenced the academy's code of honor>. venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age <heroes still venerated>. worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony <worships their memory>. adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment <we adored our doctor>. Rhymes with REVERE adhere, Aesir, Ajmer, all clear, ambeer, appear, arrear, Asir, Ayrshire, besmear, by ear, Cape Fear, career, cashier, cashmere, Cheshire, ... [+]more 2revere noun Definition of REVERE : revers Origin of REVERE by alteration First Known Use: 1899

re·cant verb \ri-ˈkant\

: to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly : renounce 2 : revoke intransitive verb : to make an open confession of error — re·can·ta·tion noun See recant defined for English-language learners » See recant defined for kids » Examples of RECANT Church officials asked the minister to recant. Witnesses threatened to recant their testimony when the court released their names to the paper. Origin of RECANT Latin recantare, from re- + cantare to sing — more at chant First Known Use: 1535 Related to RECANT Synonyms abnegate, forswear (also foreswear), abjure, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw Antonyms adhere (to) Related Words contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative; abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, revoke Near Antonyms acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow; back, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, maintain, support, uphold; accept, adopt, embrace more See Synonym Discussion at abjure Rhymes with RECANT aslant, bacchant, bacchante, bezant, courante, decant, descant, displant, eggplant, enceinte, enchant, explant, extant, face-plant, fire a... [+]more

am·bi·ence noun \ˈam-bē-ən(t)s, ˈäm-bē-än(t)s\

Definition of AMBIENCE : a feeling or mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing : atmosphere See ambience defined for English-language learners » See ambience defined for kids » Variants of AMBIENCE am·bi·ence or am·bi·ance Examples of AMBIENCE the ambience of a tropical island <the exurb has the unmistakable ambience of old money> Origin of AMBIENCE French ambiance, from ambiant ambient First Known Use: 1815 Related to AMBIENCE Synonyms air, aura (or ambiance), aroma, atmosphere, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood, nimbus, note, odor, patina, smell, temper, vibration(s) Related Words aureole (or aureola), mystique, romance; genius loci; feel, feeling, sensation, sense, spirit; attribute, character, characteristic, image, mark, notion, peculiarity, picture, property, trait; color, illusion, overtone, semblance, suggestion, tone more

as·cen·dan·cy noun \ə-ˈsen-dən(t)-sē\

Definition of ASCENDANCY : governing or controlling influence : domination See ascendancy defined for English-language learners » See ascendancy defined for kids » Variants of ASCENDANCY as·cen·dan·cy also as·cen·den·cy Examples of ASCENDANCY the ascendancy of the government <a book chronicling the ascendancy of fascism in Europe after World War I> First Known Use of ASCENDANCY 1677 Related to ASCENDANCY Synonyms ascendance (also ascendence), supremacy (also ascendency), dominance, domination, dominion, hegemony, imperium, predominance, predominancy, preeminence, reign, sovereignty (also sovranty) Related Words primacy, superiority; lordship, scepter; arm, authority, choke hold, clutch, command, control, grip, hold, mastery, sway; takeover; direction, jurisdiction, management; clout, might, pull, weight; eminence, importance, moment; prerogative, privilege, right Near Antonyms helplessness, weakness; impotence, impotency, powerlessness more

av·id adjective \ˈa-vəd\

Definition of AVID 1 : desirous to the point of greed : urgently eager : greedy <avid for publicity> 2 : characterized by enthusiasm and vigorous pursuit <avid readers> — av·id·ly adverb — av·id·ness noun See avid defined for English-language learners » See avid defined for kids » Examples of AVID He is an avid admirer of horror movies. They took an avid interest in politics. some of the newspaper's most avid readers Origin of AVID French or Latin; French avide, from Latin avidus, from avēre to desire, crave; akin to Welsh ewyllys desire, Old Irish con-oí he protects First Known Use: 1769 Related to AVID Synonyms acquisitive, avaricious, greedy, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, mercenary, moneygrubbing, rapacious Antonyms apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic Related Words commercialistic, materialistic, philistine; desirous, eager, itchy, lickerish, miserly; hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish; devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious; egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), self-centered, self-seeking; discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied; begrudging, grudging, resentful Near Antonyms nonmaterialistic; altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing; controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate; content, sated, satisfied more

brawny adjective \ˈbrȯ-nē\

Definition of BRAWNY 1 : muscular; also : strong, powerful 2 : being swollen and hard <a brawny infected foot> — brawn·i·ly adverb — brawn·i·ness noun Examples of BRAWNY <the store manager always asked the brawniest person there to do the heavy lifting> <brawny arms that weren't developed in the gym but by years of work in the construction business> First Known Use of BRAWNY 1581 Related to BRAWNY Synonyms strong, muscular, rugged, sinewy, stalwart, stout Antonyms delicate, feeble, frail, weak, weakling, wimpy Related Words forceful, forcible, mighty, potent, powerful, puissant; able-bodied, athletic, fit, trim; beefy, burly, husky, strapping; masculine, virile; hard, inured, strengthened, sturdy, tough, toughened; energetic, energized, invigorated, lusty, red-blooded, robust, vigorous, vitalized; hale, healthy, hearty, sound Near Antonyms challenged, disabled, incapacitated, paralyzed; impotent, powerless; puny, slight, small, unathletic, unfit, unhealthy more Rhymes with BRAWNY fawny, lawny, scrawny, Taney, tawny brawny adjective \ˈbrȯ-nē\ (Medical Dictionary) brawn·i·er; brawn·i·est Medical Definition of BRAWNY : being swollen and hard <a brawny infected foot>

ca·pri·cious adjective \kə-ˈpri-shəs, -ˈprē-\

Definition of CAPRICIOUS : governed or characterized by caprice : impulsive, unpredictable — ca·pri·cious·ly adverb — ca·pri·cious·ness noun See capricious defined for English-language learners » See capricious defined for kids » Examples of CAPRICIOUS employees who are at the mercy of a capricious manager The court ruled that the punishment was arbitrary and capricious. ... every balloon voyage is a race between capricious winds and the amount of fuel on board. —Tom Morganthau, Newsweek, 29 Mar. 1999 [+]more Origin of CAPRICIOUS (see caprice) First Known Use: 1601 Related to CAPRICIOUS Synonyms fickle, changeable, changeful, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, skittish, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile Antonyms certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled, stable, stationary, steady, unchangeable, unchanging, unvarying Related Words aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, irregular, random, scattered, slapdash, stray; ambivalent, hesitating, shaky, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillating, wavering; dicey, undependable, unreliable, untrustworthy; adaptable, mobile, protean, versatile Near Antonyms equable, even, uniform; abiding, durable, lasting, permanent, persistent; dependable, reliable, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty more See Synonym Discussion at inconstant Rhymes with CAPRICIOUS facetious

cir·cum·spect adjective \ˈsər-kəm-ˌspekt\

Definition of CIRCUMSPECT : careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : prudent <diplomacy required a circumspect response> — cir·cum·spec·tion noun — cir·cum·spect·ly adverb See circumspect defined for English-language learners » See circumspect defined for kids » Examples of CIRCUMSPECT <she has a reputation for being quiet and circumspect in investigating charges of child abuse> Origin of CIRCUMSPECT Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French circonspect, from Latin circumspectus, from past participle of circumspicere to look around, be cautious, from circum- + specere to look — more at spy First Known Use: 15th century Related to CIRCUMSPECT Synonyms alert, cautious, chary, careful, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary Antonyms careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary Related Words advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful; hypercautious; foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful; cagey (also cagy), calculating, canny, shrewd; deliberate, slow; ultracareful, ultracautious Near Antonyms bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome; asleep, inattentive, regardless; inconsiderate, thoughtless; lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss; imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious; absentminded, forgetful; inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned more

