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disparate

The trunk of some people's cars may contain items as disparate as old clothes, rotting food, and possibly a missing relative. Disparate things are very different from each other. Near synonyms are unequal and dissimilar. The adjective disparate is from Latin dispartus, from disparre "to separate, divide," from the prefix dis- "apart" plus parre "to prepare." Disparate in the sense of "very different" probably developed by association with the Latin adjective dispar "unequal, different." adjective - Fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar: "This mixture of apparently disparate materialsscandal and spiritualism, current events and eternal recurrencesis not promising on the face of it ( Gary Wills). adjective - Containing or composed of dissimilar or opposing elements: a disparate group of people who represented a cross section of the city. equivalent - different, heterogenous, heterogeneous synonym - different, separate, dissimilar, unequal etymologically-related-term - dispair, disparity, disparateness

deride

The verb deride means to show a low opinion of someone or something. The jerk would deride the other kids on the bus by calling them names or pulling their hair until the driver decided to de-ride him by kicking him off the bus. To "ride" people is to get on their case or give them a hard time, and to deride is to do the same with insulting language or poor treatment. Deride comes from the Latin root drdre, meaning "to ridicule, to scorn," and it's often used to express dislike or even hatred. Criticizing something with words is a common way to deride, and politicians often deride each other in their speeches during election campaigns. verb-transitive - To speak of or treat with contemptuous mirth. See Synonyms at ridicule. hyponym - catcall form - derided, deridingly, derider, deriding synonym - laugh at, rally, banter, mock, ridicule

saturate

The verb saturate means to cause something to be fully soaked to the point where it can't take on anything else. A heavy rainstorm can saturate the ground, leaving puddles on the lawn because no more water can be absorbed. The word saturate comes from the Latin word saturatus, meaning "to fill full, sate, drench." Saturate is often used to describe the aftermath of a big rainstorm, but other things can be saturated as well. If you're a workaholic, you might saturate all your free time with work, leaving no time to spend with your family. In chemistry, saturate describes causing one substance, like a solution, to take on the greatest amount of another substance. verb-transitive - To imbue or impregnate thoroughly: "The recollection was saturated with sunshine ( Vladimir Nabokov). See Synonyms at charge. verb-transitive - To soak, fill, or load to capacity. verb-transitive - Chemistry To cause (a substance) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance. adjective - Saturated. hyponym - charge, stuff, soak, alcoholise, thoriate, ammonify, imbrue, imbue, medicate, drench

contention

There is nothing "content," or satisfying, about being in contention, and that's probably because the word contention means being in a competition that ends with one side, usually the winning one, being content."And in this corner, the contender" is heard at most boxing matches to describe each of the fighters about to go into contention in the ring. Sometimes, though, a contention can be a battle of words or a struggle between two parties over a single point. The expression "bone of contention" describes a narrow object of disagreement that reaches the level of strife, or contention. For two hungry dogs, though, the bone of contention might be a serious matter. noun - The act or an instance of striving in controversy or debate. See Synonyms at discord. noun - A striving to win in competition; rivalry: The teams met in fierce contention for first place. noun - An assertion put forward in argument. hyponym - fight, argle-bargle, contest, sparring, polemic, submission, argy-bargy, firestorm form - bone of contention synonym - fight

officious

Though officious sounds like official, it means being annoyingly eager to do more than is required. "The officious lunch lady made everyone's food choices her business, and made nasty comments when students chose cookies over carrots."Officious is a tricky word as it seems like it might mean something like office or official. Instead, it is a word to describe someone that acts more official than they actually are. People who are officious are busybodies. They want to make their opinions known and followed, despite not having any kind of real power. adjective - Marked by excessive eagerness in offering unwanted services or advice to others: an officious host; officious attention. adjective - Informal; unofficial. adjective - Archaic Eager to render services or help others. equivalent - intrusive form - officious intermeddler synonym - obliging, impertinent, meddling, kind, meddlesome cross-reference - officious will same-context - obsequious, intrusive

amalgamate

To amalgamate is to combine different things to create something new. Institutions such as banks, schools, or hospitals often join forces and amalgamate with one other. But other things like musical genres get amalgamated as well. The verb amalgamate original referred specifically to the mixture of metals, now however, it refers to any mixing or blending. A school board might decide to amalgamate two schools into one school due to a decrease in the student population, but amalgamating their mascots would be impossible. verb-transitive - To combine into a unified or integrated whole; unite. See Synonyms at mix. verb-transitive - To mix or alloy (a metal) with mercury. verb-intransitive - To become combined; unite. verb-intransitive - To unite or blend with another metal. hyponym - concoct, immingle, aggregate, compound, blend, combine, intermingle, intermix equivalent - amalgamated, united

denigrate

To denigrate is to say bad things true or false about a person or thing. Your reputation as a math whiz might be hurt if your jealous classmate manages to denigrate you, even though the accusations are unfounded. The verb denigrate comes from the Latin word denigrare, which means to blacken. To sully or defame someones reputation, or to spread negative or hurtful information about a company or a situation, is to denigrate it. Your neighbors may denigrate your proposal for mandatory recycling in an attempt to stop your plan. Denigrate can also mean that you're making something seem less important, like when your brother tries to denigrate your athletic achievements. verb-transitive - To attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame. verb-transitive - To disparage; belittle: The critics have denigrated our efforts. hyponym - libel, drag through the mud, malign, assassinate, badmouth, talk down, traduce form - denigration, denigratory synonym - defame

pragmatic

To describe a person or a solution that takes a realistic approach, consider the adjective pragmatic. The four-year-old who wants a unicorn for her birthday isn't being very pragmatic. The opposite of idealistic is pragmatic, a word that describes a philosophy of "doing what works best." From Greek pragma "deed," the word has historically described philosophers and politicians who were concerned more with real-world application of ideas than with abstract notions. A pragmatic person is sensible, grounded, and practical and doesn't expect a birthday celebration filled with magical creatures. adjective - Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical. adjective - Philosophy Of or relating to pragmatism. adjective - Relating to or being the study of cause and effect in historical or political events with emphasis on the practical lessons to be learned from them. adjective - Archaic Active; busy. adjective - Archaic Active in an officious or meddlesome way. adjective - Archaic Dogmatic; dictatorial. noun - A pragmatic sanction. noun - Archaic A meddler; a busybody. equivalent - realistic, practical, pragmatical form - pragmatically, pragma synonym - realistic, utilitarian, practical, philosophical, down-to-earth

flout

To flout is to scorn or show contempt for. "I flout the law and the concept of civilian safety by making a concerted effort to jaywalk every time I cross a street."Choose Your Words:flaunt / floutFlaunt means to show off, usually in a pretentious manner. Flout, on the other hand, means to show a blatant disregard or contempt for.   Continue reading...Oddly enough, when flout came into existence in the 1550s, it had a much different sense to it than it does now; it's believed that it evolved from the Middle English flowten to play the flute." As a verb, it means to scorn, as in, for example, to scorn a law, person, or social norm by defying it. As a noun, it is a contemptuous remark or insult. Wrote William Shakespeare, Flout 'em, and scout 'em; and scout 'em and flout 'em; Thought is free. verb-transitive - To show contempt for; scorn: flout a law; behavior that flouted convention. See Usage Note at flaunt. verb-intransitive - To be scornful. noun - A contemptuous action or remark; an insult. form - flouted, flouting synonym - fleer, mock, sneer, insult verb-form - flouted, flouting, flouts cross-reference - the broad flout

incorporate

To incorporate is to include or integrate a part into the whole. Incorporate is a more active version of the word "include"; if you incorporate, you are adding something to the mix. In the business world, to incorporate is a legal process. In other usages, the word incorporate really just means to include something or work something into whatever was already existing. You could incorporate your new roommate's furniture into the decor of your apartment, but you may not find a way to incorporate her cat's litter box. verb-transitive - To unite (one thing) with something else already in existence: incorporated the letter into her diary. verb-transitive - To admit as a member to a corporation or similar organization. verb-transitive - To cause to merge or combine together into a united whole. verb-transitive - To cause to form into a legal corporation: incorporate a business. verb-transitive - To give substance or material form to; embody. verb-transitive - Linguistics To cause (a word, for example) to undergo noun incorporation. verb-intransitive - To become united or combined into an organized body. verb-intransitive - To become or form a legal corporation: San Antonio incorporated as a city in 1837. verb-intransitive - Linguistics To be formed by or allow formation by noun incorporation. adjective - Combined into one united body; merged. adjective - Formed into a legal corporation. hyponym - reintegrate, fold, build in, reincorporate equivalent - united form - incorporating, incorporated synonym - corporate, spiritual, associated

laud

To laud someone doesn't mean to give them knighthood, but to praise them extravagantly usually in a very public manner. Being lauded, of course, can have the same tonic effect as having been made a lord. Fun fact: the word laud is related to the drug laudanum, a potent combo of alcohol and opium first invented in the sixteenth century. Its creator, the alchemist Parcelsus, clearly knowing the effect it had on people, took its name from the Latin word laudere, meaning "to praise." Not surprisingly, it remained one of the world's most lauded drugs until its use became strictly controlled in the early twentieth century. verb-transitive - To give praise to; glorify. See Synonyms at praise. noun - Praise; glorification. noun - A hymn or song of praise. noun - Ecclesiastical The service of prayers following the matins and constituting with them the first of the seven canonical hours. noun - The time appointed for this service. hyponym - ensky, crack up, hymn, canonise, canonize form - lauded, lauding synonym - honor, glory, praise

