real SAT

Abate

— verb

[no object]

: to become weaker : to decrease in strength

• We waited for the wind/storm to abate.

• The excitement has abated.

— abatement noun, plural abatements

[noncount]

• The violence has continued without abatement.

[count]

• a tax abatement [=an amount by which a tax is reduced]

Abysmal

— adjective

[more abysmal; most abysmal]

: extremely poor or bad

• They were living in abysmal ignorance/poverty.

• abysmal [=horrible] living conditions

• The team had an abysmal [=awful] record.

• Her grades were abysmal. [=terrible]

— abysmally adverb

• abysmally ignorant

• The house is in abysmally poor condition.

Accommodate

— verb

1 

[+ object]

a : to provide room for (someone) : to provide a place to stay and sleep for (someone)

• The hotel can only accommodate about 100 people. [=is only large enough for about 100 people]

• Over 600 people can be accommodated on the cruise ship.

b : to have room for (someone or something)

• The ceilings were too low to accommodate his terrific height.

• The table accommodates [=seats] 12 comfortably.

• This ancient stadium could accommodate [=hold] up to 60,000 people.

2 

[+ object] somewhat formal : to do something helpful for (someone)

• They were kind enough to accommodate me with a ride to the train station.

: to provide what is needed or wanted for (someone or something)

• I asked them for additional money, and they accommodated me with a loan.

• He would often change his schedule to accommodate his clients.

• New facilities are being added to accommodate the special needs of elderly residents.

3 

: to get used to or become comfortable with something : to adapt or adjust to something

[no object]

• Smart investors quickly accommodated to the new market conditions.

[+ object]

• Smart investors quickly accommodated themselves to the new market conditions. = Smart investors quickly became accommodated to the new market conditions.

Adept

— adjective

[more adept; most adept]

: very good at doing something that is not easy

• He's adept in several languages.

• politically adept

— usually + at

• She's adept at fixing flaws in the system.

• He was adept at (using) computers.

— adeptly adverb

• He switched adeptly between English and Italian.

— adeptness noun [noncount]

• her adeptness at fixing flaws

.

— noun

[count]

: a highly skilled or well-trained person : someone who is adept at something

• a computer adept

• an adept at chess

Adhere

— verb

[no object]

: to stick to something : to attach firmly to something

• The stamp failed to adhere.

— usually + to

• The stamp failed to adhere to the envelope.

• The mud adhered to his shoes.

adhere to [phrasal verb]

adhere to (something)

: to act in the way that is required by (something, such as a rule, belief, or promise)

• They will adhere to the terms of the contract.

• Certain standards must be adhered to by all members.

• She adheres to [=follows] a strict vegetarian diet.

Advent

1 

[singular] : the time when something begins or arrives : the first appearance of something

• the advent of spring

• the advent of the printing press

• the advent of personal computers

Advise

— verb

1 

a : to give an opinion or suggestion to someone about what should be done : to give advice to (someone)

[+ object]

• I strongly advise you to sell your old car.

• We advised them to save their money.

• My doctor advised me to lose some weight.

[no object]

• We were thinking of buying that house, but our lawyer advised against it.

b [+ object] : to recommend or suggest (something)

• I advise selling your old car.

• We were thinking of buying that house, but our lawyer advised caution. [=said that we should be cautious]

• He advises patience/restraint when dealing with children.

— see also ill-advised, well-advised

2 

[+ object] formal : to give information to (someone)

• The police advised them of their rights. [=the police told them what their legal rights were]

• She says she was never advised [=informed, told] about the new procedures.

• We advised [=apprised] them of the danger.

• The boss asked us to keep him advised about/on how the project is going.

— adviser also advisor noun, plural advisers also advisors [count]

• a financial/legal/medical adviser

• She's an adviser to the President on foreign affairs.

Aggravate

— verb

[+ object]

1 

: to make (an injury, problem, etc.) more serious or severe

• She aggravated an old knee injury.

• They're afraid that we might aggravate an already bad situation.

• A headache can be aggravated by too much exercise.

• The symptoms were aggravated by drinking alcohol.

2 

informal : to make (someone) angry : to annoy or bother (someone)

• All of these delays really aggravate me.

• Our neighbors were aggravated by all the noise.