1fray transitive verb \ˈfrā\

Definition of FRAY archaic : scare; also : to frighten away Origin of FRAY Middle English fraien, short for affraien to affray First Known Use: 14th century Rhymes with FRAY a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay,... [+]more 2fray noun Definition of FRAY : a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute First Known Use of FRAY 14th century 3fray verb Definition of FRAY transitive verb 1 a : to wear (as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing : fret b : to separate the threads at the edge of 2 : strain, irritate <tempers became a bit frayed> intransitive verb 1 : to wear out or into shreds 2 : to show signs of strain <fraying nerves> Origin of FRAY Middle English fraien, from Anglo-French freier, froier to rub, from Latin fricare — more at friction First Known Use: 15th century 4fray noun Definition of FRAY : a raveled place or worn spot (as on fabric) First Known Use of FRAY 1630

grub·by adjective \ˈgrə-bē\

Definition of GRUBBY 1 : infested with fly maggots 2 a : dirty, grimy <grubby hands> b : slovenly, sloppy 3 : worthy of contempt : base <grubby political motives> — grub·bi·ly adverb — grub·bi·ness noun See grubby defined for English-language learners » See grubby defined for kids » Examples of GRUBBY He lives in a grubby little apartment. <clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything> First Known Use of GRUBBY 1725 Related to GRUBBY Synonyms bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty [chiefly British], dirty, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly Antonyms clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied Related Words contaminated, defiled, germy, impure, polluted, tainted; insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed; greasy, gunky; chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, scruffy, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy; raunchy, scuzzy [slang], shabby, skanky [slang], sleazy, squalid; collied [chiefly British dialect], crocked [dialect], fuliginous, sooty Near Antonyms clear, limpid, pure; cleaned, cleansed, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy; bleached, purified, whitened; bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted, untouched; taintless, unblemished, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, virgin, wholesome more

in·tran·si·gent adjective \-jənt\

Definition of INTRANSIGENT : characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an extreme position or attitude : uncompromising <intransigent in their opposition> <an intransigent attitude> — intransigent noun — in·tran·si·gent·ly adverb See intransigent defined for English-language learners » Examples of INTRANSIGENT He has remained intransigent in his opposition to the proposal. <he has remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the process> Origin of INTRANSIGENT Spanish intransigente, from in- + transigente, present participle of transigir to compromise, from Latin transigere to come to an agreement — more at transact First Known Use: circa 1879 Related to INTRANSIGENT Synonyms adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, hard-nosed, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, obstinate, mulish, obdurate, opinionated, ossified, pat, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-opinionated, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful) Antonyms acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding Related Words anal-retentive, obsessive; wayward, wrongheaded; determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching; firm, hard-line, hard-shell (or hard-shelled), iron, severe, stern, strict; hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid; bloody-minded [chiefly British], cantankerous; contrary, cussed; contumacious, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly; defiant, insurgent, mutinous; indomitable, invincible, unconquerable; confirmed, inveterate, unregenerate; demanding, exacting Near Antonyms docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable; accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing; governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate; slavish, subservient more

melo·dra·mat·ic adjective \ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik

Definition of MELODRAMATIC 1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of melodrama 2 : appealing to the emotions : sensational — melo·dra·mat·i·cal·ly adverb See melodramatic defined for English-language learners » See melodramatic defined for kids » Examples of MELODRAMATIC Oh, quit being so melodramatic! <our office drama queen yet again made the melodramatic declaration that he was contemplating suicide> First Known Use of MELODRAMATIC 1808 Related to MELODRAMATIC Synonyms dramatic, hammy, histrionic, theatrical, stagy (or stagey) Antonyms undramatic Related Words actorish, actorly, actressy; overacted, overdone, sensational, staged; conspicuous, elaborate, flamboyant, grandiose, ostentatious, showy; affected, artificial, exaggerated, mannered, pretentious, self-conscious, studied, unnatural Near Antonyms nondramatic, nontheatrical, unaffected, underplayed, unpretentious; muted, restrained, subdued, toned (down); conservative, discreet, inconspicuous; modest, plain, quiet, simple more

nox·ious adjective \ˈnäk-shəs\

Definition of NOXIOUS 1 a : physically harmful or destructive to living beings <noxious waste> b : constituting a harmful influence on mind or behavior; especially : morally corrupting <noxious doctrines> 2 : disagreeable, obnoxious — nox·ious·ly adverb — nox·ious·ness noun See noxious defined for English-language learners » See noxious defined for kids » Examples of NOXIOUS <mixing bleach and ammonia can cause noxious fumes that can seriously harm you> <noxious smog that for years has been encrusting the historic cathedral with soot> Origin of NOXIOUS Middle English noxius, from Latin, from noxa harm; akin to Latin nocēre to harm, nec-, nex violent death, Greek nekros dead body First Known Use: 15th century Related to NOXIOUS Synonyms insalubrious, noisome, unhealthy, sickly, unhealthful, unwholesome Antonyms healthful, healthy Related Words germy, insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary; nonnutritious; poisonous, toxic; fatal, lethal, mortal Near Antonyms hygienic, sanitary; nutritious more See Synonym Discussion at pernicious Other Ecology Terms Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra nox·ious adjective \ˈnäk-shəs\ (Medical Dictionary) Medical Definition of NOXIOUS : physically harmful or destructive to living beings <noxious wastes>

1par·a·gon noun \ˈper-ə-ˌgän, -gən, ˈpa-rə-\

Definition of PARAGON : a model of excellence or perfection See paragon defined for English-language learners » See paragon defined for kids » Examples of PARAGON <in Arthurian legend, Sir Galahad is depicted as the one knight who is a paragon of virtue> Origin of PARAGON Middle French, from Old Italian paragone, literally, touchstone, from paragonare to test on a touchstone, from Greek parakonan to sharpen, from para- + akonē whetstone, from akē point; akin to Greek akmē point — more at edge First Known Use: circa 1548 Related to PARAGON Synonyms beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, ideal, patron saint Related Words role model; embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink; archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern; guideline, principle, rule; gauge (also gage), standard, touchstone; essence, quintessence; acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith more Rhymes with PARAGON Abadan, Acheron, Ahriman, aileron, alençon, amazon, Amazon, amnion, and so on, antiphon, Aragon, autobahn, balmacaan, Bantustan, baryon, B... [+]more 2paragon transitive verb Definition of PARAGON 1 : to compare with : parallel 2 : to put in rivalry : match 3 obsolete : surpass

ped·ant noun \ˈpe-dənt\

Definition of PEDANT 1 obsolete : a male schoolteacher 2 a : one who makes a show of knowledge b : one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge c : a formalist or precisionist in teaching See pedant defined for English-language learners » See pedant defined for kids » Examples of PEDANT All too often, science fiction provokes the pedant in professional scientists, for whom a beautiful story can be ruined by a single petty error. —Jerry A. Coyne, New York Times Book Review, 10 Oct. 1999 A controversialist, crusty, critical, arrogant, a pedant, he was attacked by his contemporaries for sacrilege, impudence, temerity and presumption—among other imperfections. —Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996 This pioneer of the Age of the Sea, who deserves fame as an opener of the modern mind, has been caught in the cross fire of chauvinists, pedants, and ignorant but enthusiastic men of letters. —Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983 A zealous pedant, Flaubert defended the accuracy of his historical novels with wearisome tenacity, as if accuracy could compensate for their lack of lived experience. —James Atlas, New York Times Book Review, 17 Oct. 1982 [-]hide Origin of PEDANT

Promethean (adjective/prə-ˈmē-thē-ən)

Definition of PROMETHEAN : of, relating to, or resembling Prometheus, his experiences, or his art; especially : daringly original or creative Examples of PROMETHEAN <it is only through the efforts of a Promethean pioneer that an art form advances> First Known Use of PROMETHEAN 1594 Related to PROMETHEAN Synonyms clever, imaginative, ingenious, innovational, innovative, innovatory, inventive, original, originative, creative Antonyms uncreative, unimaginative, uninventive, unoriginal Related Words gifted, inspired, talented; resourceful; fecund, fertile, fruitful, generative, germinal, productive, prolific Near Antonyms imitative, uninspired; infertile, unproductive; talentless more

ran·cor noun \ˈraŋ-kər, -ˌkȯr\

Definition of RANCOR : bitter deep-seated ill will See rancor defined for English-language learners » See rancor defined for kids » Examples of RANCOR She answered her accusers calmly and without rancor. In the end, the debate created a degree of rancor among the committee members. Origin of RANCOR Middle English rancour, from Anglo-French rancur, from Late Latin rancor rancidity, rancor, from Latin rancēre First Known Use: 14th century Related to RANCOR Synonyms animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, gall, grudge, hostility, jaundice, enmity Antonyms amity Related Words blood feud, feud, score, vendetta; hate, hatred, loathing; vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; alienation, disaffection, estrangement; conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension; inhospitableness, unfriendliness; malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom Near Antonyms amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding more See Synonym Discussion at enmity Rhymes with RANCOR anchor, banker, canker, chancre, flanker, franker, hanker, ranker, spanker, tanker, thanker

1strapping adjective

Definition of STRAPPING : having a vigorously sturdy constitution See strapping defined for English-language learners » See strapping defined for kids » First Known Use of STRAPPING 1657 Rhymes with STRAPPING capping, mapping, trapping, wrapping 2strapping noun Definition of STRAPPING 1 : material for a strap 2 : straps First Known Use of STRAPPING 1818 strapping noun (Medical Dictionary) Medical Definition of STRAPPING : the application of adhesive plaster in overlapping strips upon or around a part (as a sprained ankle or the chest in pleurisy) to serve as a splint to reduce motion or to hold surgical dressings in place upon a surgical wound; also : material so used

sup·po·si·tion noun \ˌsə-pə-ˈzi-shən\

Definition of SUPPOSITION 1 : something that is supposed : hypothesis 2 : the act of supposing — sup·po·si·tion·al adjective See supposition defined for English-language learners » See supposition defined for kids » Examples of SUPPOSITION a supposition that proved correct This is just idle supposition. Origin of SUPPOSITION Middle English supposicioun, from Anglo-French supposicion, from Late Latin supposition-, suppositio, from Latin, act of placing beneath, from supponere First Known Use: 15th century Related to SUPPOSITION Synonyms hypothesis, proposition, theory, thesis Related Words assumption, concession, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, theorem; conjecture, generalization, guess, guesswork, inference, speculation, surmise; proffer, proposal, suggestion; feeling, hunch, impression, inkling, notion, suspicion; abstraction, concept, conception, construct Near Antonyms assurance, certainty, fact, knowledge more Rhymes with SUPPOSITION acoustician, acquisition, admonition, aesthetician, air-condition, ammunition, apparition, apposition, coalition, co-edition, competition,... [+]more

dribble (verb/ˈdri-bəl)

