Word of the Day:
remarkable (adjective)
Definition:
worthy of attention; likely to be noticed, especially as being uncommon or extraordinary
Synonyms
conspicuous, noticeable
USAGE EXAMPLES
Competing in the Olympics is a remarkable achievement.
brouhaha (noun)
Definition:
great excitement or concern about something
Synonyms
hubbub, uproar;
USAGE EXAMPLES
A brouhaha erupted in the cafeteria over her statements about the new movie coming out tonight.
Word of the Day:
terse (adjective)
Brief and to the point , concise
Synonyms
brief, compact, monosyllabic, succinct
USAGE EXAMPLES
Your last email was extremely terse, and I thought it verged on being rude.
alleviate
(verb)
DEFINITION
1. to relieve or lessen; 2. to make easier
SYNONYMS
mitigate, assuage, allay, lighten, ease
USAGE EXAMPLES
The medication instantly alleviated the patient's pain.
Jon's weekly phone calls were able to alleviate some of his mother's worry while he was stationed overseas.
luminous (adjective)
1. giving off light, shining, producing or seeming to produce light 2. enlightening
SYNONYMS
beaming, bedazzling, clear, dazzling, effulgent, fulgent, glowing, incandescent, radiant, splendid
USAGE EXAMPLES
The sun shone softly, even the clouds were luminous and joyful.
aesthetic
(adjective, noun)
DEFINITION
(adj.) concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; (n.) a theory as to what is beautiful
SYNONYMS
(adj.) tasteful, pleasing, cultured, refined, artistic
USAGE EXAMPLES
It wasn't the prettiest web site, but its user-friendly interface made up for the lack of aesthetic images.
Gourmet food should look aesthetic as well as taste wonderful.
Word of the Day:
abstract
(adjective)
DEFINITION
1. not specific or concrete; 2. based on general theory rather than something specific; 3.nonrepresentational (in art
SYNONYMS
(adj.) theoretical, notional, hypothetical, nonspecific, nonrepresentational,
USAGE EXAMPLES
I don't like abstract painting because it doesn't look like anything I can recognize.
The professor's argument was so abstract that no one in the room could understand it.
candid (adjective)
DEFINITION
1. honest, without reserve; 2. informal and natural
SYNONYMS
forthright, frank, guileless, straightforward, earnest,
ANTONYMS
deceitful, devious
USAGE EXAMPLES
She was very candid with the journalist during the interview and revealed many personal details of her life.
grueling (adjective)
Definition
trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion : punishing
SYNONYMS
arduous, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, rigorous, rough
USAGE EXAMPLES
My sister finished a grueling Triathlon this weekend.
censure (noun, verb)
DEFINITION
(n.) harsh criticism or condemnation; (v.) to criticize severely or to condemn
SYNONYMS
(n.) rebuke, disapproval, (v.) castigate, reprove, denounce
USAGE EXAMPLES
The committee issued a censure of the legislature's questionable activities.
Those who refused to strike were censured by the union
Word of the Day:
conspicuous (adjective)
DEFINITION
1. easily seen--noticeable; 2.trying to attract attention through being unusual or remarkable
SYNONYMS
obvious, blatant, evident, apparent, obtrusive, overt
USAGE EXAMPLES
If you continue your conspicuous and odd behavior, she will know you are planning a surprise party for her.
benevolent (adjective)
DEFINITION
a tendency to do good or generous things
SYNONYMS
kind, generous, altruistic, charitable
ANTONYMS
malevolent, evil, selfish, insensitive
USAGE EXAMPLES
He was a benevolent man, determined to do what he could to make life easier and happier for others.
dispel (verb)
DEFINITION
to cause to disappear, drive away, disperse
SYNONYMS
clear out, disband, scatter, disperse, dissipate, squander
USAGE EXAMPLES
When I woke in the night, my mom did her best to dispel my bad dream.
banal (adjective)
DEFINITION
1. boring and lacking in originality; 2. repeated too often and therefore overly familiar
SYNONYMS
trite, insipid, common, hackneyed
USAGE EXAMPLES
He thinks his ideas are creative and original, but I find them to be rather banal
austere
(adjective)
DEFINITION
1. stern, strict, or harsh in manner; 2. bare or unadorned; 3. indicating self-denial or lack of comfort
SYNONYMS
severe, plain, simple, forbidding, stringent, ascetic, solemn
ANTONYMS
luxurious, self-indulgent
USAGE EXAMPLES: With the recession, many families faced increased austerity in their home lives.