obviate

To obviate means to eliminate the need for something or to prevent something from happening. If you want to obviate the possibility of a roach infestation, clean your kitchen regularly. The prefix ob means "to go against." That makes sense when you look at the words obstruct and obstacle, but how about obstetrics? Why does the name of the branch of medicine dealing with birth have the same root as words that mean "stop" or "get in the way"? Because a midwife stands opposite to, or against, the woman giving birth. verb-transitive - To anticipate and dispose of effectively; render unnecessary. See Synonyms at prevent. hyponym - preclude, close out, rule out form - obviating, obviated synonym - anticipate, overcome verb-form - obviating, obviates, obviated

repudiate

To repudiate something is to reject it, or to refuse to accept or support it. If you grow up religious, but repudiate all organized religion as an adult, you might start spending holidays at the movies, or just going to work. This verb usually refers to rejecting something that has authority, such as a legal contract, doctrine, or claim. In connection with debts or other obligations, repudiate is used in the specialized sense "to refuse to recognize or pay." If referring to a child or a lover, repudiate is used in the sense "to disown, cast off." This verb is derived from Latin repudiare "to put away, divorce." verb-transitive - To reject the validity or authority of: "Chaucer . . . not only came to doubt the worth of his extraordinary body of work, but repudiated it ( Joyce Carol Oates). verb-transitive - To reject emphatically as unfounded, untrue, or unjust: repudiated the accusation. verb-transitive - To refuse to recognize or pay: repudiate a debt. verb-transitive - To disown (a child, for example). verb-transitive - To refuse to have any dealings with. hyponym - take back, rebut, tergiversate, apostatize, abjure, resile, forswear, recant, refute, deny

resolve

To resolve is to settle or make a decision about something often formal. A college's board of directors might resolve to recruit more minority students. As a noun, resolve refers to a strong determination to do something. If you make a New Year's resolution to exercise every day, you'll need plenty of resolve to stick with your program. The verb descends from Middle English resolven "to dissolve," from Latin resolvere "to untie." In English, the obsolete sense of "to dissolve" can be seen in this line from Shakespeare: "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew." verb-transitive - To make a firm decision about. verb-transitive - To cause (a person) to reach a decision. See Synonyms at decide. verb-transitive - To decide or express by formal vote. verb-transitive - To change or convert: My resentment resolved itself into resignation. verb-transitive - To find a solution to; solve. See Synonyms at solve. verb-transitive - To remove or dispel (doubts). verb-transitive - To bring to a usually successful conclusion: resolve a conflict. verb-transitive - Medicine To cause reduction of (an inflammation, for example). verb-transitive - Music To cause (a tone or chord) to progress from dissonance to consonance. verb-transitive - Chemistry To separate (an optically inactive compound or mixture) into its optically active constituents. verb-transitive - To render parts of (an image) visible and distinct. verb-transitive - Mathematics To separate (a vector, for example) into coordinate components. verb-transitive - To melt or dissolve (something). verb-transitive - Archaic To separate (something) into constituent parts. verb-intransitive - To reach a decision or make a determination: resolve on a course of action. verb-intransitive - To become separated or reduced to constituents. verb-intransitive - Music To undergo resolution. noun - Firmness of purpose; resolution. noun - A determination or decision; a fixed purpose. noun - A formal resolution made by a deliberative body. hyponym - square off, determine, stiffness, determination, purpose, stubbornness, adamance, run, decision, obstinacy

stipulate

To stipulate something means to demand that it be part of an agreement. So when you make a contract or deal, you can stipulate that a certain condition must be met. Anytime you draw up a legal agreement, you can stipulate a requirement that has to be met for that agreement to be complete. This stipulation might put some sort of limit on the agreement. For example, if you run a fencing company and offer a sale, you can stipulate that to get the sale price, the fence must be ordered by a certain date. Your customer, in turn, might stipulate that the work must be finished before the ground freezes. verb-transitive - To lay down as a condition of an agreement; require by contract. verb-transitive - To specify or arrange in an agreement: stipulate a date of payment and a price. verb-transitive - To guarantee or promise (something) in an agreement. verb-intransitive - To make an express demand or provision in an agreement. verb-intransitive - To form an agreement. adjective - Having stipules. hyponym - provide form - stipulated, stipulating, stipulative, stipulation synonym - arrange, condition, contract, bespeak, provided

fervor

Use fervor to describe an intensity of emotion or expression. Fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers show so much fervor that they "bleed Dodger blue."This noun comes to us from Latin fervere, meaning "to boil, glow." In the English word fervor, the suffix or means "a condition or property of something." There is another or suffix that means "a person or thing that does the thing expressed by the verb." A corresponding adjective is fervent; synonyms of the noun and adjective are ardor and ardent. noun - Great warmth and intensity of emotion. See Synonyms at passion. noun - Intense heat. hyponym - zeal, sensation, fever pitch synonym - earnestness, ardor, passion, heat etymologically-related-term - fervent, fervid, fever

analogous

Use the adjective analogous to describe something that is similar to something else and can be compared to another. Analogous things can be compared to each other, so a near synonym is the adjective comparable. Analogous is a term used in biology to refer to body parts that have a similar function but differ in structure, such as the wings of a bird and the wings of an airplane. Analogous is from Latin analogus, from Greek analogos, meaning "according to a proper ratio or proportion." adjective - Similar or alike in such a way as to permit the drawing of an analogy. adjective - Biology Similar in function but not in structure and evolutionary origin. equivalent - similar synonym - correlative, parallel, equivalent, corresponding, cognate, like, correspondent, similar etymologically-related-term - analogue

welter

Use the noun welter to describe an enormous, messy pile, like the jumble of papers, coffee mugs, pens, and food wrappers on the desk of the messiest person in the office. Welter can also be a verb the items in the pile on the messy desk welter every time someone tries to pull something out. This means they roll and get tossed around. Maybe the person isn't as messy as you think. Possibly his projects keep him so weltered meaning "deeply involved" that he doesn't have the time or energy to deal with the mess. noun - A confused mass; a jumble: a welter of papers and magazines. noun - Confusion; turmoil. verb-intransitive - To wallow, roll, or toss about, as in mud or high seas. verb-intransitive - To lie soaked in a liquid. verb-intransitive - To roll and surge, as the sea. hyponym - rummage form - welter-weight, weltered, weltering synonym - wilt, filth, wallow, wither, slough, tumble

burgeon

Use the verb burgeon to describe something that is growing, expanding, and flourishing. If you have a green thumb, in the spring your flower gardens will burgeon in a cacophony of color. If you don't have a green thumb, your collection of plastic plants will burgeon. Although burgeon means to grow and flourish, it doesn't necessarily have to apply only to plants. Your town can have >burgeoning downtown development. Your tiny retirement account can burgeon into an excellent emergency fund if you invest even a small amount each month. You may have a burgeoning career as a villain if you overthrow a planet by using your mind-controlling ray gun on the populace. verb-intransitive - To put forth new buds, leaves, or greenery; sprout. verb-intransitive - To begin to grow or blossom. verb-intransitive - To grow or develop rapidly. synonym - green, grow, expand, sprout, germinate, bud, blossom verb-form - burgeoned, burgeoning, burgeons

converge

Use the verb converge to describe something that comes together at a common point: Thousands of Elvis fans plan to converge on the small Arkansas town where unconfirmed sightings of the deceased superstar eating at a local barbeque restaurant had been widely reported.Two roads, a roomful of politicians, or a group of rabid fans when things come together from different points they converge. Converge traces back to the Latin word vergere, meaning to bend or to turn." The prefix con- means "with," a good way to remember that things that converge come together. Don't confuse it with diverge, which means the opposite: "move away," because the prefix dis- means apart. verb-intransitive - To tend toward or approach an intersecting point: lines that converge. verb-intransitive - To come together from different directions; meet: The avenues converge at a central square. verb-intransitive - To tend toward or achieve union or a common conclusion or result: In time, our views and our efforts converged. verb-intransitive - Mathematics To approach a limit. verb-transitive - To cause to converge. hyponym - breast, concentrate form - converging, convergence, converged synonym - center etymologically-related-term - divergence verb-form - converging, converges, converged

sage

Use the word sage for someone or something wise and judicious. Thanks to the sage advice of your friend, you didn't write your teacher an angry e-mail!Although you might think of a wizard when you hear the word sage, really it means a wise man. Today you see it used to refer to someone who has insight in a particular field. If someone is a policy sage, he knows just what advice to give politicians to make them understand the issue and respond successfully to it. In a totally unrelated use, there is also a plant called sage that is useful in home remedies and cooking. noun - One venerated for experience, judgment, and wisdom. adjective - Having or exhibiting wisdom and calm judgment. adjective - Proceeding from or marked by wisdom and calm judgment: sage advice. adjective - Archaic Serious; solemn. noun - Any of various plants of the genus Salvia, especially S. officinalis, having aromatic grayish-green, opposite leaves. Also called ramona. noun - The leaves of this plant used as a seasoning. noun - Any of various similar or related plants in the mint family. noun - Sagebrush. hyponym - Ramona, wild sage, salvia azurea, clary sage, salvia reflexa, mexican mint, mahatma, salvia divinorum, salvia pratensis, salvia leucophylla

viscous

Viscous means sticky, gluey and syrupy. So if something is viscous, you usually don't want to stick your fingers in it that goes for boogers and maple syrup alike. Not quite a solid and not quite a liquid, scientists like to say that viscous things don't flow very easily. They glop and slug around slowly, sticking to whatever they come in contact with. Think of making a batch of Rice Krispie treats: One minute the marshmallows are solid little rounds; the next minute they're melted into a web of sticky white goo that's somehow attached itself to the Rice Krispies, the spoon, the countertops, your nose, the front door, and the dog. adjective - Having relatively high resistance to flow. adjective - Viscid; sticky. equivalent - adhesive, thick form - viscously, viscousness synonym - clammy, sticky, syrupy, thick, slimy, viscose