XXXXed XXXXling transitive verb 1: to issue sporadically and in small bits 2: to let or cause to fall in drops little by little 3a : to propel by successive slight taps or bounces with hand, foot, or stick <XXXX a basketball> <XXXX a puck> b : to hit (as a baseball) so as to cause a slow bouncing intransitive verb 1: to fall or flow in drops or in a thin intermittent stream : trickle 2: to let saliva trickle from the corner of the mouth : drool 3: to come or issue in piecemeal or desultory fashion 4a : to XXXX a ball or puck b : to proceed by XXXXling c of a ball : to move with short bounces — XXXX·bler noun Examples Juice XXXXed down his chin. She accidentally XXXXed wine onto the rug. XXXX olive oil over the warm bread before serving. She XXXXed across the basketball court. He skillfully XXXXed the soccer ball towards the goal. Related Synonyms distill (also distil), drip, drop, trickle Antonyms pour, roll, stream Related Words drizzle, sprinkle; flow, pour, roll, run, stream; cascade, gutter, riffle, ripple; bleed, exude, ooze, seep, weep; discharge Near Antonyms gush, spout, spurt Rhymes dibble, fribble, gribble, kibble, nibble, quibble, scribble, sibyl 2XXXXnoun Definition 1: a tiny or insignificant bit or quantity 2: a small trickling stream or flow 3: an act, instance, or manner of dribbling a ball or puck — XXXXbly adjective Examples He wiped a XXXX of juice from the corner of the baby's mouth. She gave the ball a XXXX before passing it. Related Synonyms atom, crumb, bit, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, nugget, particle, patch, scrap, scruple, snip, snippet, speck, tittle Related Words ace, dab, dash, driblet, drop, fraction, haet [chiefly Scottish], halfpenny, ha'penny, iota, jot, kenning [chiefly Scottish], lick, minim, mite, modicum, nutshell, ounce, pinch, shred, smatter, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), spot, strain, streak, suspicion, taste, touch, trace, whisper, whit; bite, mouthful, nibble, tidbit (also titbit); fragment, part, portion, section; chip, flake, shard, shiver, sliver, splinter; clipping, paring, shaving; smithereens Near Antonyms chunk, gob, hunk, lump, slab; abundance, barrel, bucket, bushel, deal, heaps, loads, mass, mountain, peck, pile, pot, profusion, quantity, raft, scads, stack, volume, wad, wealth Other Field and Goal Sports Terms crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate Rhymes dibble, fribble, kibble, nibble, quibble, scribble

im·pe·ri·ous adjective \im-ˈpir-ē-əs\

a : befitting or characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments : commanding, dominant <an imperious manner> b : marked by arrogant assurance : domineering 2 : intensely compelling : urgent <the imperious problems of the new age — J. F. Kennedy> — im·pe·ri·ous·ly adverb — im·pe·ri·ous·ness noun See imperious defined for English-language learners » See imperious defined for kids » Examples of IMPERIOUS <an imperious little boy who liked to tell the other scouts what to do> <an imperious movie star who thinks she's some sort of goddess> Origin of IMPERIOUS Latin imperiosus, from imperium First Known Use: 1540 Related to IMPERIOUS Synonyms authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, domineering, bossy, masterful, overbearing, peremptory, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous Antonyms humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious Related Words arrogant, assumptive, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, important, lofty, lordly, overweening, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, proud, self-asserting, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity; commanding, controlling, dictating, regimental; arbitrary, high-handed, imperial; directorial, magisterial; aggressive, assertive, self-assertive; imperative; conceited, narcissistic, pompous, vain; all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent; firm, stern Near Antonyms humble, meek, modest, unassuming; amenable, docile, obedient, tractable; indecisive, irresolute; acquiescent, compliant, passive, resigned, submissive, yielding more See Synonym Discussion at masterful Rhymes with IMPERIOUS cinereous, delirious, Guarnerius, mysterious, Tiberius

or·tho·dox adjective \ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks\

a : conforming to established doctrine especially in religion b : conventional 2 capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting any of various conservative religious or political groups: as a : eastern orthodox b : of or relating to Orthodox Judaism — or·tho·dox·ly adverb See orthodox defined for English-language learners » See orthodox defined for kids » Examples of ORTHODOX He took an orthodox approach to the problem. She believes in the benefits of both orthodox medicine and alternative medicine. He is a very orthodox Muslim. I attend an Eastern Orthodox church. My grandmother is Russian Orthodox. Origin of ORTHODOX Middle English orthodoxe, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French orthodoxe, from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Late Greek orthodoxos, from Greek orth- + doxa opinion — more at doxology First Known Use: 15th century Related to ORTHODOX Synonyms ceremonial, ceremonious, conventional, formal, regular, routine Antonyms casual, freewheeling, informal, irregular, unceremonious, unconventional, unorthodox Related Words authorized, certified, official, sanctioned; accepted, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly; formalistic, ritual, ritualistic; methodical (also methodic), orderly, systematic Near Antonyms unauthorized, unofficial; graceless, improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable more Other Jewish Religion Terms Talmud, Zion, challah, dybbuk, kosher, tabernacle, tetragrammaton, yarmulke Rhymes with ORTHODOX arctic fox, ballot box, bobby socks, chatterbox, chicken pox, dealing box, ditty box, equinox, flying fox, journal box, miter box, music b... [+]more 2orthodox noun plural orthodox also or·tho·dox·es Definition of ORTHODOX 1 : one that is orthodox 2 capitalized : a member of an Eastern Orthodox church

squea·mish adjective \ˈskwē-mish\

a : easily nauseated : queasy b : affected with nausea 2 a : excessively fastidious or scrupulous in conduct or belief b : easily offended or disgusted — squea·mish·ly adverb — squea·mish·ness noun See squeamish defined for English-language learners » See squeamish defined for kids » Examples of SQUEAMISH I used to be squeamish about eating raw fish. I'm too squeamish to watch horror movies. Origin of SQUEAMISH Middle English squaymisch, modification of Anglo-French escoymous First Known Use: 15th century Related to SQUEAMISH Synonyms ill, nauseated, qualmish, queasy (also queazy), queer, queerish, sick, sickish, nauseous Related Words green, peaked, peaky, sickly; unsettled, upset, woozy Near Antonyms settled; healthy, well more Rhymes with SQUEAMISH beamish

su·per·flu·i·ty noun \ˌsü-pər-ˈflü-ə-tē\

a : excess, oversupply b : something unnecessary or superfluous 2 : immoderate and especially luxurious living, habits, or desires See superfluity defined for English-language learners » See superfluity defined for kids » Examples of SUPERFLUITY <spends most of her money on designer clothes and other superfluities> <a superfluity of wire coat hangers from all of those trips to the dry cleaner> Origin of SUPERFLUITY Middle English superfluitee, from Anglo-French superfluité, from Late Latin superfluitat-, superfluitas, from Latin superfluus First Known Use: 14th century Related to SUPERFLUITY Synonyms amenity, comfort, extra, frill, indulgence, luxury Antonyms basic, essential, fundamental, must, necessity, requirement Related Words extravagance, nonessential; dainty, delicacy, nicety, treat; accessory (also accessary), accoutrement (or accouterment), bells and whistles, option Near Antonyms dearth, lack, scarcity, want more Rhymes with SUPERFLUITY ambiguity, assiduity, conspicuity, contiguity, continuity, exiguity, incongruity, ingenuity, perpetuity, perspicuity, promiscuity

au·da·cious adjective \ȯ-ˈdā-shəs\

a : intrepidly daring : adventurous <an audacious mountain climber> b : recklessly bold : rash <an audacious maneuver> 2 : contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum : insolent 3 : marked by originality and verve <audacious experiments> — au·da·cious·ly adverb — au·da·cious·ness noun See audacious defined for English-language learners » See audacious defined for kids » Examples of AUDACIOUS They have audacious plans for the new school. This is her most audacious film so far. She made an audacious decision to quit her job. Whatever made him think his audacious fiction would sell—especially after a lifetime of literary marginalization—is a mystery, but he has certainly been vindicated. With a rush of work that he did not begin publishing until he was in his forties, he won literary fame in Europe and Latin America. —Valerie Sayers, Commonweal, 13 July 2007 [+]more Origin of AUDACIOUS Middle French audacieux, from audace boldness, from Latin audacia, from audac-, audax bold, from audēre to dare, from avidus eager — more at avid First Known Use: 1550 Related to AUDACIOUS Synonyms arch, nervy, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen, brazen-faced, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, sassy, saucy, wise Antonyms meek, mousy (or mousey), retiring, shy, timid Related Words assertive, forward, obtrusive; nervy, defiant, disrespectful; shameless, unabashed, unblushing; bluff, blunt, curt; cute, facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky; lippy, mouthy Near Antonyms demure, humble, modest; courteous, genteel, mannerly, polite, proper; deferential, respectful; abashed, ashamed, blushing, embarrassed, shamefaced; gentle, mild; inconspicuous, unobtrusive more Rhymes with AUDACIOUS bodacious, capacious, cetaceous, crustaceous, curvaceous, drupaceous, edacious, fallacious, flirtatious, fugacious, hellacious, herbaceous...