Word of the Day:
augment (verb)
DEFINITION
to increase or make greater by adding something
SYNONYMS
supplement, expand, intensify, enlarge, enhance
USAGE EXAMPLES
The senator's salary was augmented by funds obtained from illegal bribes.
deft (adjective)
DEFINITION
skillful; adroit
SYNONYMS
artful, dexterous, expert, masterful, practiced, virtuoso
USAGE EXAMPLES
Any home could use the deft touch of a good interior designer.
ascetic (noun, adjective)
DEFINITION
(n.) a person who practices self-denial; (adj.) practicing abstinence
SYNONYMS
(n.) abstainer, hermit, puritan, (adj.) abstemious, austere, restrained, severe
ANTONYMS
(n.) hedonist, (adj.) self-indulgent, sensuous
USAGE EXAMPLES
Sarah is ascetic in her lifestyle; she doesn't allow herself any luxuries, and her home is very simple and plain.
apathy (noun)
DEFINITION
1. the absence of emotion or enthusiasm 2. lack of interest
SYNONYMS
unconcern, indifference, stoicism, listlessness
ANTONYMS
passion, enthusiasm, zeal, curiosity
USAGE EXAMPLES
His apathy toward his job eventually got him fired.
tactic (noun)
DEFINITION
an action that is planned to achieve a goal; a method of employing forces in combat
SYNONYMS
method, device
USAGE EXAMPLES
Using forensic science is an effective tactic for solving crimes.
Word of the Day:
anarchy (noun)
DEFINITION
a state of disorder and chaos, usually resulting from the absence of government or formal control
SYNONYMS
lawlessness, chaos, disorder, disarray, pandemonium, confusion
USAGE EXAMPLES
Without any leadership, our company will slowly slide into a state of anarchy.
jut (verb)
DEFINITION
to extend sharply outward or upward; to project
SYNONYMS
protrude, stand out, stick out
USAGE EXAMPLES
Tusks jut from the jaws of wild boars.
persistent (adjective)
DEFINITION
existing for a long or longer than usual time; refusing to give up or stop
SYNONYMS
dogged, insistent, patient, persevering, tenacious
USAGE EXAMPLES
Even though his back was to the door, he could feel her presence like a persistent itch.
acute (adjective)
DEFINITION
1. very serious or severe; 2.highly perceptive, keen, and intelligent; 3. very powerful and sensitive (such as eyesight)
SYNONYMS
urgent, critical, dire, penetrating
ANTONYMS
obtuse, non-threatening, dull, blunt
USAGE EXAMPLES
Dogs have such an acute sense of hearing that they can sense their owner's approach long before the humans in the
room notice any sound.
Word of the Day:
integrity (noun)
DEFINITION
The quality of being honest and fair
SYNONYMS
Decency, honesty, character
USAGE EXAMPLES
He's a man of the highest integrity.
apex (noun)
DEFINITION
The highest or uppermost point
SYNONYMS
Peak, apogee
ANTONYM
Nadir
USAGE EXAMPLES
Riding to the apex of the hill took a lot of energy, but then she was able to coast down the other side.
ennui (noun) /on-wi/
DEFINITION
A lack of spirit, enthusiasm or interest; boredom
SYNONYMS
Tedium, doldrums
USAGE EXAMPLES
My crushing ennui from watching 3 straight hours of Higgly Town Heroes was only slightly relieved when my baby sister
switched to the Wiggles.
variation (noun)
DEFINITION
a change in the form, position, condition, or amount of something
SYNONYMS
Version, interpretation, adaptation
USAGE EXAMPLES
It was the latest in a long line of variations in her hair color.
discerning (adjective)
DEFINITION
Showing insight and understanding; discriminating
SYNONYMS
Insightful, perceptive
USAGE EXAMPLES
Michelle is very discerning; she only buys the most fashionable clothes.
Word of the Day:
replenish (verb)
DEFINITION
To refill; to build something up again
SYNONYMS
Restock, replace
USAGE EXAMPLES
He replenished his supply of wood in preparation for the winter.
scintilla (noun)
DEFINITION
A very small amount of something
SYNONYMS
Smidgen, trace, iota, speck
USAGE EXAMPLES
There won’t be a scintilla of pumpkin pie left after I get done with it.