placate

When a husband shows up with flowers after he's fought with his wife, he's trying to placate her. If you placate someone, you stop them from being angry by giving them something or doing something that pleases them. If your little sister is mad that the dog ate her favorite teddy bear, you could placate her by buying her an ice cream cone. A near synonym for placate is appease. The origin of placate is Latin placare "to calm or soothe." The related Latin verb placere is the source of English please. verb-transitive - To allay the anger of, especially by making concessions; appease. See Synonyms at pacify. form - placated, placating synonym - pacify, appease, satisfy, concilate, mollify verb-form - placates, placated, placating

proliferate

When something proliferates, it's growing, spreading or multiplying really quickly. Bunny rabbits have a habit of proliferating, as do dandelions in untended gardens and funny YouTube videos on the internet. Proliferate was originally a biological term used to describe the growth of cells and producing offspring. It wasnt until 1961 that we started to use proliferate more generally to talk about everything from the spread of nuclear weapons to the wide growth of Walmart. Other similar words include expand, reproduce, snowball, and spawn. verb-intransitive - To grow or multiply by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring. verb-intransitive - To increase or spread at a rapid rate: fears that nuclear weapons might proliferate. verb-transitive - To cause to grow or increase rapidly. synonym - generate etymologically-related-term - proliferous, proliferation, proliferative, prolific verb-form - proliferates, proliferating, proliferated hypernym - manifold, grow

profound

When you need a word that's deeper than "deep," consider profound. Profundus meant literally "deep" in Latin, and profound had the same meaning when it entered English in the 14th century. But even then, it also meant "figuratively deep" that is, very great or intense: "The new laws have had a profound impact." Of people, it means "very knowledgeable or insightful," but sometimes if a person tries to sound profound they're really just giving you superficial knowledge dressed up with big words. adjective - Situated at, extending to, or coming from a great depth; deep. adjective - Coming as if from the depths of one's being: profound contempt. adjective - Thoroughgoing; far-reaching: profound social changes. adjective - Penetrating beyond what is superficial or obvious: a profound insight. adjective - Unqualified; absolute: a profound silence. equivalent - significant, important, intense, thoughtful, deep synonym - thorough, far-reaching, submissive, penetrate, abstruse

prevaricate

When you prevaricate, you lie or mislead. Now, go ahead and tell me whether you already knew that meaning, and dont prevaricate about it give me the story straight!While prevaricate basically means to lie, it also has the sense of making it hard to know exactly what the lie was. You talk in a confusing way, go back and forth, and as deliberately as possible mislead someone. Government officials, bureaucrats, and sneaky types prevaricate in the hopes that it will be too difficult to figure out whether they've been doing something wrong. Don't prevaricate with your parents it will definitely make you look guilty, but they just won't be sure of what! verb-intransitive - To stray from or evade the truth; equivocate. See Synonyms at lie2. form - prevaricator, prevaricated, prevaricating, prevarication synonym - ergotize, tergiversate, dodge, pettifog, quibble, sophisticate

savor

Whether its a feeling of joy or a piece of pecan pie when you savor something, you enjoy it to the fullest. When you savor something, you enjoy it so much that you want to make it last forever. With that in mind, savor carries a connotation of doing something slowly. If you savor that flourless chocolate tart, then you eat it slowly, bit by bit, deliberately picking every last crumb off the plate. The word is often applied to eating, but you can savor any pleasurable experience, whether its the winning touchdown or your moment in the spotlight. noun - The taste or smell of something. noun - A specific taste or smell. See Synonyms at taste. noun - A distinctive quality or sensation: enjoying the savor of victory. verb-intransitive - To have a particular taste or smell: a dish that savors of curry. verb-intransitive - To exhibit a specified quality or characteristic; smack: postures that savored of vanity. verb-transitive - To impart flavor or scent to; season: savored the bland soup with salt. verb-transitive - To taste or smell, especially with pleasure: savored each morsel of the feast. verb-transitive - To appreciate fully; enjoy or relish: I want to savor this great moment of accomplishment. hyponym - smack, feast one's eyes, taste, devour, vanilla, lemon form - savoring, savored synonym - smell, odor

whimsical

Whimsical means full of or characterized by whims, which are odd ideas that usually occur to you very suddenly. If you decide at the last minute to fly to Europe, you could say you went there on a whim. Whimsical can also mean tending toward odd or unpredictable behavior. Both whimsical and whim are derived from an earlier English word whim-wham, which is of unknown origin. Whim-wham had about the same meaning as whim, but could also refer to an odd object or piece of clothing. adjective - Determined by, arising from, or marked by whim or caprice. See Synonyms at arbitrary. adjective - Erratic in behavior or degree of unpredictability: a whimsical personality. equivalent - arbitrary form - whimsical sex synonym - strange, queer, freakish, witty, fanciful, capricious, fantastic, quaint

coda

A coda is a concluding segment of a piece of music, a dance, or a statement. It's usually short and adds a final embellishment beyond a natural ending point. Like this. Coda comes from the Italian word couda, and it's good to think of it as a tail tacked onto something that in and of itself is already a whole. If you tell a story about your crazy experience getting lost in the country and sleeping at a farmer's house, you might add, as a coda, that the farmer ended up visiting you too, a year later. noun - Music The concluding passage of a movement or composition. noun - A conclusion or closing part of a statement. synonym - finale cross-reference - chorus, onset, refrain hypernym - conclusion, end, closing, ending, close same-context - argument

dichotomy

A dichotomy is an idea or classification split in two. When you point out a dichotomy, you draw a clear distinction between two things. A dichotomy is a contrast between two things. When there are two ideas, especially two opposed ideas like war and peace, or love and hate you have a dichotomy. You often hear about a "false dichotomy," which occurs when a situation is unfairly represented as an "either/or" scenario. For example, the statement "All cars are either small and efficient or large and polluting" creates a false dichotomy because there are some cars that don't fit into either category. noun - Division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions: "the dichotomy of the one and the many ( Louis Auchincloss). noun - Astronomy The phase of the moon, Mercury, or Venus when half of the disk is illuminated. noun - Botany Branching characterized by successive forking into two approximately equal divisions. form - dichotomic, dichotomically, dichotomise, false dichotomy synonym - division etymologically-related-term - partition, trichotomy cross-reference - law of dichotomy, argument from dichotomy, bostrychoid dichotomy

dirge

A dirge is a song of mourning, performed as a memorial to someone whos died. As you might imagine, a dirge is usually quite sad. Another word with a similar meaning that you might know is requiem.The noun dirge comes from the Latin dirige, which means direct, and is the beginning of a prayer that translates as Direct my way in your sight, O Lord my God. Dirge can still have a religious meaning, but it can also be any sad and mournful song, poem, or hymn composed or performed in memory of someone who has died. You can also say that something mournful sounds like a dirge, using the word in a more poetic sense. noun - Music A funeral hymn or lament. noun - Music A slow, mournful musical composition. noun - A mournful or elegiac poem or other literary work. noun - Roman Catholic Church The Office of the Dead. hyponym - keen synonym - office, monody, elegy, myriologue, threnody, lament, requiem, coronach hypernym - song

harangue

A harangue is more than a speech, louder than a discussion, and nastier than a lecture. It is a verbal attack that doesn't let up, delivered as a verb or received as a noun. Either way, it's pretty unpleasant. The word harangue developed its modern spelling around 1530, when the word was recorded as harangue in French. The word, meaning a strong, nasty rant, appears to have evolved from the Old Italian word aringa, probably from the word for a public square or place for public speaking. This in turn appears to have evolved from a Germanic word related to ring, as in "circular gathering," which is clearly similar to the Italian meaning. noun - A long pompous speech, especially one delivered before a gathering. noun - A speech or piece of writing characterized by strong feeling or expression; a tirade. verb-transitive - To deliver a harangue to. verb-intransitive - To deliver a harangue. hyponym - screed form - haranguing, harangued synonym - rigmarole, lecture, oration, berate, tirade, rant, diatribe

malleable

A malleable personality is capable of being changed or trained, and a malleable metal is able to be pounded or pressed into various shapes. It's easier to learn when you're young and malleable. Similarly, there are ductile metals that can be hammered out into wire or thread; gold, silver, and platinum are examples. The adjective malleable dates back to Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin mallebilis, from mallere "to hammer," from Latin malleus "a hammer." adjective - Capable of being shaped or formed, as by hammering or pressure: a malleable metal. adjective - Easily controlled or influenced; tractable. adjective - Able to adjust to changing circumstances; adaptable: the malleable mind of the pragmatist. equivalent - manipulable, formed, tractable synonym - ductil, tractable etymologically-related-term - malleableness, malleate, malleably, malleability cross-reference - malleable iron castings

morose

A morose person is sullen, gloomy, sad, glum, and depressed not a happy camper. When someone is morose, they seem to have a cloud of sadness hanging over them. This word is a stronger than just sad morose implies being extremely gloomy and depressed. We all can be morose at times, like after the death of a friend or family member. Some people tend to be morose more often: being morose is just part of some personalities. Whenever you see the word morose, think "really, really sad and gloomy." adjective - Sullenly melancholy; gloomy. equivalent - ill-natured synonym - melancholy, glum, austere, lascivious, grouchy, crabby, churlish, sulky, surly

penchant

A penchant is a strong preference or tendency. If you have a penchant for pizza, you either eat it daily, or wish you did. Penchant borrows from French, in which penchant literally means inclined. It goes back to the Latin pendere, for hanging, which is also the source of pendant. In both French and English, speakers have long used the idea of inclination metaphorically: a hillside can be inclined in one direction or another, and so can a person's thoughts. But in English, penchant is only for desires. noun - A definite liking; a strong inclination. See Synonyms at predilection. hyponym - weakness, acquired taste synonym - desire, inclination, bias hypernym - liking same-context - propensity, haut, predilection, fondness