friv·o·lous adjective \ˈfri-və-ləs\

a : of little weight or importance b : having no sound basis (as in fact or law) <a frivolous lawsuit> 2 a : lacking in seriousness b : marked by unbecoming levity — friv·o·lous·ly adverb — friv·o·lous·ness noun See frivolous defined for English-language learners » See frivolous defined for kids » Examples of FRIVOLOUS She thinks window shopping is a frivolous activity. <judges are getting sick of people bringing frivolous lawsuits> She knew that people might think her frivolous, Kitty said, to talk to some saint when she had a cooking disaster, but that was what she really believed the saints were there for. —Alice Munro, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2001 [+]more Origin of FRIVOLOUS Middle English, from Latin frivolus First Known Use: 15th century Related to FRIVOLOUS Synonyms fiddling, foolish, unimportant, incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, Mickey Mouse, minor, minute, negligible, nugatory, slight, small, small-fry, trifling, trivial Antonyms big, consequential, eventful, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty Related Words jerkwater, one-horse; nickel-and-dime, paltry, petty, small-time, worthless; anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown Near Antonyms decisive, fatal, fateful; chief, dominant, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, principal; distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable; valuable, worthwhile, worthy; distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, preeminent, prestigious; famous, notorious, renowned; all-important, basic, essential, fundamental, key more

rhe·tor·i·cal adjective \ri-ˈtȯr-i-kəl, -ˈtär-\

a : of, relating to, or concerned with rhetoric b : employed for rhetorical effect; especially : asked merely for effect with no answer expected <a rhetorical question> 2 a : given to rhetoric : grandiloquent b : verbal — rhe·tor·i·cal·ly adverb See rhetorical defined for English-language learners » See rhetorical defined for kids » Variants of RHETORICAL rhe·tor·i·cal also rhe·tor·ic Examples of RHETORICAL My question was rhetorical. I wasn't really expecting an answer. <you can skip over the rhetorical passages and still get the gist of the essay> McKinney made her name in Georgia politics as a rhetorical bomb-thrower. Colleagues in the statehouse dubbed her "Hanoi Cynthia" after a 1991 speech denouncing the Persian Gulf War. —Bill Turque, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 1993 [+]more Origin of RHETORICAL (see rhetoric) First Known Use: 15th century Related to RHETORICAL Synonyms bombastic, flatulent, fustian, gaseous, gassy, grandiloquent, oratorical, orotund, windy Antonyms unrhetorical Related Words bloated, elevated, florid, flowery, grandiose, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-flown, high-sounding, inflated, lofty, ornate, pompous, pontifical, pretentious, stilted, tumid, turgid; overdone, verbose, wordy Near Antonyms eloquent, well-spoken; bald, direct, matter-of-fact, plain, plainspoken, simple, stark, straightforward, unadorned, unaffected, unpretentious more Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

bland adjective \ˈbland\

a : smooth and soothing in manner or quality <a bland smile> b : exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment : unperturbed <a bland confession of guilt> 2 a : not irritating, stimulating, or invigorating : soothing b : dull, insipid <bland stories with little plot or action> — bland·ly adverb — bland·ness noun See bland defined for English-language learners » See bland defined for kids » Examples of BLAND The vegetable soup was rather bland. The diplomat's bland statement did nothing to calm the situation. Origin of BLAND Latin blandus First Known Use: 1565 Related to BLAND Synonyms balmy, benign, gentle, delicate, light, mellow, mild, nonabrasive, soft, soothing, tender Antonyms abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern, ungentle Related Words calm, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil; clement, compassionate, easy, lenient, merciful; buffering, cushioning, emollient, softening; sleek, slick, smooth Near Antonyms exquisite, fierce, intense, powerful, severe; forceful, forcible, savage, violent; roughened, rugged, strong; abrading, irritating, roughening; grim, gruff, rude, stiff; heavy-handed, oppressive, pitiless, tyrannical (also tyrannic) more See Synonym Discussion at suave Rhymes with BLAND band, brand, canned, gland, grand, hand, land, manned, NAND, rand, sand, Sand, stand, strand

syn·the·sis noun \ˈsin(t)-thə-səs\

a : the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole b : the production of a substance by the union of chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds or by the degradation of a complex compound c : the combining of often diverse conceptions into a coherent whole; also : the complex so formed 2 a : deductive reasoning b : the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis into a higher stage of truth 3 : the frequent and systematic use of inflected forms as a characteristic device of a language — syn·the·sist noun See synthesis defined for English-language learners » See synthesis defined for kids » Examples of SYNTHESIS <a philosophy that is a kind of synthesis of several schools of Western and Eastern thought> Origin of SYNTHESIS Greek, from syntithenai to put together, from syn- + tithenai to put, place — more at do First Known Use: 1589 Related to SYNTHESIS Synonyms admixture, alloy, amalgam, amalgamation, cocktail, combination, composite, compound, conflation, emulsion, fusion, intermixture, meld, mix, mixture, blend Related Words half-and-half; absorption, blending, coalescence, coalition, commingling, commixture, compost, concretion, homogenization, immingling, immixture, incorporation, integration, interfusion, intermingling, mergence, merger, merging, mingling; assortment, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash, motley, patchwork, potpourri, variety; accumulation, aggregation, conglomeration Near Antonyms component, constituent, element, ingredient more Other Chemical Engineering Terms alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous syn·the·sis noun \ˈsin(t)-thə-səs\ (Medical Dictionary) plural ; syn·the·ses (audio pronunciation) Medical Definition of SYNTHESIS 1 : the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole 2 : the production of a substance by the union of chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds or by the degradation of a complex compound <protein synthesis>

de·vi·ous adjective \ˈdē-vē-əs, -vyəs\

a : wandering, roundabout <a devious path> b : moving without a fixed course : errant <devious breezes> 2 : out-of-the-way, remote 3 a : deviating from a right, accepted, or common course <devious conduct> b : not straightforward : cunning <a devious politician>; also : deceptive <a devious trick> — de·vi·ous·ly adverb — de·vi·ous·ness noun See devious defined for English-language learners » See devious defined for kids » Examples of DEVIOUS a dishonest and devious politician He took us by a devious route to the center of the city. Origin of DEVIOUS Latin devius, from de from + via way — more at de-, way First Known Use: 1599 Related to DEVIOUS Synonyms beguiling, cagey (also cagy), crafty, cunning, cute, designing, artful, dodgy [chiefly British], foxy, guileful, scheming, shrewd, slick, sly, subtle, tricky, wily Antonyms artless, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, undesigning Related Words astute, facile, glib, sharp; crooked, deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, fraudulent, insinuating, knavish, Machiavellian, oblique, serpentine, shady, shifty, slippery, sneaky, treacherous, underhand, underhanded, unscrupulous; backhanded, double-dealing, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, smooth-tongued, two-faced; circuitous, circular, roundabout; clandestine, concealed, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover; calculating, plotting Near Antonyms obvious, open, patent, plain, public, unconcealed; aboveboard, candid, direct, forthright, frank, honest, natural, outspoken, plainspoken, real, simple, sincere, straightforward, unaffected, unpretending, unpretentious, unvarnished; childlike, impressionable, simpleminded, unsophisticated, unworldly; unforced, unstudied; trustful, trusting more

chi·me·ra noun \kī-ˈmir-ə, kə-\

a capitalized : a fire-breathing she-monster in Greek mythology having a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail b : an imaginary monster compounded of incongruous parts 2 : an illusion or fabrication of the mind; especially : an unrealizable dream <a fancy, a chimera in my brain, troubles me in my prayer — John Donne> 3 : an individual, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution See chimera defined for English-language learners » See chimera defined for kids » Examples of CHIMERA Economic stability in that country is a chimera. <a monster in the closet would not have been the first chimera that the boy had seen in his mind's eye> Origin of CHIMERA Latin chimaera, from Greek chimaira she-goat, chimera; akin to Old Norse gymbr yearling ewe, Greek cheimōn winter — more at hibernate Related to CHIMERA Synonyms fantasy, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm (also fantasm), pipe dream, unreality, vision Related Words ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp; brainchild, idea; concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention; envisaging, imaging, visualization; cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia; daymare, nightmare Near Antonyms actuality, fact, reality more Other Genetics Terms hermaphrodite, plasticity Rhymes with CHIMERA chimaera, hetaera, lempira, mbira chi·me·ra noun (Medical Dictionary) Medical Definition of CHIMERA : an individual, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution Biographical Note for CHIMERA Chimera, Greek mythological character. The Chimera was a fire-breathing she-monster made up of the front parts of a lion, the middle parts of a goat, and the tail of a snake. Variants of CHIMERA chi·me·ra or chi·mae·ra (audio pronunciation)

ge·nus noun \ˈjē-nəs, ˈje-\

a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic; specifically : a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and being designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun 2 : a class of objects divided into several subordinate species See genus defined for English-language learners » See genus defined for kids » Examples of GENUS <the crime novel, written from the criminal's perspective, is sometimes seen as a particular species of the detective story genus> Origin of GENUS Latin gener-, genus birth, race, kind — more at kin First Known Use: 1551 Related to GENUS Synonyms bracket, category, classification, division, family, class, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, type Related Words description, feather, ilk, kidney, like, manner, nature, sort; branch, section, speciality, specialty, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety; breed, race; generation; heading, label, title more