Word of the Day:
lethargic (adjective)
DEFINITION
characterized by laziness or lack of energy
SYNONYMS
Sluggish, torpid, sleepy, inactive
USAGE EXAMPLES
Eating too much always makes me lethargic and sleepy.
categorical (adjective)
DEFINITION
in a very strong, clear, and definite way
SYNONYMS
Absolute, unqualified, definite
USAGE EXAMPLES
He issued a categorical denial of the rumors that the celebrities were planning to get married.
equivalent (adjective)
DEFINITION
having the same value, use, or meaning
SYNONYMS
Equal, similar, alike, corresponding, comparable
USAGE EXAMPLES
We traded 2 bags of chips for an equivalent amount of cookies.
supersede (verb)
DEFINITION
to take the place or position of; to displace in favor of another
SYNONYMS
Displace, substitute, replace
USAGE EXAMPLES
This textbook edition supersedes the previous one bought in 1998.
probability (noun)
DEFINITION
the chance that something will happen
SYNONYMS
Likelihood, plausibility, possibility
USAGE EXAMPLES
With the dark clouds moving in, rain seems like a probability.
Word of the Day:
imbue (verb) /im-byoo/
DEFINITION
to permeate or influence; to cause someone or something to be deeply affected by a feeling or to have a
certain quality
SYNONYMS
Infuse, steep, instill, invest
USAGE EXAMPLES
A feeling of optimism imbues her works.
evanescent (adjective)
DEFINITION
lasting a very short time; tending to vanish like vapor
SYNONYMS
Brief, ephemeral, fleeting
USAGE EXAMPLES
Snow in November is usually evanescent, but once December comes it can stick around for weeks.
dissuade (verb)
DEFINITION
to advise against
SYNONYMS
Deter, discourage
USAGE EXAMPLES
The “Beware of Dog” sign did not dissuade her from trying to pet the Pomeranian behind the fence.
zeal (noun)
DEFINITION
Eagerness and enthusiasm in pursuit of something
SYNONYMS
Fervor, ardent interest
USAGE EXAMPLES
His zeal for saving the environment helped him get a job with the Environmental Protection Agency.
meticulous (adjective)
DEFINITION
very careful about doing something in an extremely accurate and exact way
SYNONYMS
conscientious, painstaking, scrupulous
USAGE EXAMPLES
He is meticulous about keeping accurate records.
Word of the Day:
infuse (verb)
DEFINITION
to cause to be permeated with something (as a principle or quality) that alters, usually for the better
SYNONYMS
imbue, inculcate, ingrain, steep, suffuse, invest
USAGE EXAMPLES
My dog had been missing for days, so the sight of him in our yard again infused me with joy.
melancholy (noun)
DEFINITION
A sad mood or feeling
SYNONYMS
Blues, sorrowfulness, dejection, dreariness
USAGE EXAMPLES
The bleakness of winter sometimes gives me cause for melancholy.
furtive (adjective)
DEFINITION
done in a quiet and secret way to avoid being noticed
SYNONYMS
sneaky, shady, shifty, slippery, sly, sneaking, stealthy, surreptitious
USAGE EXAMPLES
While searching for his sister’s diary, he cast a furtive glance in the direction of the hall.
hasten (verb)
DEFINITION
to cause something to happen more quickly; to move or act quickly
SYNONYMS
Accelerate, hurry, rush, speed up
USAGE EXAMPLES
If I could hasten the start of Winter Break, I would!
quell (verb)
DEFINITION
To end or stop something
SYNONYMS
Quash, pacify, repress, subdue
USAGE EXAMPLES
The teacher held up his hand to quell the students’ talking so they could hear the announcement.
Word of the Day:
viscous (adjective)
DEFINITION
not free flowing, syrupy
Synonyms
gooey, thick, gluey
USAGE EXAMPLES
The viscous syrup took three minutes to pour out of the bottle.
vex (verb)
DEFINITION
to distress, irritate or annoy; to puzzle or baffle
SYNONYMS
rile, aggravate, exasperate
USAGE EXAMPLES
My little brother vexes me by poking me in the ribs for hours on end.
temerity (noun)
DEFINITION
foolhardy contempt of danger; a rash or reckless act
SYNONYMS
audacity, recklessness, gall, nerve
USAGE EXAMPLES
Tom and Huck entered the scary cave armed with nothing but their own temerity.
florid (adjective)
DEFINITION
very flowery in style; very fancy
SYNONYMS
overwrought, ornate, fussy
USAGE EXAMPLES
The writer's florid prose belongs on a sentimental Hallmark card.