recluse

A recluse lives alone, works alone, eats alone, and generally stays away from other people. Anti-social old hermits are recluses, as are a lot of students during exam time. In the early 13th century, a recluse was a person who shut out the world to go meditate on religious issues. But nowadays recluses can think about whatever they want while they're sitting in solitude they're simply people who shy away from social interaction and live secluded lives. Or think of the Brown Recluse spider, who likes to hide out in dark old boots or undisturbed corners of the basement. noun - A person who withdraws from the world to live in seclusion and often in solitude. adjective - Withdrawn from the world; reclusive. hyponym - St. John the Baptist, John the Baptist equivalent - unsocial form - brown recluse, recluse spider synonym - solitary, seclude, reclusive, hermit hypernym - lone hand

skeptic

A skeptic is a doubter. The one who can't be convinced. The guy who's ready to poke holes in the most brilliant argument you've ever made. For every great idea, there are probably 100 skeptics waiting to shoot it down. These are the naysayers that didn't think rock music would last, questioned the usefulness of seat belts, and even wondered if the internet would catch on. Coming from the Greek word skeptikos, which means "thoughtful or inquiring," it's no surprise that a skeptic is someone who asks a lot of questions and isn't easily convinced, even by the smartest answers. noun - One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions. noun - One inclined to skepticism in religious matters. noun - Philosophy An adherent of a school of skepticism. noun - Philosophy A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of Elis (360?-272? B.C.). hyponym - doubting thomas, pessimist equivalent - skeptical synonym - unbeliever, doubter, minimifidian, infidel, freethinker, pyrrhonist etymologically-related-term - skeptical

distend

A soda and pizza binge might make your stomach distend, meaning your stomach will swell as a result of pressure from the inside. If youve ever eaten too much food it wont surprise you to learn that the verb distend traces back to the Latin words dis-, meaning apart, and tendere, meaning to stretch. Your stomach will certainly feel stretched out if you do something like overeat that causes it to distend. The word distend often applies to stomachs a pregnancy would also cause a stomach to distend but it can also refer to anything that is stretched out as a result of internal pressure. verb-intransitive - To swell out or expand from or as if from internal pressure. verb-transitive - To cause to expand by or as if by internal pressure; dilate. verb-transitive - To extend. form - distensible, distending, distended synonym - bloat, enlarge, swell, plump, fill, dilate, stretch

supposition

A supposition is a guess or a hypothesis. Your supposition that your kids will automatically wash their hands before dinner is probably false. You'd best remind them to do it or risk dirty hands at dinner. What's the difference between an assumption and a supposition both nouns that are often taken as synonyms for each other? An assumption is an idea or theory that is usually made without proof. A supposition, on the other hand, has the connotation that the idea or theory is testable and provable. If you are to meet someone named Hunter, you may make the assumption that you are meeting a man. But if you know that Hunter lives in an all-female dorm, you may have the supposition that Hunter is a woman. noun - The act of supposing. noun - Something supposed; an assumption. hyponym - divination, basis, self-evident truth, fundament, groundwork, presupposition, basic assumption, constatation, cornerstone, precondition

tirade

A tirade is a speech, usually consisting of a long string of violent, emotionally charged words. Borrow and lose your roommates clothes one too many times, and you can bet youll be treated to a heated tirade. The noun tirade is related to the Italian word tirata, which means "volley." So imagine a very angry person lobbing harsh words and strings of profanity in your direction when you want to remember what tirade means. Although, tirades don't necessarily have to include bad words any long, drawn out speech or epic declaration can be called a tirade. noun - A long angry or violent speech, usually of a censorious or denunciatory nature; a diatribe. synonym - harangue, rant, declamation, laisse, diatribe, discourse, declaim, screed cross-reference - j'accuse, tantrum

derivative

Alert: shifting parts of speech! As a noun, a derivative is kind of financial agreement or deal. As an adjective, though, derivative describes something that borrows heavily from something else that came before it. The economic meltdown of the last decade is due largely to the mismanagement of derivatives, which are deals based on the outcome of other deal. A movie plot might be described as derivative if it steals from another film say, if it lifts the tornado, the witch, and the dancing scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. adjective - Resulting from or employing derivation: a derivative word; a derivative process. adjective - Copied or adapted from others: a highly derivative prose style. noun - Something derived. noun - Linguistics A word formed from another by derivation, such as electricity from electric. noun - Mathematics The limiting value of the ratio of the change in a function to the corresponding change in its independent variable. noun - Mathematics The instantaneous rate of change of a function with respect to its variable. noun - Mathematics The slope of the tangent line to the graph of a function at a given point. Also called differential coefficient, fluxion. noun - Chemistry A compound derived or obtained from another and containing essential elements of the parent substance. noun - Business An investment that derives its value from another more fundamental investment, as a commitment to buy a bond for a certain sum on a certain date. hyponym - warrant, convertible bond, financial future, total return swap, partial, convertible, financial futures contract, partial derivative, convertible security, futures contract

antipathy

An antipathy is a deep-seated dislike of something or someone. Usually it's a condition that is long-term, innate, and pretty unlikely to change like your antipathy for the Red Sox. If you look at the Greek roots of this word anti- (meaning "against") and pathos (meaning "feeling"), you can see that antipathy is a feeling against someone or something. In general, antipathies are considered feelings that are kept at least somewhat under wraps and are not out on the surface. noun - A strong feeling of aversion or repugnance. See Synonyms at enmity. noun - An object of aversion. synonym - disgust, repugnance, ill will, opposition, distaste, enmity, abhorrence, dislike, incompatibility, contrariety

elegy

An elegy is a sad poem, usually written to praise and express sorrow for someone who is dead. Although a speech at a funeral is a eulogy, you might later compose an elegy to someone you have loved and lost to the grave. The purpose of this kind of poem is to express feelings rather than tell a story. Thomas Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is a poem that reflects on the lives of common people buried in a church cemetery, and on the nature of human mortality. The noun elegy was borrowed in the 16th century from Middle French lgie, from Latin elega, from Greek elegeia, from elegos "mournful poem or song." noun - A poem composed in elegiac couplets. noun - A poem or song composed especially as a lament for a deceased person. noun - Something resembling such a poem or song. noun - Music A composition that is melancholy or pensive in tone. form - elegiac synonym - threnody, dirge cross-reference - eulogy hypernym - poem, verse form same-context - ode, allegory, madrigal, sonnet

impervious

An impervious surface is one that can't be penetrated. The word is often followed by "to," as in "His steely personality made him impervious to jokes about his awful haircut."Most of the sentences you'll run across using impervious will be followed by the word "to" and a noun. Things are often described as being impervious to physical assaults like heat, water, bullets, weather, and attack, but just as frequently to less tangible things, like reason, criticism, pain, and pressure. The word comes from Latin: in- + pervius, meaning "not letting things through." A common synonym is impermeable. adjective - Incapable of being penetrated: a material impervious to water. adjective - Incapable of being affected: impervious to fear. equivalent - run-resistant, resistant, moth-resistant, colorfast, proof, runproof, acid-fast, corrosion-resistant, greaseproof, ladder-proof

appease

Appease means to make or preserve peace with a nation, group, or person by giving in to their demands, or to relieve a problem, as in "the cold drink appeased his thirst."The word often implies abandoning your moral principles to satisfy the demands of someone who is greedy for power: Think of British Prime Minister Chamberlain's attempt to appease the Nazis at Munich. The cold drink appeased his thirst. Appease is from Middle English apaisen, from apaisier, formed from the prefix a- "to" plus pais "peace," from Latin pax. verb-transitive - To bring peace, quiet, or calm to; soothe. verb-transitive - To satisfy or relieve: appease one's thirst. verb-transitive - To pacify or attempt to pacify (an enemy) by granting concessions, often at the expense of principle. See Synonyms at pacify. form - appeasing, appealed synonym - calm, slake, mitigate, quell, lay, lull, conciliate, still

eulogy

At every funeral, there comes a moment when someone who knew the dead person speaks about their life. They are delivering what is known as a eulogy. A eulogy is a formal speech that praises a person who has died. Usually a eulogy makes the dead person sound a lot more impressive than they really were. A couple of less common synonyms for this kind of "praise the dead" speech are panegyric and encomium. Sometimes the dead person was so unimpressive that there's nothing nice to say. And sometimes they were so awful that the only appropriate speech is a dyslogy that describes their faults and failings. noun - A laudatory speech or written tribute, especially one praising someone who has died. noun - High praise or commendation. synonym - monody, panegyric, eulogium, encomium, approval, eulogism, praise, applause etymologically-related-term - eulogise, eulogist

beneficent

Beneficent is the type of act that helps others. If you're a beneficent person, you probably spend a lot of your time volunteering at soup kitchens or homeless shelters, helping people who are less fortunate than you are. Beneficent shares the same root and sentiment with its fellow adjective, benevolent, which also means something that is good. The two words are so closely related that they also share the same Latin origin. Another related word, benefactor, is someone who gives support to an organization or institution or someone who takes care of another person. Kind, generous, and giving are all synonyms of beneficent. adjective - Characterized by or performing acts of kindness or charity. adjective - Producing benefit; beneficial. equivalent - charitable, benefic synonym - benefic, beneficial, benevolent, generous cross-reference - kindly, beneficial, kind same-context - tutelary