1al·lure transitive verb \ə-ˈlu̇r\

al·luredal·lur·ing Definition of ALLURE : to entice by charm or attraction — al·lure·ment noun — al·lur·ing·ly adverb Examples of ALLURE <was so allured by his sister's college roommate that before long he was asking her for a date> <allured by the promise of big bucks, he decided to have a go at a job on the trading floor of the stock market> Origin of ALLURE Middle English aluren, from Middle French alurer, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + lure, leure lure — more at lure First Known Use: 15th century Related to ALLURE Synonyms charm, beguile, bewitch, captivate, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, wile, witch [archaic] Related Words disarm, draw, entice, lure, pull, seduce, tempt; delight, gratify, please; arrest, enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), entrance; appeal (to), interest, intrigue; beckon, court, invite, solicit, woo Near Antonyms disgust, offend, repel, revolt; annoy, displease, irk; bore, tire, weary more See Synonym Discussion at attract Rhymes with ALLURE abjure, adjure, Adour, amour, Ashur, assure, brochure, ceinture, cocksure, coiffure, conjure, contour, couture, demure, detour, dirt-poor,... [+]more 2allure noun Definition of ALLURE : power of attraction or fascination : charm See allure defined for English-language learners » Examples of ALLURE These rare books hold special allure for collectors. <the nostalgic allure of America's Wild West still attracts vacationers to ghost towns> First Known Use of ALLURE 1548 Related to ALLURE Synonyms charm, animal magnetism, appeal, attractiveness, captivation, charisma, duende, enchantment, fascination, force field, glamour (also glamor), magic, magnetism, oomph, pizzazz (or pizazz), seductiveness, witchery Antonyms repulsion, repulsiveness Related Words allurement, attraction, call, lure, seduction; agreeableness, darlingness, delightfulness, desirability, desirableness, niceness, pleasantness, pleasingness, sweetness; sex appeal Near Antonyms disagreeableness, distastefulness, obnoxiousness, offensiveness, unpleasantness

amor·phous adjective \ə-ˈmȯr-fəs\

amor·phous adjective \ə-ˈmȯr-fəs\ Definition of AMORPHOUS 1 a : having no definite form : shapeless <an amorphous cloud mass> b : being without definite character or nature : unclassifiable <an amorphous segment of society> c : lacking organization or unity <an amorphous style of writing> 2 : having no real or apparent crystalline form <an amorphous mineral> — amor·phous·ly adverb — amor·phous·ness noun See amorphous defined for English-language learners » See amorphous defined for kids » Examples of AMORPHOUS an amorphous segment of society <amorphous lumps of clay magically transformed by a skilled potter's hands into works of art> Oblivious to all the attention, the big cat calmly sashayed to a concave little hollow scooped out of an artificial granite cliff-side at the rear of her cage. There, her four sleeping, newborn cubs were nestled one atop another so tightly that they formed one amorphous lump of fur. —Jon Luoma, Audubon, November l982 [+]more Origin of AMORPHOUS Greek amorphos, from a- + morphē form First Known Use: circa 1731 Related to AMORPHOUS Synonyms formless, shapeless, unformed, unshaped, unstructured Antonyms formed, shaped, shapen, structured Related Words characterless, featureless, nondescript; chaotic, disorganized, incoherent, systemless, unordered, unorganized; dim, fuzzy, hazy, inchoate, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, indistinguishable, murky, nebulous, obscure, unclear, undefined, undetermined, vague Near Antonyms coherent, ordered, orderly, organized; clear, decided, definite, distinct more Other Mineralogy Terms agate, host, inclusion, matrix, streak amor·phous adjective \ə-ˈmȯr-fəs\ (Medical Dictionary) Medical Definition of AMORPHOUS 1 : having no apparent shape or organization 2 : having no real or apparent crystalline form

am·ble intransitive verb \ˈam-bəl\

am·bledam·bling Definition of AMBLE : to go at or as if at an amble : saunter — am·bler noun Examples of AMBLE We ambled along as we talked. They ambled down the road. Origin of AMBLE Middle English, from Anglo-French ambler, from Latin ambulare to walk, from ambi- + -ulare (verb base akin to Middle Welsh el he may go, Greek ēlythe he went) — more at elastic First Known Use: 14th century Related to AMBLE Synonyms hike, perambulate, ramble, saunter, stroll, tramp, tromp Related Words roam, rove, wander; peregrinate, traipse, traverse, trek, walk; march, promenade; power walk more Rhymes with AMBLE bramble, gamble, gambol, ramble, scramble, shamble 2amble noun Definition of AMBLE 1 a : an easy gait of a horse in which the legs on the same side of the body move together b : 7rack b 2 : an easy gait 3 : a leisurely walk Examples of AMBLE <we had a lovely amble about the quaint village before continuing our drive> First Known Use of AMBLE 14th century Related to AMBLE Synonyms walk, constitutional, perambulation, ramble, range, saunter, stroll, turn, wander Related Words parade, paseo, promenade; expedition, hike, march, peregrination, traipse, tramp, travel, traversal, traverse, trek, trip, walkabout; excursion, jaunt, junket, outing, sally, sashay, spin, tour; pilgrimage, progress, safari more

cra·ven adjective \ˈkrā-vən\

archaic : defeated, vanquished 2 : lacking the least bit of courage : contemptibly fainthearted — craven noun — cra·ven·ly adverb — cra·ven·ness noun See craven defined for English-language learners » See craven defined for kids » Examples of CRAVEN <a craven refusal to deliver the unwelcome news personally> Origin of CRAVEN Middle English cravant First Known Use: 13th century Related to CRAVEN Synonyms chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, cowardly, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow Antonyms brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous Related Words diffident, fainthearted, fearful, timid, timorous; afraid, frightened, scared; careful, cautious, wary; bashful, coy, shy; feeble, soft, unmanly, weak Near Antonyms audacious, bold, brazen, cheeky, nervy; plucky, spirited, spunky; determined, resolute more See Synonym Discussion at cowardly Rhymes with CRAVEN haven, maven, raven

blithe adjective \ˈblīth, ˈblīth\

blith·er blith·est Definition of BLITHE 1 : of a happy lighthearted character or disposition 2 : lacking due thought or consideration : casual, heedless <blithe unconcern> — blithe·ly adverb See blithe defined for English-language learners » See blithe defined for kids » Examples of BLITHE He showed blithe disregard for the rights of others. He was blithe about the risks to his health. Origin of BLITHE Middle English, from Old English blīthe; akin to Old High German blīdi joyous First Known Use: before 12th century Related to BLITHE Synonyms cheerful, blithesome, bright, buoyant, canty [British dialect], cheery, chipper, eupeptic, gay, gladsome, lightsome, sunny, upbeat, winsome Antonyms dour, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, sullen Related Words hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine; animated, chirpy, jaunty, lilting, lively, perky, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious; carefree, careless, cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, unconcerned; boon, gleeful, jocund, jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful; blissful, delighted, glad, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, tickled; beaming, grinning, laughing, smiling Near Antonyms joyless, sad, unhappy, unsatisfied; dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid; blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, down, downcast, downhearted, droopy, forlorn, hangdog, heavyhearted, inconsolable, low, low-spirited, melancholy, mirthless, sorrowful more See Synonym Discussion at merry Rhymes with BLITHE kithe, lithe, scythe, tithe, withe, writhe