Word of the Day:
surreptitious (adjective)
DEFINITION
done in a secret way; done, made or acquired in a stealthy way
SYNONYMS
stealthy, clandestine, covert, sneaky, undercover
USAGE EXAMPLES
The surreptitious CIA agents were able to get in and out of the house without anyone noticing.
veracity (noun)
DEFINITION
truthfulness, accuracy
SYNONYMS
honesty, verity, integrity
USAGE EXAMPLES
Somehow I doubt the veracity of his claim to be the secret son of President Obama.
taciturn (adjective)
DEFINITION
not inclined to talk; tending to be quiet
SYNONYMS
close-mouthed, laconic, uncommunicative
USAGE EXAMPLES
Though Jane never seems to stop talking, her brother is quite taciturn.
ubiquitous (adjective)
DEFINITION
existing or being everywhere at the same time
SYNONYMS
commonplace, widespread, universal, endemic
USAGE EXAMPLE
It seems that everyone in the United States has a television. The technology is ubiquitous here.
verdant (adjective)
DEFINITION
green in tint or color; green with growing plants
SYNONYMS
leafy, lush, overgrown
USAGE EXAMPLES
The verdant leaves on the trees made the world look emerald.
Word of the Day:
tenuous (adjective)
DEFINITION
having little substance or strength
SYNONYMS
flimsy, weak, thin, uncertain, shaky
USAGE EXAMPLES
Your argument is very tenuous, since it relies so much on speculation and hearsay.
idyllic (adjective)
DEFINITION
pleasing or picturesque in natural simplicity
SYNONYMS
peaceful, happy, enjoyable
USAGE EXAMPLES
The influx of students interrupted the teacher’s idyllic classrooms.
desiccated (adjective)
DEFINITION
dried up, dehydrated, preserved
SYNONYMS
devitalized, dehydrated
USAGE EXAMPLES
The skin of the desiccated mummy looked like old paper.
dither (verb)
DEFINITION
to act indecisively
SYNONYMS
vacillate, hesitate, shilly-shally
USAGE EXAMPLES
Not wanting to offend either friend, he dithered about which of the two birthday parties he should attend.
Word of the Day:
exigent(adjective)
DEFINITION
requiring immediate attention
SYNONYMS
urgent, critical; severe, vital
USAGE EXAMPLES
The patient has an exigent need for medication, or else he will lose his sight.
paucity (adjective)
DEFINITION
small in quantity
SYNONYMS
dearth, insufficiency, lack, deficit
USAGE EXAMPLES
Gilbert lamented the paucity of German courses available at high school.
extol (verb)
DEFINITION
to praise highly
SYNONYMS
revere, celebrate, praise, glorify
USAGE EXAMPLES
Violet extolled the virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving brother.
rescind (verb)
DEFINITION
to take back, repeal, make void
SYNONYMS
revoke, call off, cancel, abandon
USAGE EXAMPLES
After Gavin wrecked his Dad’s car, his Uncle rescinded his offer to let Gavin borrow his Lexus for Homecoming.
googol(noun)
DEFINITION
a number that is equal to 1 followed by 100 zeros and expressed as 10100
USAGE EXAMPLE
Today is the 100th day of school, even if it feels like it has been more like a googol.
Word of the Day:
ambulatory(adjective)
DEFINITION
able to walk about; moving from place to place
SYNONYMS
itinerant, roving, errant, wandering
USAGE EXAMPLES
Your homework is not ambulatory, so where did you put it?
cursory(adjective)
DEFINITION
brief to the point of being superficial
SYNONYMS
hasty, hurried, rushed
USAGE EXAMPLES
Late for the meeting, she cast a cursory glance at the agenda.
offal(noun)
DEFINITION
the waste or by-product of a process, such as butchering or milling grains
SYNONYMS
debris, garbage, refuse, rubbish
USAGE EXAMPLE
That offal smells awful!
recalcitrant (adjective)
DEFINITION
stubbornly refusing to obey
SYNONYMS
defiant, unapologetic , contrary, obstreperous, disobedient
USAGE EXAMPLES
Even when scolded, the recalcitrant young girl simply stomped her foot and refused to finish her lima beans.
undulate (verb)
DEFINITION
to move in waves
SYNONYMS
fluctuate
USAGE EXAMPLE
As the storm began to brew, the placid ocean began to undulate more and more.