intractable

Can't manage your stubborn little brother who won't do what anyone says? You could call him intractable, or you could call your mother. Problems are intractable when they can't be solved. Intractable means not tractable. Helpful, right? No? Let's break it down. In both words you see the word tract. A contract is a written document that explains how a legal situation is to be managed together. When someone is tractable they are able to be managed or handled. When they are intractable, they are as unmanageable as a hungry two-year old. adjective - Difficult to manage or govern; stubborn. See Synonyms at unruly. adjective - Difficult to mold or manipulate: intractable materials. adjective - Difficult to alleviate, remedy, or cure: intractable pain. equivalent - unmanageable, uncontrollable, refractory, balking, stubborn, balky, unmalleable form - intractableness, intractability, intractably

capricious

Capricious is an adjective to describe a person or thing that's impulsive and unpredictable, like a bride who suddenly leaves her groom standing at the wedding altar. You can criticize a fickle-minded person as capricious, but it could just as well describe quickly changing weather, as in "capricious spring storms." It's the adjective form of the noun caprice, which means a sudden change of mood. Caprice might come from capra, the Italian word for "goat" (because goats are frisky), or from capo, "head" + riccio, "hedgehog." Why bring hedgehogs into it? If you have a "hedgehog head," you are so scared that your hair is standing straight on end. A scared person makes sudden starts this way and that, just as a capricious person does. adjective - Characterized by or subject to whim; impulsive and unpredictable. See Synonyms at arbitrary. equivalent - arbitrary, unpredictable form - capriciously synonym - arbitrary, crotchety, whimsy, erratic, fantasted, freakish, wayward

decorum

Decorum is proper and polite behavior. If you let out a big belch at a fancy dinner party, you're not showing much decorum. This noun is from Latin decrus "proper, becoming, handsome," from dcor "beauty, grace," which is also the source of English dcor. The corresponding adjective is decorous, meaning "well-behaved in a particular situation." Both decorum and decorous are often used to describe behavior in a classroom or courtroom. noun - Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety: "In the Ireland of the 1940's ... the stolidity of a long, empty, grave face was thought to be the height of decorum and profundity ( John McGahern). noun - The conventions or requirements of polite behavior: the formalities and decorums of a military funeral. noun - The appropriateness of an element of an artistic or literary work, such as style or tone, to its particular circumstance or to the composition as a whole. hyponym - becomingness synonym - seemliness, dignity, modesty, propriety etymologically-related-term - decorous hypernym - properness, correctitude, propriety same-context - self-respect

discrete

Discrete means separate, or divided. A discrete unit is a separate component of something larger. A room is a discrete space within a house, just as the transmission is a discrete part of a cars engine. Choose Your Words:discreet / discreteDiscreet and discrete are doublets of each other. That is, they come from the same ultimate source, although they took different paths from it.   Continue reading...Don't confuse discrete meaning separate, or divided, or distinct, with its close cousin discreet, which means "with discretion," or "appropriately private." They come from the same word root, and each basically means to keep something apart. Billionaire Bruce Wayne, for example, is very discreet about his secret life as Batman. You could say Batman is a discrete part of Bruce Waynes identity. adjective - Constituting a separate thing. See Synonyms at distinct. adjective - Consisting of unconnected distinct parts. adjective - Mathematics Defined for a finite or countable set of values; not continuous. equivalent - separate form - discreteness, discrete variable synonym - separate, disjunctive, discontinuous, disjunct, distinct cross-reference - discrete degrees same-context - optical

disseminate

Disseminate means to spread information, knowledge, opinions widely. Semin- derives from the Latin word for seed; the idea with disseminate is that information travels like seeds sown by a farmer. Think about a teacher distributing a hand out at the beginning of a class. The dis- of disseminate and distribute come from the same Latin, which means "abroad." But unlike papers distributed in class, information cannot be pulled back in. Think about false rumors or political smear campaigns and you'll understand that dissemination is usually a one-way process. verb-transitive - To scatter widely, as in sowing seed. verb-transitive - To spread abroad; promulgate: disseminate information. verb-intransitive - To become diffused; spread. hyponym - sow, vulgarise, generalize, podcast, generalise, popularise, vulgarize, run, carry, popularize

gainsay

Gainsay, a verb, means "contradict" or "speak out against." When you challenge authority, you gainsay, as in teachers don't like it when unruly students gainsay them. Gainsay comes from an Old English word that means "contradict" or "say against," as in, no one dared gainsay the principal, who is well-known for giving detention to students who so much as frown at him. If you know someone who constantly corrects others, tells them that they're wrong, and says, "That's not true," more than anyone else, you have first-hand experience with the art of the gainsay. verb-transitive - To declare false; deny. See Synonyms at deny. verb-transitive - To oppose, especially by contradiction. hyponym - call form - gainsaying, gainsaid, gainsayer synonym - dispute, deny, contradict, controvert, forbid verb-form - gainsays

grandiloquent

Grandiloquent is a fancy term for, well, being fancy or pretentious. In fact, you might say grandiloquent is itself a pretty grandiloquent word. The word grandiloquent generally refers to the way a person behaves or speaks. Politicians and schoolteachers are the usual suspects of this manner of behavior, known as grandiloquence, but it can refer to anything that's overbearing or pompous in style or manner. Architecture, especially, is highly guilty of being grandiloquent if you check out just about anything built in the Baroque style, you could describe it as grandiloquent. adjective - overly wordy, pompous, flowery, or elaborate. equivalent - pretentious, rhetorical synonym - extravagant, pompous, bombastic, flowery, pretentious, sesquipedalian, ostentatious etymologically-related-term - grandiloquoy

malingerer

Have you ever pretended to be sick or hurt to get out of taking a test or doing a chore? Then you, my dear, are a malingerer, and should be ashamed of yourself. Shape up!Knowing that the prefix mal is from the Latin for bad, we can tell right off that being a malingerer is not a good thing. This noun form of the verb malinger comes from the French malingre which means sickly. (Obviously, its bad to pretend to be sick.) In Jack Londons Call of the Wild, the new dog, Pike, is referred to as a clever malingerer and thief, giving a clear negative context to the word. noun - A person who malingers. cross-reference - shirker hypernym - shirker, slacker same-context - no-go, interruptus, basset, meticulousness, people, master's-mate, canvasser

idolatry

Idolatry means the worship of images as if they were gods. Many religions prohibit idolatry, some even to the extent of forbidding any representational objects in houses of worship. Idol sits at the head of the word idolatry. If you worshipor even just look up toa person or a thing, you are said to idolize them. For some modern idolaters, money is their idol, while for others it is celebrities and for still others their jobs. noun - Worship of idols. noun - Blind or excessive devotion to something. hyponym - gynaeolatry, bible-worship, symbolatry, verbolatry, anthropolatry, word-worship, worship of man, iconolatry, symbololatry, topolatry

rescind

If get a call saying a company has decided to rescind your job offer, it's back to the classifieds for you. Rescind is an official reversal. Things that are rescinded: policies, court decisions, regulations, and official statements. What all these examples have in common is that they are on the record. Also, rescind usually refers to promises instead of tangible objects. You can't rescind a shirt a friend has borrowed from you, but you can rescind your offer to loan them your jeans. verb-transitive - To make void; repeal or annul. hyponym - renegue on, renege on, go back on, renege form - rescinded, rescinding synonym - revoke, reverse, vacate, repeal

recalcitrant

If someone is so pig-headed that he won't budge on an issue, call him recalcitrant. Not that it will make a difference...Recalcitrant is from Latin calcitrare, meaning "to kick," so someone who is recalcitrant is kicking back against what's wanted of them. Synonyms are unruly, intractable, and refractory, all referring to what is difficult to manage or control. Writers are frequently referring to recalcitrant Democrats and Republicans, since many people are stubbornly loyal to their political parties and unwilling to change. adjective - Marked by stubborn resistance to and defiance of authority or guidance. See Synonyms at unruly. noun - A recalcitrant person. equivalent - defiant, disobedient, noncompliant form - recalcitrance, recalcitrancy synonym - refractory, recalcitrating, stubborn, disobedient, unruly

stigma

If something has a negative association attached to it, call this a stigma. Bed-wetting can lead to a social stigma for a six year old, while chewing tobacco might have the same effect for a sixty year old. Stigma, from the Greek word of the same spelling meaning "mark, puncture," came into English through Latin to mean a mark burned into the skin to signify disgrace. It did not take long for stigma to be used figuratively, as it is commonly used today, for the negative stereotype or reputation attached to something such as "the stigma of divorce." noun - A mark or token of infamy, disgrace, or reproach: "Party affiliation has never been more casual . . . The stigmata of decay are everywhere ( Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.) See Synonyms at stain. noun - A small mark; a scar or birthmark. noun - Medicine A mark or characteristic indicative of a history of a disease or abnormality. noun - Psychology A mark or spot on the skin that bleeds as a symptom of hysteria. noun - Bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain corresponding in location to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, usually occurring during states of religious ecstasy or hysteria. noun - Biology A small mark, spot, or pore, such as the respiratory spiracle of an insect or an eyespot in certain algae. noun - Botany The receptive apex of the pistil of a flower, on which pollen is deposited at pollination. noun - Archaic A mark burned into the skin of a criminal or slave; a brand. hyponym - bar sinister, cloven hoof, cloven foot, bend sinister, demerit form - stigmatize synonym - sully, spiracle, brand, blotch

inconsequential

If something is considered of little worth or importance, it is inconsequential. If astronomers forecast a tremendous meteor shower, it might turn out to be no more than space junk, too inconsequential to record. You can use the adjective inconsequential to describe things that just dont matter or are of no relevance, as in "the rainy forecast is totally inconsequential the bowling tournament is inside!" It also describes things that don't make sense in a certain order, "trying to win their votes is inconsequential: the election's over." Something small or minor can be inconsequential too, though the red bump on your nose on picture-day may not seem as inconsequential to you as it does to the photographer. adjective - Lacking importance. adjective - Not following from premises or evidence; illogical. noun - A triviality. equivalent - unlogical, illogical, unimportant form - inconsequentialness, inconsequentially, inconsequentiality synonym - trivial, negligible, trifling, inconsequent