— aggravating adjective [more aggravating; most aggravating]

• It was an incredibly slow and aggravating process.

• He has some very aggravating [=annoying, irritating] habits.

— aggravatingly adverb

• an aggravatingly slow process

Allude

— verb

allude to [phrasal verb]

allude to (something or someone)

: to speak of or mention (something or someone) in an indirect way

• I'm interested in hearing more about the technology you alluded to a minute ago.

• She alluded to her first marriage/husband.

Ambiguity

— noun

: something that does not have a single clear meaning : something that is ambiguous

[noncount]

• You should remove ambiguity [=vagueness] from your essay by adding more details.

• moral ambiguity [=lack of certainty about whether something is right or wrong]

[count]

• the ambiguities in his answers

Ambivalent

— noun

[more ambivalent; most ambivalent]

: having or showing very different feelings (such as love and hate) about someone or something at the same time

• He felt ambivalent about his job. [=he both liked and disliked his job]

• He has an ambivalent relationship with his family.

• She has a deeply/very ambivalent attitude about/to/toward religion.

• The senator is ambivalent about running for president. [=the senator has not decided whether or not to run for president]

— ambivalence noun [noncount]

• He feels some ambivalence about/toward/towards his job.

— ambivalently adverb

• He spoke ambivalently about his feelings for his family.

Ameliorate

— verb

[+ object] formal

: to make (something, such as a problem) better, less painful, etc.

• trying to ameliorate the suffering of people who have lost their jobs

• This medicine should help ameliorate the pain.

— amelioration noun [noncount]

Analogous

— adjective

[more analogous; most analogous] formal

: similar in some way

• I could not think of an analogous situation.

— usually + to

• I could not think of a situation analogous to this one.

• The telescope's lenses are analogous [=comparable] to a person's glasses.

• Think of the process as analogous to [=like] riding a bike.

— analogously adverb

Anomaly

— noun

[count] somewhat formal

: something that is unusual or unexpected : something anomalous

• A storm like that is an anomaly for this area. [=a storm like that does not usually happen in this area]

• We couldn't explain the anomalies in the test results.

• The doctor detected an anomaly [=irregularity] in my heartbeat.

Antagonistic

— adjective

[more antagonistic; most antagonistic]

: showing dislike or opposition : showing antagonism

• They found it impossible to deal with such antagonistic groups.

— often + to or toward

• Many people are antagonistic [=opposed, hostile] to the idea of making major changes to the building.

• The two groups have always been antagonistic toward each other.

• She was antagonistic toward the media.

— antagonistically adverb

• Many people reacted antagonistically to her comments.

Antecedent

— noun

2 

[count] formal : something that came before something else and may have influenced or caused it

• The events were antecedents of/to the war. [=the events helped to cause the war]

• the antecedents of rap music [=music that came before and influenced rap music]

— adjective

formal

: earlier in time

• These antecedent [=prior, previous] events affected the outcome of the war.

Antipathy

— noun

formal

: a strong feeling of dislike

[noncount]

• There has always been strong antipathy between the two groups.

• feelings of antipathy

[count]

• The author's antipathies and prejudices are obvious.

— often + to or toward

• The author's antipathy to/toward other cultures is obvious.

— antipathetic adjective

• antipathetic views/feelings

— often + to

• He is antipathetic to change.

Apex

— noun

[count]

: the top or highest point of something — usually singular

• the mountain's apex [=peak, summit]

— usually used figuratively

• Tragically, she died at the apex [=acme, high point] of her career/fame.

• The excitement was about to reach its apex.

Arcane

— adjective

[more arcane; most arcane]

: secret or mysterious : known or understood by only a few people

• an arcane scientific puzzle

• an arcane ritual

• a theory filled with arcane details

Arduous

— adjective

[more arduous; most arduous]

: very difficult

• He went through a long and arduous training program.

• arduous efforts

• years of arduous study

• an arduous chore/duty/job/task

• an arduous journey across miles of desert

— arduously adverb

• working arduously

— arduousness noun [noncount]

Austere

[more austere; most austere]

1 

: simple or plain : not fancy

• They choose austere furnishings for the office.

• He was known for his austere style of writing.

2 

of a person : having a serious and unfriendly quality

• Her father was an austere [=stern, unapproachable] figure.