Word of the Day:
jetsam (noun)
DEFINITION
items left behind accidentally or purposely
SYNONYM
cast-offs, junk
USAGE EXAMPLE
Our lost&found is full of jetsam from students.
assail (verb)
DEFINITION
to attack violently with blows or words
SYNONYMS
attack, bash, berate
USAGE EXAMPLE
The high winds assailed the small boat, almost causing it to sink.
manifest (adjective)
DEFINITION
easy to see, understand or recognize
SYNONYM
obvious, apparent, clear-cut, unmistakable, plain
USAGE EXAMPLE
His crush on her was so manifest that everyone knew about it.
prehensile(adjective)
DEFINITION
adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around
USAGE EXAMPLE
If Medusa’s snakes had been prehensile, that would have been useful.
rife (adjective)
DEFINITION
very common or prevalent and usually bad
SYNONYMS
abundant, teeming, swarming, replete
USAGE EXAMPLES
Surprisingly, the famous novelist's writing was rife with spelling errors.
Word of the Day: Feb 18-21
portent (noun)
DEFINITION
something that foreshadows a coming event
SYNONYMS
omen, sign, foreboding, foreshadow
USAGE EXAMPLE
When a black cat crossed my sister's path while she was walking to school, she took it as a portent that she would do
poorly on her spelling test.
impervious(adjective)
DEFINITION
not allowing entrance or passage, incapable of being affected
SYNONYMS
impenetrable, impermeable
USAGE EXAMPLE
Because of their thick layer of fur, many seals are almost impervious to the cold.
cacophany - (noun)
DEFINITION
unpleasant loud sounds
SYNONYMS
dissonance, racket, babel, clamor, din
USAGE EXAMPLE
The elementary school students created a cacophony at the recital.
impassive(adjective)
DEFINITION
not susceptible to suffering, not showing feeling or emotion
SYNONYMS
stoic, numb, unemotional, stolid
USAGE EXAMPLE
Stop being so impassive; it's healthy to cry every now and then.
Word of the Day: 2/24-2/28
ruse (noun)
DEFINITION
a trick or act that is used to fool someone
SYNONYM
subterfuge, trick
USAGE EXAMPLE
Ferris concocted an elaborate ruse for sneaking out of the house to meet his friend while giving his mother the
impression that he was asleep in bed.
surmise (noun, verb)
DEFINITION
A thought or idea based on little evidence; to form an opinion without definitely knowing the truth
SYNONYMS
conjecture, guess, assume, presume, speculate
USAGE EXAMPLE
From your expression, I might surmise that you won the competition.
impertinent (adjective)
DEFINITION
rude and showing a lack of respect
SYNONYMS
rude, insolent, brash, impudent
USAGE EXAMPLE
Most of your comments are so impertinent that I don't wish to dignify them with an answer.
jubilant (adjective)
DEFINITION
extremely joyful, happy
SYNONYMS
exultant, rejoicing
USAGE EXAMPLE
She was jubilant when she saw her 98% score on the cross-curricular presentation.
largess (noun) /lar-jess/
DEFINITION
the generous giving of lavish gifts or money
SYNONYM
generosity, bigheartedness, philanthropy
USAGE EXAMPLE
Grandma is known for her largess to all of her grandchildren.
Word of the Day: 3/3-3/7
schadenfreude (noun) /shah-den-froy-duh/
DEFINITION
enjoyment obtained from seeing or hearing about the troubles of others
ORIGIN
German
USAGE EXAMPLE
My college-age brother’s schadenfreude over our snow-day makeup really annoyed me. I wanted to stay home too.
myriad (adjective)
DEFINITION
consisting of a very great number
SYNONYMS
abundance, oodles, plenty
USAGE EXAMPLE
It was difficult to decide what to do on vacation in Chicago because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for
fun.
paragon (noun)
DEFINITION
a model of excellence or perfection
SYNONYMS
exemplar, model, ideal
USAGE EXAMPLE
The mythical Helen of Troy was considered a paragon of female beauty.
opulent (adjective)
DEFINITION
characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation
SYNONYMS
affluent, wealthy, well-to-do
USAGE EXAMPLE
The opulent furnishings of the dictator's private compound contrasted harshly with the meager accommodations of her
subjects.
nefarious (adjective)
DEFINITION
heinously villainous; flagrantly wicked
SYNONYMS
evil, rotten, unsavory
USAGE EXAMPLE
Although Dr. Meanman's nefarious plot to melt the polar icecaps was terrifying, it was so impractical that nobody really
worried about it.