convoluted

If something is convoluted, it's intricate and hard to understand. You'll need to read over your brother's convoluted investment scheme a few times before deciding whether or not to go in on it. Convoluted comes from the Latin convolutus for rolled up together. Its original meaning in English was exactly that, first for eaves coiled up on themselves, then for anything rolled or knotted together. Over time convoluted took on its metaphorical sense of complicated and intricate, which is how it's generally used today. People complain about convoluted legal language and the convoluted tax code. adjective - Having numerous overlapping coils or folds: a convoluted seashell. adjective - Intricate; complicated: convoluted legal language; convoluted reasoning. equivalent - complex, coiled etymologically-related-term - convolute, convolution, convolve cross-reference - convoluted bone, convoluted wings, convoluted antenn verb-stem - convolute same-context - Embarrass

porous

If something is full of tiny holes or openings, you can describe it as porous. A sponge is porous, and if the border between countries is open for anyone to cross easily, it too can be called porous. You can see the word pore meaning "a tiny opening" in porous. When potters make a mug, they use special glazes to seal the porous clay, which otherwise would absorb the liquid you put in the mug. This meaning has expanded so porous can describe any barrier that allows easy passage in and out, like the porous border between two countries that allows residents to move easily between them. adjective - Full of or having pores. adjective - Admitting the passage of gas or liquid through pores or interstices. adjective - Easily crossed or penetrated. equivalent - permeable, leaky, porose synonym - open, holey, hole cross-reference - porous cup, porous plaster same-context - granular, spongy

tenuous

If something is tenuous it's thin, either literally or metaphorically. If you try to learn a complicated mathematical concept by cramming for 45 minutes, you will have a tenuous grasp of that concept, at best. Tenuous comes from the Latin word tenuis, for thin, and is related to our word tender. Something can be physically tenuous, like a spiderweb or ice on a pond. We more often use it in a metaphorical sense, to talk about weak ideas. Tenuous arguments won't win any debate tournaments. Synonyms for tenuous, also used physically or metaphorically, are flimsy and shaky. adjective - Long and thin; slender: tenuous strands. adjective - Having a thin consistency; dilute. adjective - Having little substance; flimsy: a tenuous argument. equivalent - thin, unimportant, insignificant synonym - minute, rare, slender, thin, subtile, small, thing

guileless

If you are guileless, you are not a liar; you are innocent, and you might be a touch on the gullible side. To be guileless is to be without guile. Guile is "deceit, duplicity and trickery." The young and uninitiated are the ones we call guileless, and they are the ones who often get stung by the more heartless among us. You might recall being a guileless freshman trying out for the school play, and being told by a veteran performer that it would be best to come to the audition for Our Town in a chicken costume, so you did. adjective - Free of guile; artless. See Synonyms at naive. equivalent - square, straight synonym - simpl, artless, nave same-context - innocent, amiable, childlike, truthful, unaffected

gullible

If you are gullible, the joke is on you because you are easily fooled. It is thought that gullible might be derived from the verb gull, meaning "to swallow." This would be a funny coincidence as gullible describes an overly trusting person who tends to swallow the stories he hears whole. The related word, gull, can be used as a noun "don't be such a gull!" or as a verb "you can't gull me into believing that!" adjective - Easily deceived or duped. equivalent - naive, naf, unwary form - gullibility, gullibly synonym - naif, fleeceable, green, nave same-context - artless

discordant

If you believe that movies should entertain, but your friend insists that movies should inspire, then the two of you hold discordant views on the purpose of movies. That means your opinions are in conflict. You can see the word discord in discordant. Discord is tension felt between people who strongly disagree about something. So discordant describes experiencing discord, a lack of harmony. A discordant conversation at your dinner table may make some people upset they want everyone to get along. Discordant can also describe harsh and unpleasant sounds, like the blaring horns in city traffic. adjective - Not being in accord; conflicting. adjective - Disagreeable in sound; harsh or dissonant. equivalent - factious, dissentious, discrepant, inharmonious, unharmonious, dissonant, divisive, at variance synonym - disagreeing, opposing

immutable

If you can't change it, it's immutable. There are many things in life that are immutable; these unchangeable things include death, taxes, and the laws of physics. The adjective immutable has Latin roots that mean "not changeable." The Latin prefix for not is in, but the spelling changes when the prefix is put before the consonant m. It is im before a root word starting with m as in immutable. If you learn this rule, you'll know the immutable fact that immutable begins with i-m-m. adjective - Not subject or susceptible to change. synonym - unchangeable, unalterable cross-reference - immutable accent same-context - steadfast, infallible, undying, incorruptible, inflexible, indivisible, inviolable

supersede

If you click on the link after this description, a new screen will supersede, or replace, this one. A longer description will supplant, or supersede, by replacing this brief one. Most words that include super have something good going on. Supersede is from the 16th-century Latin for "sit on top," and it often means to replace with something better. A version 10 of a computer game will supersede, version 9, making it more exciting. Unfortunately, a person might be replaced too, as in "the younger running back will supersede the veteran player as he gets older." To supersede is generally a good thing, but being superseded is not always that great for the replaced person. verb-transitive - To take the place of; replace. verb-transitive - To cause to be set aside, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated. See Synonyms at replace. hyponym - displace, preempt, usurp, deputise, substitute, deputize, oust, step in form - superseding, superseded

obsequious

If you disapprove of the overly submissive way someone is acting like the teacher's pet or a celebrity's assistant call them by the formal adjective obsequious. There are many words in the English language for a person or an action that is overly obedient and submissive. Obsequious is a more formal adjective, whereas fawning or servile belong to standard language use. An obsequious person can be called a bootlicker, a brownnoser or a toady. You can also say that someone gives an obsequious bow, a gesture that means, "your wish is my command." adjective - Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning. equivalent - servile, insincere synonym - truckling, yielding, slavish, subservient, abject, pickthank, supple, sycophantic

disparage

If you haven't got anything nice to say, then it's time to disparage someone. It means to belittle or degrade a person or idea. Disparage is a specific way to describe a certain kind of insult, the kind that secures the insulter's place as superior. It often refers to an opinion or criticism lobbed in print or via word of mouth, not necessarily an act done to someone's face. If someone or something is being disparaged, you will often find a competing interest in the wings. verb-transitive - To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle. See Synonyms at decry. verb-transitive - To reduce in esteem or rank. hyponym - discredit, derogate, depreciate, belittle, disgrace, deprecate, tear apart, trash, vilipend, denigrate

satiate

If you just can't get enough popcorn, even the jumbo tub at the movie theater may not be enough to satiate, or satisfy, your desire. Satiate is often used in situations in which a thirst, craving, or need is satisfied. However, when satiate is used to describe eating, it can take on a more negative, or even disgusted, tone. If you comment that the diners at the world's largest all-you-can eat buffet were satiated, you might not mean that they were merely satisfied. You could be implying that they've been gluttons, and that they are now overstuffed with fried chicken wings and mac and cheese. verb-transitive - To satisfy (an appetite or desire) fully. verb-transitive - To satisfy to excess. adjective - Filled to satisfaction. hyponym - pall, cloy equivalent - jaded, satisfiable, satiable form - satiating, satiated synonym - sated, sate, glutted

intransigence

If you refuse to compromise with your sister about whose turn it is to do the dishes, your mother might accuse you both of intransigence. Intransigence is a stubborn refusal to change your views. Inside of intransigence you see the Latin transigere which means to come to an understanding. People who show intransigence refuse to do this. Nations are often accused of intransigence when they refuse to comply with international standards or will. noun - Unwillingness to change one's views or to agree. noun - The state of being intransigent. hypernym - pigheadedness, bullheadedness, self-will, stubbornness, obstinance, obstinacy same-context - misjudgments, lackof, hecan, boastfulness

equanimity

If you take the news of your brother's death with equanimity, it means you take it calmly without breaking down. Equanimity refers to emotional calmness and balance in times of stress. If equanimity reminds you of equal, that's because the words have a lot in common. The noun equanimity was borrowed from Latin aequanimits, from aequanimus "even-tempered, fair," formed from aequus "even, level, equal" plus animus "mind." The archaic phrase to bear with equal mind means "to bear with a calm mind," and is a translation from the Latin. The phrase a level mind also refers to calmness. A near synonym is composure. noun - The quality of being calm and even-tempered; composure. hyponym - cool, poise, placidity, tranquillity, assuredness, serenity, sang-froid, tranquility, quiet, aplomb

innocuous

If you want to reassure someone that something isn't harmful or likely to cause injury, call it innocuous. Even an innocuous letter from your boyfriend is embarrassing if your parents find it!The adjective, innocuous, does not really say what something is, but rather what it is not. Some chemicals, viruses, snakes or websites may be harmful, some remarks or questions may be offensive, but if one of these is innocuous, it is not. The word comes from the Latin roots in- "not" and nocere "to injure, harm." adjective - Having no adverse effect; harmless. adjective - Not likely to offend or provoke to strong emotion; insipid. equivalent - harmless, innoxious, inoffensive form - innocuously, innocuity, innocuousness synonym - harmless, innoxious etymologically-related-term - innocent same-context - inaccessible

imperturbable

If you're imperturbable you are not easily upset. If your goal is to be imperturbable, then you can't let things bother you or get you stressed, confused, or angry. The adjective imperturbable is the flip side of perturbable, which comes from perturb, which in turn traces back to the Latin word perturbare, meaning to confuse or to disturb. If something really annoying is going on, like one neighbor is jack-hammering his driveway and another has a dog that's barking while you're trying to sleep because you were up all night studying and you really really need a nap, but you stay calm and dont get upset, you are imperturbable. adjective - Unshakably calm and collected. See Synonyms at cool. equivalent - composed synonym - calm same-context - unshakable, stoic, indomitable, unconcerned, austere, inscrutable, impassive, inflexible