3 

: having few pleasures : simple and harsh

• They lived an austere life in the country.

— austerely adverb

• an austerely furnished office

Buttress

— verb

[+ object]

: to support, strengthen, or defend (something)

• The treaty will buttress the cause of peace.

• The theory has been buttressed by the results of the experiment.

Calibrate

— verb

[+ object]

1 

: to adjust or mark (something, such as a measuring device) so that it can be used in an accurate and exact way

• calibrate a thermometer

2 

: to measure (something) in an exact and precise way

• carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine

— calibration noun, plural calibrations [count, noncount]

Candid

— adjective

[more candid; most candid]

1 

: expressing opinions and feelings in an honest and sincere way

• He was quite candid about his past.

• a candid confession

• a refreshingly/remarkably candid interview

• She gave us her candid opinion on the matter.

2 

photography : showing people acting in a natural way because they do not know that they are being photographed

• a candid snapshot

— candidly adverb

• He stated his opinion candidly.

• She spoke candidly about some of the difficulties she had been experiencing.

— candidness noun [noncount]

• He responded to the question with surprising candidness. [=(more commonly) candor]

Catastrophe

— noun

: a terrible disaster

[count]

• The oil spill was an environmental catastrophe.

• Experts fear a humanitarian catastrophe if food isn't delivered to the refugees soon.

• a global/nuclear/economic catastrophe

[noncount]

• an area on the brink of catastrophe

— catastrophic adjective [more catastrophic; most catastrophic]

• The effect of the war on the economy was catastrophic.

• a catastrophic drought

— catastrophically adverb

• The dam failed catastrophically, flooding the entire valley.

Characterization

— noun

1

somewhat formal : the act of describing the character or qualities of someone or something

[count]

• The reporter was criticized for his characterization of the people of the town as poor and uneducated.

[noncount]

• News reporting requires accurate characterization.

2 

: the way a writer makes a person in a story, book, play, movie, or television show seem like a real person

[count]

• The class discussed the author's characterization of the boy as someone who wanted to be accepted by others.

[noncount]

• The story has good characterization.

Circumvent

— verb

[+ object] formal

: to avoid being stopped by (something, such as a law or rule) : to get around (something) in a clever and sometimes dishonest way

• We circumvented the problem by using a different program.

• He found a way to circumvent the law.

— circumvention noun [noncount]

• The circumvention of tax laws is illegal.

Commercialize

— verb

[+ object]

1 

disapproving : to use (something) as an opportunity to earn money — usually used as (be) commercialized

• She hates to see Christmas commercialized.

• The beach resort has been commercialized and has none of its original charm.

2 

business : to make (something) available to customers

• The company hopes to commercialize the drug next year.

— commercialization noun [noncount]

• the commercialization of Christmas

Compelling

— adjective

[more compelling; most compelling]

1 

: very interesting : able to capture and hold your attention

• The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.

2 

: capable of causing someone to believe or agree

• compelling evidence

• He made a compelling argument.

3 

: strong and forceful : causing you to feel that you must do something

• I would need a very compelling reason to leave my job.

• She had a compelling need to share what she had heard.

• a compelling desire

— compellingly adverb

• The novel was compellingly written.

Complementary

— adjective

[more complementary; most complementary]

1 

: completing something else or making it better : serving as a complement

• She wore a new outfit with a complementary scarf.

2 

— used of two things when each adds something to the other or helps to make the other better

• The print and online publications are complementary, not competitive.

• The company owes its success to the complementary talents of its co-owners.

3 

: going together well : working well together

• My spouse and I have complementary goals.

• complementary flavors

4 

: not traditional : alternative

• complementary medicine [=alternative medicine; methods of healing or treating disease that are different from the usual methods taught in Western medical schools]

Compose

— verb

[+ object] : to come together to form or make (something)

• Minorities composed [=made up] about a third of the attendees at the conference.

— usually used as (be) composed of

• a stew composed of [=made from/with] many ingredients

• Our group is composed of [=is made up of; consists of] travelers from 7 countries.

• The clouds are composed of water vapor.

2 

a [+ object] : to create and write (a piece of music or writing)

• compose a song/symphony

• compose music

• She composed a letter to her sister.

b [no object] : to practice the art of writing music

• He is in his studio composing.