Word of the Day: 3/10-3/14
enigma (noun)
DEFINITION
something that defies explanation
SYNONYMS
mystery, secret, puzzle, paradox, perplexity
USAGE EXAMPLES
The enigma of how Clark lifted the car was explained when they learned of his extraterrestrial origin.
malevolent (adjective)
DEFINITION
having or showing a desire to cause harm to befall others
SYNONYMS
malicious, cruel, malignant
USAGE EXAMPLE
The malevolent old man sat in the park all day, tripping unsuspecting passersby with his cane.
acumen - (noun)
DEFINITION
keen insight; ability to think clearly and make good decisions
SYNONYMS
canniness, shrewdness, wit
USAGE EXAMPLE
Because of his business acumen, Larry was able to become the CEO of the company at 28.
obsequious (adjective)
DEFINITION
excessively compliant or submissive; exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
SYNONYMS
toadyish, fawning, sycophantic, servile
USAGE EXAMPLE
Marco acted like Janet's servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.
contrite-(adjective)
DEFINITION
feeling or showing regret for bad behavior; eager to be forgiven
SYNONYMS
penitent, rueful, apologetic
USAGE EXAMPLE
Blake's contrite behavior made it impossible to stay angry at him.
Word of the Day:
3/17-3/21
obstreperous (adjective)
DEFINITION
noisy and difficult to control
SYNONYMS
rowdy, unruly, disorderly
USAGE EXAMPLE
Billy's obstreperous behavior prompted the librarian to ask him to leave the room.
serendipity (noun)
DEFINITION
luck, finding good things without looking for them
SYNONYMS
happy accident, pleasant surprise
USAGE EXAMPLE
In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Paula found a $20 bill in the subway station.
pariah (noun)
DEFINITION
a person rejected and looked down on by others
SYNONYMS
outcast
USAGE EXAMPLE
Following the discovery of his plagiarism, Professor Hurley was made a pariah in all academic circles.
zephyr (noun)
DEFINITION
a gentle breeze
USAGE EXAMPLE
If not for the zephyrs that were blowing and cooling us, our room would've been unbearably hot.
disdain (noun)
DEFINITION
strong contempt or feeling of scorn
SYNONYMS
contempt, ridicule, arrogance
USAGE EXAMPLES
The man regarded the noisy children in his neighborhood with disdain.
Word of the Day: 3/24-3/27
hapless (adjective)
DEFINITION
unlucky and deserving of pity
SYNONYMS
unfortunate, luckless
USAGE EXAMPLE
My poor, hapless family never seems to pick a sunny week to go on vacation.
wizened (adjective) /wiz-end/
DEFINITION
dry, shrunken and wrinkled with age
SYNONYMS
shriveled, weathered
USAGE EXAMPLE
Agatha's grandmother, Stephanie, had the most wizened countenance, full of leathery wrinkles.
discord (noun)
DEFINITION
disagreement or strife between people, things, or situations
SYNONYMS
disharmony, tension, friction, clashing, conflict, contention, disagreement, dissension , strife
USAGE EXAMPLES
There was discord between the two families for seven generations, until the people finally decided they had had
enough of feuding.
odious (adjective)
DEFINITION
instilling hatred or intense displeasure
SYNONYMS
repulsive, hateful, obnoxious, vile
USAGE EXAMPLE
Shelby was assigned the odious task of cleaning the cat's litter box.