incongruity

Incongruity means out of place something that doesn't fit in its location or situation. The art show patrons couldn't help but chuckle at the incongruity of a toilet sitting in the middle of an exhibition of Renaissance paintings. An incongruity is very different from everything around it, to the point of being inappropriate to the situation. A cat at a dog's birthday party would be an incongruity, as would a pacifist at a meeting of the War Lovers' Society. Incongruity is the idea that something is incongruous, or inappropriate. A purple towel is an incongruity in an all black-and-white bathroom. noun - Lack of congruence. noun - The state or quality of being incongruous. noun - Something incongruous. hyponym - irony synonym - unsuitableness, inconsistency, impropriety hypernym - incompatibility same-context - exaggeration, flaw, anachronism, antagonism, absurdity

indeterminate

Indeterminate means not known or decided. When someone contracts a rare stomach parasite but has not been traveling internationally, you might say it had indeterminate origins. Choose Your Words:indeterminate / indeterminableUnderstanding the nuances of this word pair, indeterminate and indeterminable, hinges on understanding the words' parts. The root word, determine, means to establish something.   Continue reading...It's important to distinguish indeterminate from undetermined, which means not yet decided. When you buy an antique vase and don't know when it dates from, you might describe it as of an indeterminate era. If you are traveling and don't know when you plan to return home, you could say that your return is as yet undetermined. adjective - Not precisely determined, determinable, or established: a person of indeterminate age. adjective - Not precisely fixed, as to extent, size, nature, or number: an indeterminate number of plant species in the jungle. adjective - Lacking clarity or precision, as in meaning; vague: an indeterminate turn of phrase. adjective - Not fixed or known in advance: an indeterminate future. adjective - Not leading up to a definite result or ending: an indeterminate campaign. adjective - Botany Not terminating in a flower and continuing to grow at the apex: an indeterminate inflorescence. equivalent - cost-plus, open-ended, indeterminable, inconclusive, undeterminable, equivocal, racemose, ambiguous synonym - uncertain, indeterminant

indolent

Indolent is an adjective meaning slow or lazy. It can take an indolent teenager hours to get out of bed on a weekend morning. Often it's noon before he finally comes shuffling down to breakfast in his pajamas. An indolent person is slow and lazy not the type of person you'd want running your corporation or competing with you in a relay race. Doctors use the word indolent to describe medical conditions that are slow to progress. If you're diagnosed with an illness, you'd prefer an indolent one over one that spreads quickly. adjective - Disinclined to exert oneself; habitually lazy. See Synonyms at lazy. adjective - Conducive to inactivity or laziness; lethargic: humid, indolent weather. adjective - Causing little or no pain: an indolent tumor. adjective - Slow to heal, grow, or develop; inactive: an indolent ulcer. equivalent - idle, inactive synonym - idler, easygoing, fat, otiose, sluggish, inert, inactive, idle

irresolute

Irresolute describes someone who feels stuck. A decision must be made, a plan acted on, but the irresolute person just doesn't know what to do. Resolute describes certainty. When someone is resolute, things get done: plans are made and carried out. But add the prefix ir to resolute and you get its opposite. An irresolute person isn't necessarily a slacker he or she just doesn't know what to do. Maybe it's confusion. Maybe it's a matter of waiting for better information to come along. Either way, if someone is irresolute, you'll need to be patient or willing to nudge him or her into action. adjective - Unsure of how to act or proceed; undecided. adjective - Lacking in resolution; indecisive. equivalent - discouraged, unstable, vacillant, wavering, vacillating, weak-kneed, infirm form - irresoluteness synonym - unsteadfast, unstable

divest

It could be your wine portfolio, your stake in a mining company, or even the extra coats that are taking up space in your closet. Whatever it is, when you divest something, you get rid of it. Divest is sort of a fancy way to say dispose of. Its often used in a business context to describe companies or governments that divest some of their holdings by selling them off. It can also be used in the sense of taking something away from someone. For example if your boss becomes insane and power mad, his handlers may divest him of his title, meaning his position is taken away from him. verb-transitive - To strip, as of clothes. verb-transitive - To deprive, as of rights or property; dispossess. verb-transitive - To free of; rid: "Most secretive of men, let him at last divest himself of secrets, both his and ours ( Brendan Gill). verb-transitive - To sell off or otherwise dispose of (a subsidiary company or an investment). verb-transitive - Law To devest. hyponym - disarm, bereave, clean out, defrock, expropriate, dispossess, unfrock, orphan, unsex, clean

laconic

Laconic is an adjective that describes a style of speaking or writing that uses only a few words, often to express complex thoughts and ideas. A more laconic way to write that last sentence might be this: laconic means brief. Theres a friend of yours who doesnt talk very much, and when he does, he says maybe three words and then becomes quiet again. You could describe that friend as laconic. The word comes from Laconia, a region in ancient Greece where the local Spartan rulers gave very short speeches. Being laconic can be bad when it sounds rude to be so brief, but it can be good if youre in a rush to get somewhere. adjective - Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise. See Synonyms at silent. equivalent - laconical, concise synonym - Brie, concise, sententious, pointed, cruel, terse, short, laconism

magnanimity

Magnanimous behavior is noble, generous, or unselfish, and to exhibit magnanimity is to be this way. He showed great magnanimity in not pressing charges when I drove his car into the pond. "Accidents happen my friend," he said, and patted me on the back. In Latin, magnus means "great": a magnate is a great man; a magnum is a great big bottle of champagne. Magnanimity is the generous greatness of spirit. When you are being the bigger person, you are behaving with magnanimity. "The supermodel grabbed the magnum of champagne, lifted it to her mouth and drained the bottle. With great magnanimity, her host smiled and offered her another." noun - The quality of being magnanimous. noun - A magnanimous act. synonym - generosity hypernym - liberalness, liberality same-context - fortitude, probity, self-sacrifice, liberality, candor, disinterestedness, honesty

ebullient

More than chipper, more than happy, more than delighted is ebullient meaning bubbling over with joy and delight. There are two senses of the word of ebullient. One describes an immediate, and ultimately short-lived, reaction to a particular event for example if you've just won the lottery, you are ebullient. The other describes someone who is perpetually upbeat and cheerful, for example, as in "an ebullient personality." Watch out for ebullient personalities: they can often be "over the top" as well. adjective - Zestfully enthusiastic. adjective - Boiling or seeming to boil; bubbling. equivalent - spirited synonym - effervescing, zestful same-context - vivacious, copper-bottomed, effusive, easygoing, light-hearted, mirthless, charismatic

opprobium

None

obdurate

Obdurate is a formal word meaning stubborn. If you want to major in English, but your parents are obdurate that you should go premed, they might go so far as to threaten not to pay your tuition. This adjective descends from Latin obdurare "to harden." A near synonym is adamant, from Latin adamas "hard metal, diamond." So both of these synonyms derive from the quality of hardness being associated with a stubborn personality. adjective - Hardened in wrongdoing or wickedness; stubbornly impenitent: "obdurate conscience of the old sinner ( Sir Walter Scott). adjective - Hardened against feeling; hardhearted: an obdurate miser. adjective - Not giving in to persuasion; intractable. See Synonyms at inflexible. equivalent - hard-hearted, unregenerate, heartless, unregenerated form - obduracy synonym - recalcitrant, obstinate, hard-hearted, firm, unbending

perfunctory

Perfunctory means done as part of a routine or duty. If you give someone a gift and they look at it like it's roadkill and say nothing about it but a perfunctory "thank you," you might not be giving them another one anytime soon. A person who does something in a perfunctory way shows little enthusiasm or interest in what they are doing. Many of our everyday greetings are perfunctory. For example, when we say hello and how are you, it's usually done out of habit. Perfunctory is from Latin perfunctus, from perfungi "to get through with, perform," formed from the Latin prefix per- "completely" plus fungi "to perform." adjective - Done routinely and with little interest or care: The operator answered the phone with a perfunctory greeting. adjective - Acting with indifference; showing little interest or care. equivalent - formal, careless synonym - slipshod, formal, careless, token, obligatory, automatic, cursory, unthinking

abstemious

Reserve abstemious for someone who exercises restraint, especially with regard to alcohol. A rock musician may sing about enjoying wine and women, but in his private life he may be abstemious. You might get the idea that abstemious is a relative of abstain with a change of consonant, but in fact the two words only share the abs- prefix, meaning "away." The -temious bit in this adjective is from Latin temetum, "intoxicating drink," so it came to refer to someone who keeps alcohol (or other temptations) at arm's length. This word has the vowels a, e, i, o and u in alphabetical order; the adverb abstemiously adds the y! adjective - Eating and drinking in moderation. adjective - Characterized by abstinence or moderation: The hermit led an abstemious way of life. equivalent - Spartan, ascetical, temperate, austere, ascetic, abstentious, abstinent form - abstemiousness, unabstemious synonym - abstaining

reticent

Reticent means either quiet or restrained. If you're reticent about your feelings, you like to keep them to yourself, and you're probably quiet in rowdy groups where everyone is talking over each other. Choose Your Words:reluctant / reticentReluctant means resisting or unwilling, while reticent means quiet, restrained, or unwilling to communicate. Is it a distinction worth preserving?   Continue reading...The original meaning of reticent describes someone who doesnt like to talk. Be careful in your context, however. Reticent can refer to someone who is restrained and formal, but it can also refer to someone who doesnt want to draw attention to herself or who prefers seclusion to other people. Dont confuse reticent with reluctant, which means unwilling. adjective - Inclined to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself. See Synonyms at silent. adjective - Restrained or reserved in style. adjective - Reluctant; unwilling. equivalent - taciturn, undemonstrative, unassertive synonym - silent, uncommunicative, secretive, reserved, mum, private, dumb