co·a·lesce verb \ˌkō-ə-ˈles\

co·a·lescedco·a·lesc·ing Definition of COALESCE intransitive verb 1 : to grow together 2 a : to unite into a whole : fuse <separate townships have coalesced into a single, sprawling colony — Donald Gould> b : to unite for a common end : join forces <people with different points of view coalesce into opposing factions — I. L. Horowitz> 3 : to arise from the combination of distinct elements <an organized and a popular resistance immediately coalesced — C. C. Menges> transitive verb : to cause to unite <sometimes a book coalesces a public into a mass market — Walter Meade> — co·a·les·cence noun — co·a·les·cent adjective See coalesce defined for English-language learners » See coalesce defined for kids » Examples of COALESCE a group of young reformers who gradually coalesced into a political movement The ice masses coalesced into a glacier over time. Origin of COALESCE Latin coalescere, from co- + alescere to grow — more at old First Known Use: circa 1656 Related to COALESCE Synonyms associate, unite, combine, conjoin, conjugate, connect, couple, fuse, interfuse, join, link (up), marry, unify Antonyms break up, dissever, part, section, separate, sever, split, sunder, unlink Related Words mate, yoke; ally, confederate, league; chain, compound, hitch, hook, splice; assemble, cluster, congregate, constellate, convene, gather, meet; recombine, reconnect, rejoin, reunify, reunite Near Antonyms detach, disaffiliate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, fractionate, isolate, resolve, uncouple, unyoke; disband, disperse, scatter more

elate transitive verb \i-ˈlāt\

elat·edelat·ing Definition of ELATE : to fill with joy or pride Examples of ELATE The discovery has elated researchers. <the winning of the state basketball championship elated the whole town> Origin of ELATE Latin elatus (past participle of efferre to carry out, elevate), from e- + latus, past participle of ferre to carry — more at tolerate, bear First Known Use: circa 1619 Related to ELATE Synonyms elevate, enrapture, exhilarate, intoxicate, transport Antonyms depress Related Words commove, excite, inspire, stimulate, uplift; content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, rejoice, satisfy, warm Near Antonyms demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit; distress, oppress, sadden more Rhymes with ELATE abate, ablate, adnate, aerate, age-mate, agnate, airdate, airfreight, alate, arête, await, backdate, baldpate, bandmate, baseplate, bedmat... [+]more 2elate adjective Definition of ELATE : elated <I smiled to myself and felt elate — Charlotte Brontë>

fed·er·a·tion noun \ˌfe-də-ˈrā-shən\

fed·er·a·tion noun \ˌfe-də-ˈrā-shən\ Definition of FEDERATION 1 : an encompassing political or societal entity formed by uniting smaller or more localized entities: as a : a federal government b : a union of organizations 2 : the act of creating or becoming a federation; especially : the forming of a federal union See federation defined for English-language learners » See federation defined for kids » Examples of FEDERATION a federation of labor unions a federation of women's clubs the federation of the states First Known Use of FEDERATION 1787 Related to FEDERATION Synonyms alliance, axis, bloc, block, coalition, combination, combine, confederation, confederacy, league, union Related Words cabal, conspiracy, junto; cartel, syndicate, trust; faction, front, fusion, side, wing; association, group, organization; affiliation, cooperative, partnership; circuit, conference more Other Government and Politics Terms agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism Rhymes with FEDERATION abdication, aberration, abjuration, abnegation, abrogation, acceptation, acclamation, accusation, activation, adaptation, adjuration, admi... [+]more

1heave verb \ˈhēv\

heaved or hove heav·ing Definition of HEAVE transitive verb 1 obsolete : elevate 2 : lift, raise <heaved the trunk onto the table> 3 : throw, cast <heaving rocks> 4 a : to cause to swell or rise b : to displace (as a rock stratum) especially by a fault 5 : to utter with obvious effort or with a deep breath <heave a sigh of relief> 6 : haul, draw intransitive verb 1 : labor, struggle 2 : retch 3 a : to rise and fall rhythmically b : pant 4 a : pull, push <heaving on a rope> b : to move a ship in a specified direction or manner c past usually hove : to move in an indicated way <the ship hove into view> 5 : to rise or become thrown or raised up — heav·er noun — heave to : to halt the headway of a ship (as by positioning a sailboat with the jib aback and the rudder turned sharply to windward) See heave defined for English-language learners » See heave defined for kids » Examples of HEAVE She heaved the door shut. The quarterback heaved the ball down the field. She sat down and heaved a sigh of relief. Origin of HEAVE Middle English heven, from Old English hebban; akin to Old High German hevan to lift, Latin capere to take First Known Use: before 12th century Related to HEAVE Synonyms boost, heft, hoist, jack (up), upheave Antonyms drop, lower Related Words elevate, hike, pick up, raise, rear, up, uplift, upraise, uprear Near Antonyms depress, drop, lower; sink, submerge, submerse more See Synonym Discussion at lift Rhymes with HEAVE breve, cleave, eave, eve, Eve, greave, grieve, leave, lief, peeve, reave, reeve, reive, scrieve, sheave, sleeve, steeve, thieve, weave 2heave noun Definition of HEAVE 1 a : an effort to heave or raise b : hurl, cast 2 : an upward motion : rising; especially : a rhythmical rising 3 : horizontal displacement especially by the faulting of a rock 4 plural but sing or plural in constr : chronic pulmonary emphysema of the horse resulting in difficult expiration, heaving of the flanks, and a persistent cough See heave defined for English-language learners » Examples of HEAVE We lifted the box onto the table with a heave. He gave the rope a mighty heave. The quarterback uncorked a mighty heave. First Known Use of HEAVE circa 1571 Other Geology Terms anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale heave verb \ˈhēv\ (Medical Dictionary) heaved; heav·ing Medical Definition of HEAVE transitive verb : vomit <got carsick and heaved his lunch> intransitive verb : to undergo retching or vomiting

oner·ous adjective \ˈä-nə-rəs, ˈō-\

involving, imposing, or constituting a burden : troublesome <an onerous task> 2 : having legal obligations that outweigh the advantages <an onerous contract> — oner·ous·ly adverb — oner·ous·ness noun See onerous defined for English-language learners » See onerous defined for kids » Examples of ONEROUS The government imposed onerous taxes on imports. <had the onerous and stressful job of notifying the families of soldiers killed in action> Then everyone was asked, how fairly did you act?, from "extremely unfairly" (1) to "extremely fairly" (7). Next they watched someone else make the assignments, and judged that person's ethics. Selflessness was a virtual no-show: 87 out of 94 people opted for the easy task and gave the next guy the onerous one. —Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 23 June 2008 The first hitch occurred when the state education department took a full six months after the new law was adopted to issue 12 pages of onerous rules and regulations governing Arkansas charter schools. —Wendy Cole, Time, 10 June 2000 Environmentalism poses stark issues of survival, for humankind and for all those other tribes of creatures over which we have exercised our onerous dominion. —Marilynne Robinson, The Death of Adam, 1998 Rap tested well, but early on the promoters said they wouldn't be booking any gangsta rap, a move at least partly designed to calm security concerns during the onerous process of complying with the strict mass-gathering laws enacted in the wake of the 1969 festival. —John Milward, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 1994 [-]hide Origin of ONEROUS Middle English, from Middle French honereus, from Latin onerosus, from oner-, onus burden; akin to Sanskrit anas cart First Known Use: 14th century Related to ONEROUS Synonyms bitter, brutal, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, hardhanded, heavy, inhuman, murderous, harsh, oppressive, rough, rugged, searing, severe, stiff, tough, trying Antonyms easy, light, soft Related Words austere, bleak, comfortless, discomforting, forbidding, inhospitable, spartan, uncomfortable; biting, inclement, intemperate, wild; rigorous, strict, stringent; agonizing, heartbreaking, heartrending, painful, wretched; crushing, grinding, overwhelming, wearing; insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable; harrowing, tortuous; bad, disagreeable, hostile, unfriendly, unpleasant Near Antonyms comfortable, cozy, luxurious, snug; agreeable, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant; peaceful, relaxing, reposeful, restful; bearable, endurable, painless, tolerable; balmy, calm, clement, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate more Synonym Discussion of ONEROUS onerous, burdensome, oppressive, exacting mean imposing hardship. onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful <the onerous task of cleaning up the mess>. burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain <burdensome responsibilities>. oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed <the oppressive tyranny of a police state>. exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding <an exacting employer>.

nip verb \ˈnip\

nippednip·ping Definition of NIP transitive verb 1 a : to catch hold of and squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points : pinch, bite <the dog nipped his ankle> b : to pinch in (as a garment) <a dress nipped at the waist> 2 a : to sever by or as if by pinching sharply b : to destroy the growth, progress, or fulfillment of <nipped in the bud> 3 : to injure or make numb with cold : chill 4 : snatch, steal 5 : to defeat by a small margin intransitive verb 1 : to move briskly, nimbly, or quickly 2 chiefly British : to make a quick trip See nip defined for kids » Origin of NIP Middle English nippen; akin to Middle Dutch nipen to pinch, Old Norse hnippa to prod First Known Use: 14th century Rhymes with NIP blip, chip, clip, dip, drip, flip, grip, grippe, gyp, hip, kip, lip, pip, quip, rip, scrip, ship, sip, skip, slip, snip, strip, tip, trip, whip, yip, zip 2nip noun Definition of NIP 1 : something that nips: as a archaic : a sharp biting comment b : a sharp stinging cold <a nip in the air> c : a biting or pungent flavor : tang 2 : the act of nipping : pinch, bite 3 : the region of a squeezing or crushing device (as a calender) where the rolls or jaws are closest together 4 : a small portion First Known Use of NIP 1549 3nip noun Definition of NIP : a small quantity of liquor : sip; also : a very small bottle of liquor Origin of NIP probably from nipperkin, a liquor container First Known Use: circa 1796 Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms finish, gimlet, mull, sake, setup, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail

1for·bear verb \fȯr-ˈber, fər-\

obsolete : to do without 2 : to hold oneself back from especially with an effort <forbore mentioning the incident> 3 obsolete : to leave alone : shun <forbear his presence — Shakespeare> intransitive verb 1 : hold back, abstain <have forborne from taking part in any controversy — Abraham Lincoln> 2 : to control oneself when provoked : be patient — for·bear·er noun See forbear defined for English-language learners » See forbear defined for kids » Examples of FORBEAR He carefully forbore any mention of her name for fear of upsetting them. We decided to forbear provoking him any further. We decided to forbear from provoking him any further. He forebore to mention her name. Origin of FORBEAR Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan to endure, do without, from for- + beran to bear First Known Use: before 12th century Related to FORBEAR Synonyms abjure, abstain (from), forgo (also forego), keep (from), refrain (from), withhold (from) Antonyms bow (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to) Related Words avoid, eschew, shun; check, constrain, curb, inhibit; deny, refuse, reject, repudiate; buck, combat, fight Near Antonyms acquiesce (to), capitulate, concede (to), knuckle under (to) more Rhymes with FORBEAR affair, aglare, airfare, Ajmer, Altair, antbear, armchair, au pair, aware, bakeware, barware, Basseterre, Baudelaire, beachwear, bergère, ... [+]more

ob·sti·nate adjective \ˈäb-stə-nət\

ob·sti·nate adjective \ˈäb-stə-nət\ Definition of OBSTINATE 1 : perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <obstinate resistance to change> 2 : not easily subdued, remedied, or removed <obstinate fever> — ob·sti·nate·ly adverb — ob·sti·nate·ness noun See obstinate defined for English-language learners » See obstinate defined for kids » Examples of OBSTINATE his obstinate refusal to obey My parents remain as obstinate as ever. More than 30 cities had sued the gun industry for the costs of violence on their streets. Cuomo had brashly stepped into the legal swamp, hoping he could be the guy to force concessions from an obstinate industry. —Matt Bai, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2001 [+]more Origin of OBSTINATE Middle English, from Anglo-French obstinat, Latin obstinatus, past participle of obstinare to be resolved, from ob- in the way + -stinare (akin to stare to stand) First Known Use: 14th century Related to OBSTINATE Synonyms adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, hard-nosed, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, opinionated, ossified, pat, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-opinionated, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful), deaf to reason Antonyms acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding Related Words anal-retentive, obsessive; wayward, wrongheaded; determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching; firm, hard-line, hard-shell (or hard-shelled), iron, severe, stern, strict; hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid; bloody-minded [chiefly British], cantankerous; contrary, cussed; contumacious, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly; defiant, insurgent, mutinous; indomitable, invincible, unconquerable; confirmed, inveterate, unregenerate; demanding, exacting Near Antonyms docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable; accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing; governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate; slavish, subservient more

dan·dy noun \ˈdan-dē\

of, relating to, or suggestive of a dandy : foppish 2 : very good : first-rate <a dandy place to stay> See dandy defined for English-language learners » Examples of DANDY We thought something was wrong, but he said everything was just fine and dandy. <that's a dandy new racing bike> First Known Use of DANDY 1792 Related to DANDY Synonyms A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, excellent, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, out-of-sight [slang], par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat [slang], prime, primo [slang], prize, prizewinning, quality, radical [slang], righteous [slang], sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-flight, top-notch, top-of-the-line, topping [chiefly British], top-shelf, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful Antonyms atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched Related Words acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK (or okay), passable, satisfactory, tolerable; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine; classical, standard, traditional Near Antonyms bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory; mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate more

pal·try adjective \ˈpȯl-trē\

pal·tri·erpal·tri·est Definition of PALTRY 1 : inferior, trashy 2 : mean, despicable <a paltry trick> 3 : trivial <a paltry excuse> 4 : meager, measly <made a paltry donation> — pal·tri·ness noun See paltry defined for English-language learners » See paltry defined for kids » Examples of PALTRY <a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired> <the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa> Origin of PALTRY obsolete paltry trash, from dialect palt, pelt piece of coarse cloth, trash; akin to Middle Low German palte rag First Known Use: 1570 Related to PALTRY Synonyms cheap, cruddy, deplorable, despicable, dirty, grubby, lame, lousy, mean, nasty, contemptible, pitiable, pitiful, ratty, scabby, scummy, scurvy, sneaking, sorry, wretched Antonyms admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy Related Words abhorrent, abominable, condemnable, detestable, execrable, hateful, loathsome, odious; disgusting, reptilian, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, revulsive; discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, disreputable, ignominious, shameful; base, ignoble, low, shabby, sordid, squalid, vile; blamable, censurable, reprehensible, reproachable; cowardly, craven, dastardly; unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous Near Antonyms high-minded, honest, honorable, noble, principled, redoubtable, reputable, right-minded, scrupulous, upright; ethical, good, moral, right, righteous, virtuous more

an·i·mos·i·ty noun \ˌa-nə-ˈmä-sə-tē\

plural an·i·mos·i·ties Definition of ANIMOSITY : ill will or resentment tending toward active hostility : an antagonistic attitude See animosity defined for English-language learners » See animosity defined for kids » Examples of ANIMOSITY We put aside our personal animosities so that we could work together. <his open animosity towards us made our meeting very uncomfortable> Few rivalries can match that of the Cards and Cubs in terms of history, color and animosity. Things are tense in an off year, but in 2003 the teams are at the top of the National League Central division (along with the Houston Astros), separated by a half-game. —John Grisham, New York Times Book Review, 1 May 2005 [+]more Origin of ANIMOSITY Middle English animosite, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French animosité, from Late Latin animositat-, animositas, from Latin animosus spirited, from animus First Known Use: 1605 Related to ANIMOSITY Synonyms enmity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, gall, grudge, hostility, jaundice, rancor Antonyms amity Related Words blood feud, feud, score, vendetta; hate, hatred, loathing; vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; alienation, disaffection, estrangement; conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension; inhospitableness, unfriendliness; malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom Near Antonyms amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding more

her·e·sy noun \ˈher-ə-sē, ˈhe-rə-\

plural her·e·sies Definition of HERESY 1 a : adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma b : denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church c : an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma 2 a : dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice b : an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards See heresy defined for English-language learners » See heresy defined for kids » Examples of HERESY They were accused of heresy. He was preaching dangerous heresies. Origin of HERESY Middle English heresie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin haeresis, from Late Greek hairesis, from Greek, action of taking, choice, sect, from hairein to take First Known Use: 13th century Related to HERESY Synonyms dissent, dissidence, heterodoxy, nonconformity Antonyms conformity, orthodoxy Related Words error, fallacy, falsehood, misbelief, misconception, myth; apostasy, defection, infidelity, schism, scission, sectarianism, separatism; deviance, deviation, iconoclasm, unconventionality; disagreement, discord, dissension (also dissention) Near Antonyms agreement, conformation, conventionality more

re·cant verb \ri-ˈkant\

re·cant verb \ri-ˈkant\ Definition of RECANT transitive verb 1 : to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly : renounce 2 : revoke intransitive verb : to make an open confession of error — re·can·ta·tion noun See recant defined for English-language learners » See recant defined for kids » Examples of RECANT Church officials asked the minister to recant. Witnesses threatened to recant their testimony when the court released their names to the paper. Origin of RECANT Latin recantare, from re- + cantare to sing — more at chant First Known Use: 1535 Related to RECANT Synonyms abnegate, forswear (also foreswear), abjure, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw Antonyms adhere (to) Related Words contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative; abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, revoke Near Antonyms acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow; back, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, maintain, support, uphold; accept, adopt, embrace more See Synonym Discussion at abjure Rhymes with RECANT aslant, bacchant, bacchante, bezant, courante, decant, descant, displant, eggplant, enceinte, enchant, explant, extant, face-plant, fire ant, formant, gallant, Gallant, gas plant, grandaunt, houseplant, ice plant, implant, incant, jade plant, land grant, leadplant, levant, Levant, musk plant, pieplant, pissant, plainchant, pourpoint, preplant, red ant, replant, savant, seed plant, snow plant, supplant, transplant, white ant [-]hide