Word of the Day: 4/7-4/11
respite (noun)
DEFINITION
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant
SYNONYMS
rest, recess, lull, intermission
USAGE EXAMPLE
Did you enjoy your respite from school?
brusque - (adjective)
DEFINITION
abrupt or offhand in speech or manner
SYNONYMS
short, abrupt, dismissive
USAGE EXAMPLE
The captain's brusque manner offended the passengers.
quaff (verb)
DEFINITION
to drink heartily
SYNONYMS
gulp, guzzle, slurp
USAGE EXAMPLE
After running the mile in PE, everyone quaffed the icy water from the drinking fountain.
inevitable (adjective)
DEFINITION
certain to happen
SYNONYMS
destined, certain, inescapable, imminent, unavoidable, impending, ineluctable
USAGE EXAMPLE
Her friendly and caring manner caused her inevitable election to Student Council President.
panacea (noun)
DEFINITION
a remedy for all ills or difficulties
SYNONYMS
cure-all, elixir, wonder-drug
USAGE EXAMPLE
Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.
Word of the Day: 4/14-4/17
clemency (noun)
DEFINITION
kind or merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment
SYNONYMS
mercy, forbearance, leniency
USAGE EXAMPLES
After he forgot her birthday, Martin could only beg Maria for clemency.
futile –(adjective)
DEFINITION
unlikely to produce a useful or desired result--useless or ineffective; lacking substance or value,
SYNONYMS
pointless, hopeless, useless, ineffective, ineffectual, unproductive, worthless, profitless, fruitless, trivial, negligible
USAGE EXAMPLE
Due to bad weather, the team's attempt to climb Mt. Everest proved futile once again.
infamous (adjective)
DEFINITION
having an extremely bad reputation; famous for something bad
SYNONYMS
notorious, disreputable, scandalous, abominable, evil, dishonorable, shameful
USAGE EXAMPLE
Colin was infamous in the Library for keeping all of the most popular books for weeks at a time without even reading
them.
gravity (noun)
DEFINITION
the seriousness or significance of something; a manner that is serious and solemn; the gravitational force of Earth
SYNONYMS
importance, significance, seriousness, magnitude, weight
USAGE EXAMPLE
I hope you understand the gravity of this situation and will do everything in your power to solve the matter.
Word of the Day: 4/21-4/25
petulance (noun.)
DEFINITION
the quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered
SYNONYMS
rudeness, irritability, crabbiness
USAGE EXAMPLE
The nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child's petulance.
innovative (adjective)
DEFINITION
taking a new and original approach; ahead of the times
SYNONYMS
creative, inventive, resourceful, ingenious
USAGE EXAMPLE
Ted’s innovative architectural style made his buildings look like they were floating above the ground.
perfunctory (adjective)
DEFINITION
showing little interest or enthusiasm
SYNONYMS
cursory, hasty, token, offhand, careless
USAGE EXAMPLE
The woman announced in a surprisingly perfunctory manner that she won the lottery.
solicitous (adj.)
DEFINITION
showing concern or care for someone's health, happiness
SYNONYMS
concerned, attentive, thoughtful
USAGE EXAMPLE
Jim, laid up in bed with a nasty virus, enjoyed the solicitous attentions of his mother, who brought him soup and extra
blankets.
incessant (adjective)
DEFINITION
uninterrupted and continuous
SYNONYMS
constant, unending, ceaseless, continuous, uninterrupted, perpetual
USAGE EXAMPLE
Her incessant questions were funny at first, but soon became very annoying.
Word of the Day: 4/28-5/2
camaraderie (noun)
DEFINITION
mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together
SYNONYMS
fellowship, fraternity, companionship
USAGE EXAMPLE
Do the 8th graders feel a sense of camaraderie after Loredo Taft?
tome (noun)
DEFINITION
a book, especially a large, heavy, scholarly one
SYNONYMS
volume, opus
USAGE EXAMPLE
The sorcerer opened the leather-bound tome and began reciting the spell.
winnow(verb)
DEFINITION
to limit something until you are left with what you want, like grain from chaff
SYNONYMS
sort, divide, sift
USAGE EXAMPLE
The chess players had been winnowed down until the two best were up against each other.
serene (adjective)
DEFINITION
Unaffected by disturbance
SYNONYMS
calm, tranquil, composed, peaceful
USAGE EXAMPLE
With such serene skies and clear waters, you would never guess that hurricanes regularly appear in the Florida Keys.
panache (noun)
DEFINITION
a grand or flamboyant manner
SYNONYMS
style, flair, zest, verve, gusto
USAGE EXAMPLE
Magicians are masters of using panache to direct your attention away from their trickery.