salubrious

Salubrious is a fancy way to describe something thats good for you or is generally favorable to mind or body, but it need not be limited to describing healthy foods or liquids. We salute each other with the cheer, "To your health!" as we chug down something that probably isnt that good for us. But if it were salubrious, it would be. The two words, salute and salubrious stem from the same salus, meaning "welfare, health. Maybe next time, raise a glass of wheatgrass instead of vino! adjective - Conducive or favorable to health or well-being. equivalent - wholesome synonym - wholesome, healthful, salutary, healthy etymologically-related-term - salubriously, salubriousness same-context - sand, healthful, nutritious

eclectic

She listens to hip-hop, Gregorian chant, and folk music from the '60s. He's been seen wearing a handmade tuxedo jacket over a thrift-store flannel shirt. They both have eclectic tastes. The English word eclectic first appeared in the seventeenth century to describe philosophers who did not belong to a particular school of thought, but instead assembled their doctrines by picking and choosing from a variety of philosophical systems. Today, the word can refer to any assemblage of varied parts. You can have an eclectic group of friends (friends from diverse groups), eclectic taste in furniture (a mixture of 18th-century French chairs, Andy Warhol paintings, and Persian rugs), or enjoy eclectic cuisine (fusion cooking that uses ingredients from different national cuisines). adjective - Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles: an eclectic taste in music; an eclectic approach to managing the economy. adjective - Made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources: "a popular bar patronized by an eclectic collection of artists, writers, secretaries and aging soldiers on reserve duty ( Curtis Wilkie). noun - One that follows an eclectic method. equivalent - discriminating form - eclecticism, eclectically synonym - choosing, selecting, heterogeneous cross-reference - eclectic physician, heteroclite, eclectic medicine hypernym - philosopher

dogmatic

Someone who is dogmatic has arrogant attitudes based on unproved theories. If you dogmatically assert that the moon is made of green cheese, you'll just get laughed at. The most basic definition of the adjective dogmatic is that it is related to dogma doctrines relating to morals and faith but what it has come to mean is attitudes that are not only based on unproved theories but are also arrogant in nature. The root of dogmatic is the Greek word dogmatikos. A synonym of dogmatic is "dictatorial" and because there are religious associations to the root word dogma, someone who is dogmatic tends to "pontificate." adjective - Relating to, characteristic of, or resulting from dogma. adjective - Characterized by an authoritative, arrogant assertion of unproved or unprovable principles. See Synonyms at dictatorial. equivalent - narrow, narrow-minded, dogmatical synonym - opinionated, overbearing, categorical, magisterial, arrogant, thelical, dictatorial

facetious

Someone who is facetious is only joking: "I was being facetious when I told my mother I want Brussels sprouts with every meal, but she took me seriously!"Facetious is a useful word to describe something that's humorous, or meant to be humorous. If a joke falls flat, then you can back off from it by saying you're only being facetious. There are limits to this use of the word: if you stage an elaborate prank on your friend, making him run out into the street in his underwear because he thinks his house is on fire, calling the joke facetious will probably earn you a punch in the face. adjective - Playfully jocular; humorous: facetious remarks. equivalent - humourous, humorous form - facetiously, facetiousness synonym - merry, witty, funny, jocular, humorous, sportive

veracious

Someone who is veracious speaks the truth like your brutally honest friend who always lets you know what she thinks about your outfits, your hairstyle, your lasagna recipe, and your taste in movies. Think of a veracious person as someone who is like a witness under oath in a court of law, someone who speaks the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Dont ask a question of a veracious friend unless you really want to know the answer. The adjective veracious can be applied not just to people but also to things that are true or accurate, such as "a veracious story" or "a veracious statement." adjective - Honest; truthful. adjective - Accurate; precise. equivalent - accurate, true, truthful synonym - true, truthful cross-reference - voracious same-context - well-informed, first-hand, highly-coloured, authentic

alacrity

Someone with alacrity shows cheerful willingness and eager behavior, like a kid whose mother has told him he can buy anything in a candy store. While the noun alacrity normally refers to someone's peppy behavior, it can also describe a certain mood or tempo of a musical composition, indicating how the music should be played. Alacrity comes from the Latin alacritas, and the Italian musical term allegro is a near relation. noun - Cheerful willingness; eagerness. noun - Speed or quickness; celerity. synonym - haste, enthusiasm, celerity, avidity, willingness, sprightliness, swiftness, promptness, quickness, briskness

problematic

Something problematic poses a problem or causes difficulties. Your ambitions to become the next great leader of Spain are great, but your inability to speak Spanish might prove problematic. Around 1600, the word problematical was shortened and problematic was born. Perhaps they wanted to make it less problematic for spellers. It's an adjective that means tough, hard to solve, or even questionable. A flat tire in the middle of the desert would certainly be problematic, as would a star witness with a history of telling lies. adjective - Posing a problem; difficult to solve: a repair that proved more problematic than first expected. adjective - Open to doubt; debatable: "if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic ( Oscar Wilde). adjective - Not settled; unresolved or dubious: a problematic future. equivalent - problematical, questionable, difficult, hard synonym - unsettled, uncertain, questionable, doubtful cross-reference - problematic proposition same-context - traumatic

permeable

Something that is permeable can be passed through, especially by liquids or gases. "I wish I hadn't worn my permeable sweater to the picnic when the weatherman called for thunderstorms. The rain seeped right through the fabric, soaking me to the skin."A permeable surface allows materials like liquids to pass through either in or out. Inside the body, the walls of cells are permeable membranes that allow fluids and nutrients to get in and nourish the cells. A permeable shirt is good to wear in the summer, because it helps release the sweat sticking to the skin. adjective - That can be permeated or penetrated, especially by liquids or gases: permeable membranes; rock that is permeable by water. equivalent - porous, semipermeable synonym - water-permeable, penetrable, passable, pervious cross-reference - nonpermeable, permeability same-context - sponge-like, impermeable

burnish

That seductive gleam on that Porsche behind the dealer's window? It's called a burnish, a gloss only achieved by loads of polishing. Likewise, you can burnish resume, by polishing it until it's perfect. A caution about usage: burnish in the physical sense is usually reserved for inanimate objects a woman will not be happy to hear that her appearance is "burnished to perfection." But your car will thank you. Also, one of the most common non-physical things to be burnished? A reputation. People are forever burnishing them and its opposite, besmirching them (i. e., making them dirty). verb-transitive - To make smooth or glossy by or as if by rubbing; polish. verb-transitive - To rub with a tool that serves especially to smooth or polish. noun - A smooth glossy finish or appearance; luster. hyponym - French polish, glaze form - burnishing, burnished synonym - brightness, polis, brighten, gloss, luster, polish

cacophonous

The adjective cacophonous describes loud, harsh sounds, like the cacophonous racket your brother and his band mates make while trying to learn how to play their instruments. To correctly pronounce cacophonous, accent the second syllable: "cuh-CAW-fuh-nus." It is related to the Greek words kakos, meaning "bad, evil," and phone, or "voice." You may feel like you're facing something evil if youre bombarded by the cacophonous sounds of, say, political pundits yelling at one another, or the chaotic sounds of traffic and voices on a busy urban street. Cacophonous is the opposite of harmonious. adjective - Having a harsh, unpleasant sound; discordant. equivalent - guttural, jangly, rasping, croaky, splitting, rough, rending, cackly, gravelly, strident

insensible

The adjective insensible is used to describe someone who is unconscious. If you keep your bowling ball on the top shelf of the closet and it rolls out and conks you on the head, you will be probably rendered insensible. The adjective insensible describes a lack of emotional response or being indifferent. If your friend says that the roller coaster was so scary it nearly made him vomit and you shrug and say, "Eh, it was okay," he may think you are insensible to fear. A lack of physical sensation can also be described as insensible. If your nerve endings are not acute and you don't feel much pain, you are insensible to pain. This can be dangerous, though, because you might not notice if you get hurt skateboarding. adjective - Imperceptible; inappreciable: an insensible change in temperature. adjective - Very small or gradual: insensible movement. adjective - Having lost consciousness, especially temporarily; unconscious: lay insensible where he had fallen. adjective - Not invested with sensation; inanimate: insensible clay. adjective - Devoid of physical sensation or the power to react, as to pain or cold; numb. adjective - Unaware; unmindful: I am not insensible of your concern. adjective - Not emotionally responsive; indifferent: insensible to criticism. adjective - Lacking meaning; unintelligible. equivalent - asleep, imperceptible, numb, unconscious, anesthetic, unperceivable, ansthetic, benumbed, insensitive form - insensibly

dissolution

The dissolution of a relationship means that it's broken up or ended. The dissolution of your band means you better get started on your solo album. Dissolution comes from the Latin word dissolutio, meaning "a dissolving of something." Dissolution looks very similar to "dissolve," so to help you remember the meaning, think about what happens if you put paper in water it breaks apart. A dissolution of a marriage is the same thing as divorce. Although it sounds like disillusion, if you try to use them interchangeably, your logic will fall apart. noun - Decomposition into fragments or parts; disintegration. noun - Indulgence in sensual pleasures; debauchery. noun - Termination or extinction by disintegration or dispersion: The dissolution of the empire was remarkably swift. noun - Extinction of life; death. noun - Annulment or termination of a formal or legal bond, tie, or contract. noun - Formal dismissal of an assembly or legislature. noun - Reduction to a liquid form; liquefaction. hyponym - lysis, fibrinolysis, splitsville, annulment, invalidation synonym - melting, decomposition, ruin, death, separation