1slink verb \ˈsliŋk\

slunk \ˈsləŋk\ also slinked \ˈsliŋ(k)t\ slink·ing Definition of SLINK intransitive verb 1 : to go or move stealthily or furtively (as in fear or shame) : steal 2 : to move in a sinuous provocative manner transitive verb : to give premature birth to —used especially of a domestic animal <a cow that slinks her calf> See slink defined for English-language learners » See slink defined for kids » Examples of SLINK He slinked away in shame. <like a thief slinking about in the middle of the night> Origin of SLINK Middle English, from Old English slincan to creep; akin to Old English slingan to worm, twist First Known Use: 14th century Related to SLINK Synonyms lurk, mooch, mouse, pussyfoot, shirk, skulk, slide, sneak, slip, snake, steal Related Words crawl, creep, edge, inch, worm; ghost, pad, tiptoe more See Synonym Discussion at lurk Rhymes with SLINK blink, brink, chink, clink, dink, drink, fink, gink, ink, jink, kink, link, mink, pink, plink, prink, rink, shrink, sink, skink, stink, swink, sync, think, wink, zinc 2slinknoun Definition of SLINK : the young of an animal (as a calf) brought forth prematurely; also : the flesh or skin of such an animal First Known Use of SLINK 1607 3slinkadjective Definition of SLINK : born prematurely or abortively <a slink calf>

1spruce verb \ˈsprüs\

sprucedspruc·ing Definition of SPRUCE transitive verb : to make spruce —often used with up intransitive verb : to make oneself spruce <spruce up a bit> See spruce defined for English-language learners » See spruce defined for kids » First Known Use of SPRUCE 1594 Rhymes with SPRUCE crouse, crus, cruse, deuce, douce, goose, juice, loose, moose, mousse, noose, nous, puce, rhus, ruse, Russ, schuss, Seuss, sluice, truce, use, Zeus 2spruce adjective spruc·erspruc·est Definition of SPRUCE : neat or smart in appearance : trim — spruce·ly adverb — spruce·ness noun See spruce defined for English-language learners » Examples of SPRUCE He looked very spruce in his new suit. <a slim, spruce man in a tailor-made business suit> Origin of SPRUCE perhaps from obsolete English Spruce leather leather imported from Prussia First Known Use: 1599 Related to SPRUCE Synonyms dapper, natty, sharp, snappy, smart Antonyms disheveled (or dishevelled), frowsy (or frowzy), sloppy, slovenly, unkempt Related Words dolled up, dressy, elegant, formal, spiffed-up; orderly, tidy; à la mode (also a la mode), chic, fashionable, in, modish, stylish; careful, fastidious, fussy, meticulous; combed, groomed; clean, immaculate, pristine, spotless, squeaky-clean Near Antonyms messy, mussed, rumpled, uncombed, untidy, wrinkled; shabby, sleazy; dingy, dirty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, nasty, scroungy, scrubby, scruffy, scuzzy [slang], smirched, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, unclean; dowdy, inelegant, unfashionable, unstylish more 3spruce noun plural spruc·es also spruce Definition of SPRUCE 1 a : any of a genus (Picea) of evergreen trees of the pine family with a conical head of dense foliage, flat or 4-sided needles, pendulous cones, and soft light wood b : any of several coniferous trees (as Douglas fir) of similar habit 2 : the wood of a spruce See spruce defined for English-language learners » Origin of SPRUCE obsolete Spruce Prussia, from Middle English, alteration of Pruce, from Anglo-French First Known Use: 1670 Other Seed Plant Terms aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil spruce noun (Concise Encyclopedia) Black spruce (Picea mariana)—Grant Heilman Photography Any of about 40 species of evergreen ornamental and timber trees that make up the genus Picea (pine family), native to temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. These pyramid-shaped trees have whorled branches and thin, scaly bark. The needlelike, spirally arranged leaves connect to their stems via a peglike woody base, which remains on the twig when the leaf falls. Tough, finely grained, resonant, and pliable, spruce wood is used for sounding boards in pianos and bodies of violins, as well as in construction, for boats and barrels, and as pulpwood. Common species throughout most of northern North America are black spruce (P. mariana), a source of spruce gum, and white spruce (P. glauca), a source of good timber. Blue, or Colorado spruce (P. pungens) is used as an ornamental because of its bluish leaves and symmetrical growth habit.

stur·dy adjective \ˈstər-dē\

stur·di·erstur·di·est Definition of STURDY 1 a : firmly built or constituted : stout b : hardy <sturdy plants> c : sound in design or execution : substantial 2 a : marked by or reflecting physical strength or vigor b : firm, resolute c : rugged, stable — stur·di·ly adverb — stur·di·ness noun See sturdy defined for English-language learners » See sturdy defined for kids » Examples of STURDY a dog with a strong sturdy build <it took a sturdy person to endure the life of a pioneer> Origin of STURDY Middle English, brave, stubborn, from Anglo-French esturdi stunned, from past participle of esturdir to stun, from Vulgar Latin *exturdire, from Latin ex- + Vulgar Latin *turdus simpleton, from Latin turdus thrush — more at thrush First Known Use: 14th century Related to STURDY Synonyms cast-iron, hard, hard-bitten, hardened, inured, rugged, stout, strong, hardy, tough, toughened, vigorous Antonyms delicate, nonhardy, soft, tender, weak Related Words flinty, leathery, resilient, stalwart; durable, enduring, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, permanent, stable, staunch (also stanch), staying, tenacious, unyielding; flourishing, prospering, thriving; able-bodied, brawny, muscular; fit, fortified, hale, healthy, husky, lusty, red-blooded, robust, sound, strapping, virile; annealed, seasoned, tempered Near Antonyms emasculated, enervated, enfeebled, exhausted, run-down, sapped, wasted, weakened, worn, worn out; crippled, debilitated, diseased, incapacitated, infirm, unsound; fragile, frail, puny; resistless, sensitive, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding; mortal, perishable, temporary, transient more See Synonym Discussion at strong Rhymes with STURDY birdie, curdy, wordy stur·dy noun \ˈstərd-ē\ (Medical Dictionary) plural ; sturdies Medical Definition of STURDY : gid

tes·ty adjective \ˈtes-tē\

tes·ti·ertes·ti·est Definition of TESTY 1 : easily annoyed : irritable 2 : marked by impatience or ill humor <testy remarks> — tes·ti·ly adverb — tes·ti·ness noun See testy defined for English-language learners » See testy defined for kids » Examples of TESTY <that coworker would be easier to get along with if she weren't so testy all the time> Origin of TESTY Middle English testif, from Anglo-French, headstrong, from teste head — more at tester First Known Use: 1523 Related to TESTY Synonyms choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stuffy, irritable, waspish Related Words bearish, bilious, cantankerous, cross-grained, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, off-color (or off-colored), ornery, querulous, snarly, surly; argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, fractious, fretful, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; huffy, pouty, sensitive, short, sulky, sullen, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy; hot-blooded, passionate Near Antonyms affable, companionable, cordial, extroverted (also extraverted), friendly, genial, gregarious, outgoing, sociable; agreeable, amiable, good-natured, good-tempered, sweet, well-disposed; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed; forbearing, long-suffering, obliging, patient, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining, understanding more Rhymes with TESTY chesty, pesty, zesty

1kin·dle verb \ˈkin-dəl\

transitive verb 1 : to start (a fire) burning : light 2 a : to stir up : arouse <kindle interest> b : to bring into being : start 3 : to cause to glow : illuminate intransitive verb 1 : to catch fire 2 a : to flare up b : to become animated 3 : to become illuminated — kin·dler noun Origin of KINDLE Middle English, probably modification of Old Norse kynda; akin to Old High German cuntesal fire First Known Use: 13th century Rhymes with KINDLE bindle, brindle, dwindle, spindle, swindle 2kindle verb kin·dledkin·dling Definition of KINDLE transitive verb : bear 2a —used especially of a rabbit intransitive verb : to bring forth young —used especially of a rabbit Origin of KINDLE Middle English, from kindle young animal, probably from kinde, noun, kind First Known Use: 13th century Other Mammals Terms dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole kin·dle intransitive verb \ˈkin-dəl\ (Medical Dictionary) kin·dled; kin·dling Medical Definition of KINDLE : to bring forth young—used chiefly of a rabbit

ob·fus·cate verb \ˈäb-fə-ˌskāt; äb-ˈfəs-ˌkāt, əb-\

transitive verb 1 a : darken b : to make obscure <obfuscate the issue> 2 : confuse <obfuscate the reader> intransitive verb : to be evasive, unclear, or confusing — ob·fus·ca·tion noun — ob·fus·ca·to·ry adjective See obfuscate defined for English-language learners » Examples of OBFUSCATE Politicians keep obfuscating the issues. Their explanations only serve to obfuscate and confuse. Origin of OBFUSCATE Late Latin obfuscatus, past participle of obfuscare, from Latin ob- in the way + fuscus dark brown — more at ob-, dusk First Known Use: 1577 Related to OBFUSCATE Synonyms becloud, befog, blur, cloud, fog, muddy, confuse Antonyms clarify, clear (up), illuminate Related Words complicate, perplex, sophisticate; entangle, snarl, tangle; disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disorder, disrupt, disturb, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, scramble, shuffle, tousle, upset Near Antonyms simplify, streamline; disentangle, straighten (out), undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle; decipher, decode; analyze, break down more Rhymes with OBFUSCATE abdicate, abnegate, abrogate, acclimate, acerbate, acetate, activate, actuate, acylate, adsorbate, advocate, adulate, adumbrate, aggravate...