3 

[+ object] : to arrange the appearance of (something, such as a picture or image) in an orderly or careful way

• an elegantly composed photograph

4 

[+ object]

a : to make (yourself) calm

• Take a moment to compose yourself before you pick up the phone.

b : to gain control of (your emotions)

• She sat quietly on the bench outside the courthouse, trying to compose her feelings.

Compound

— verb

1 

[+ object] : to make (something, such as an error or problem) worse : to add to (something bad)

• He compounded [=exacerbated] his mistake by announcing it to the whole table.

2 

finance : to pay interest on both an amount of money and the interest it has already earned

[+ object]

• The interest is compounded at regular intervals.

[no object]

• The interest compounds quarterly.

3 

[+ object] : to form (something) by combining separate things

• compound a medicine

— usually used as (be) compounded

• an attitude compounded of [=made up of] equal parts greed and arrogance

Comprise

— verb

[+ object]

1 

: to be made up of (something) : to include or consist of (something)

• Each army division comprised 4,500 troops.

• The play comprises three acts.

2 

: to make up or form (something)

• Nine players comprise [=make up] a baseball team.

• Plants comprise [=constitute, form] the bulk of their diet.

— often used as (be) comprised

• The play is comprised of [=is composed of] three acts.

Concede

— verb

1 

[+ object] : to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something) : to admit (something) usually in an unwilling way

• I concede that the work has been slow so far, but it should speed up soon.

• When she noted that the economy was actually improving, he grudgingly/reluctantly conceded the point. [=he admitted that she was right]

• “Your plan might work,” she conceded, “but I still think mine is better.”

• It is generally conceded [=acknowledged, agreed] that they are the superior team. [=most people agree that they are the superior team]

2 

: to admit that you have been defeated and stop trying to win

[no object]

• Although it seems clear that he has lost the election, he still refuses to concede.

[+ object]

• He's not ready to concede the election.

• They were forced to concede defeat. [=to admit that they were defeated]

3 

[+ object] : to give away (something) usually in an unwilling way

• The former ruler was forced to concede power to a new government.

• The company says that workers are not conceding enough in negotiations.

4 

[+ object] sports : to allow an opponent to score (a point, goal, etc.)

• The team has not conceded [=allowed] a goal this half.

Conceptualize

— verb

: to form (an idea, picture, etc.) of something in your mind

[+ object]

• She described her plans to me, but I found them hard to conceptualize.

• He conceptualizes the family as an economic unit.

[no object]

• A programmer needs to analyze and conceptualize in order to solve problems.

— conceptualization noun, plural conceptualizations [count, noncount]

Conflated

— verb

1

: to combine two or more separate things

• The director conflated two different storylines into a single, cohesive film.

2

: to treat two distinct things as if they are the exact same thing

• People often mistakenly conflate the national debt with the federal deficit.

Conform

— verb

[no object]

1 

: to be similar to or the same as something — usually + to or with

• The animals' behavior conforms to a common pattern.

• Our budget numbers conform with official estimates.

2 

: to obey or agree with something

• There are new security rules and all airlines are required to conform. [=(more commonly) comply]

— usually + to or with

• The building doesn't conform to local regulations.

• She refuses to conform to society's traditional image of a mother.

• Employees have to conform with company rules.

• The priest's teachings do not conform with church doctrine.

3 

: to do what other people do : to behave in a way that is accepted by most people

• Most teenagers feel pressure to conform.

Consensus

— noun

: a general agreement about something : an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group

[singular]

• The (general) consensus (of the group) was to go ahead with the plan.

• Scientists have not reached a consensus on the cause of the disease. [=scientists do not yet agree about the cause of the disease]

• There is a growing consensus [=more and more people agree] about/on the need for further investigation.

• What is the consensus of opinion among the experts? [=what do the experts all say?]

[noncount]

• Everyone on the council seems to understand the need for consensus.

• There is a lack of consensus among the citizens.

• The decision was made by consensus.

Contentious

— adjective

[more contentious; most contentious]

1 

a : likely to cause people to argue or disagree

• I think it's wise to avoid such a highly contentious [=controversial] topic/issue at a dinner party.

b : involving a lot of arguing

• After a contentious debate, members of the committee finally voted to approve the funding.