Word of the Day: 5/5-5/9
plethora (noun)
DEFINITION
abundance or excess
USAGE EXAMPLE
The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.
eschew (verb)
DEFINITION
deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
SYNONYMS
avoid, shun, renounce
USAGE EXAMPLE
Gandhi encouraged others to eschew violence.
L’esprit de l’escalier (noun /phrase)
ORIGIN
French
DEFINITION
Literally, stairwell wit—thinking of a witty remark too late to use it
USAGE EXAMPLE
My esprit de l’escalier was really funny, but I know I’ll never get to use it now.
dwell (verb)
DEFINITION
to live in or to linger over
SYNONYMS
reside, mull, brood on
USAGE EXAMPLE
I don’t know why my mom continues to dwell on the color I chose for my room. Neon yellow is great!
nemesis (noun)
DEFINITION
an opponent or enemy that is very difficult to defeat
SYNONYMS
archrival, adversary, foe, opponent, arch enemy
USAGE EXAMPLE
My school will compete against our nemesis at the next game.
Word of the Day: 5/12-5/16
cattywampus (adjective) Southern US
DEFINITION
not exactly centered or straight
SYNONYMS
crooked, awry
USAGE EXAMPLE
Measure twice so your corners aren’t cattywampus.
intrepid
DEFINITION
feeling no fear : very bold or brave
SYNONYMS
fearless, adventurous, dauntless
USAGE EXAMPLE
Our intrepid guide took us down slippery slopes and on inch-wide paths through the mountains.
lagniappe (noun) Cajun
DEFINITION
a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, a little something extra
SYNONYMS
bonus, dividend, tip
USAGE EXAMPLE
I love this bakery! They added 2 more donuts as a lagniappe to my order.
widdershins (adverb)
DEFINITION
in a left-handed or contrary direction
SYNONYMS
counterclockwise
USAGE EXAMPLE
The Jewish bride circles her groom widdershins seven times at the marriage ceremony for luck.
ebullience (noun)
DEFINITION
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feeling
SYNONYMS
high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance
USAGE EXAMPLE
The very idea of camping out for a whole week filled the boy with sheer ebullience.
Word of the Day: 5/19-5/23
nostalgic (adjective)
DEFINITION
pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past
SYNONYMS
wistful, sentimental
USAGE EXAMPLE
The 8th graders may find themselves nostalgic for Washington once they get to their new high school.
malarkey(noun)
DEFINITION
nonsense
SYNONYMS
balderdash, kerfuffle, gobbledygook, flibbertigibbet, codswallop, flapdoodle, bosh, folderol
USAGE EXAMPLE
I have a feeling that his excuse was total malarkey.
alacrity
DEFINITION
a quick and cheerful readiness to do something
SYNONYMS
eagerness
USAGE EXAMPLE
The dog stole my steak dinner and scarfed it down with alacrity.
exodus (noun)
DEFINITION
a mass departure of people
SYNONYMS
evacuation, outflow
USAGE EXAMPLE
The summer exodus from school includes the teachers, who can’t wait to relax.
collywobbles (noun)
DEFINITION
pain in the abdomen and especially in the stomach; acute nervousness
SYNONYMS
queasiness, bellyache
USAGE EXAMPLE
The Math test today is giving me the collywobbles. I sure wish I had studied for it!
Word of the Day: 5/27-5/30
fortuitous (adjective)
DEFINITION
happening by accident or chance
SYNONYMS
lucky, coincidental, serendipitous
USAGE EXAMPLE
Our fortuitous decision to vacation at the exact same place my best friend was staying ended up being part of the best
summer I have ever had.
boketto (verb) Japanese
DEFINITION
to stare vacantly into the distance without thinking of anything
SYNONYMS
to space out
USAGE EXAMPLE
“What are you doing?” asked the exasperated teacher. “Boketto” was his surprised reply.
gemütlichkeit (noun) German –
DEFINITION
the pleasant, warm feeling associated with eating a nice meal with close friends
USAGE EXAMPLE
As I sat around the campfire with my friends and family, our gemütlichkeit caused us all to smile.
tranquil (adjective)
DEFINITION
free from disturbance or turmoil
SYNONYMS
peaceful, calm, serene
USAGE EXAMPLE
The school will be so tranquil without any students, but we will still miss you over the summer.