• They have a contentious relationship. [=they argue with each other a lot]

2 

: likely or willing to argue

• a contentious student

• The dispute involves one of the region's most contentious leaders.

— contentiously adverb

— contentiousness noun [noncount]

Contingent

— adjective

formal

: depending on something else that might or might not happen — usually + on or upon

• Our plans are contingent on the weather.

.

— noun

1 

: a group of people who go to a place together, do something together, or share some quality, interest, etc.

• The group that makes up the largest contingent of voters in this area is the elderly.

• A contingent of reporters waited in front of the court for the defendant to appear.

Contrived

— adjective

[more contrived; most contrived]

: having an unnatural or false appearance or quality

• The movie's contrived ending was a big disappointment.

• The results of the test seemed somewhat contrived.

Cordial

— adjective

[more cordial; most cordial]

: politely pleasant and friendly

• We received a cordial greeting from our hostess at the party.

• The two nations have maintained cordial relations.

— cordiality noun [noncount]

• They greeted the ambassador with cordiality.

— cordially adverb

• You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of our daughter on May 14.

Corroborate

— verb

[+ object] formal

: to support or help prove (a statement, theory, etc.) by providing information or evidence

• Two witnesses corroborated [=confirmed] his story.

— often used as (be) corroborated

• The theory has been corroborated by recent studies.

— corroborating adjective

• No corroborating evidence was found.

— corroboration noun [noncount]

• the corroboration of his story

— corroborative adjective

• corroborative evidence/testimony

Deceptive

—adjective

[more deceptive; most deceptive]

1 

: intended to make someone believe something that is not true

• The article accuses the company of deceptive [=misleading] advertising.

• The low price is deceptive. [=deceiving, misleading] Many fees are added to it before the purchase is complete.

2 

: likely to make someone believe something that is not true

• the deceptive simplicity of the lyrics [=the lyrics are not as simple as they seem]

• Don't buy the car without driving it first—appearances can be deceptive. [=something can look much better than it actually is]

— deceptively adverb

• deceptively simple lyrics

• deceptively low prices

Deciding

deciding factor

1 

: something that causes you to make a particular decision

• The deciding factor was cost. [=the decision was based on cost; the least expensive option was chosen]

• His lack of experience was the deciding factor in my decision not to hire him.

2 

: something that causes something to end a particular way

• His home run was the deciding factor in the game. [=his home run won the game]

Decisive

— adjective

more decisive; most decisive]

1 

: able to make choices quickly and confidently

• You must be decisive and persistent to succeed in this competitive field.

• I stood there wondering what to do, but my sister was more decisive and immediately went to the phone.

• a decisive leader

• In emergency situations, one must be able to take decisive action. [=to act quickly and with confidence]

— opposite indecisive

2 

: causing something to end in a particular way : determining what the result of something will be

• She cast the decisive [=deciding] vote.

• The fight ended with a decisive blow.

• the decisive battle of the war

◊ A decisive factor is a reason to make a particular choice or decision.

• The decisive factor [=deciding factor] was cost.

• His lack of experience was the decisive factor in my decision not to hire him.

3 

: very clear and obvious

• a decisive victory/win/advantage

— decisively adverb

• You must be able to act decisively to succeed in this competitive field.

• She decisively rejected their proposal.

— decisiveness noun [noncount]

• The job requires decisiveness [=decision] and persistence.

Deficient

— adjective

[more deficient; most deficient]

1 

: not having enough of something that is important or necessary

• a nutritionally deficient diet

— usually + in

• a diet deficient in certain vitamins

• a man who is deficient in judgment [=a man whose judgment is poor]

• students who are deficient [=lacking] in their knowledge of history

2 

: not good enough : not as good as others

• mentally deficient

• Several bridges in the city are structurally deficient.

Deliberate

— adjective

[more deliberate; most deliberate]

1 

: done or said in a way that is planned or intended : done or said on purpose

• I don't think that was a mistake; I think it was deliberate. [=intentional]

• a deliberate [=planned] attempt to trick people

2 

: done or decided after careful thought

• a deliberate choice/decision

3 

: slow and careful

• She spoke in a clear, deliberate manner/way.

• He advocates a slow and deliberate approach to the problem.

.

— verb

: to think about or discuss something very carefully in order to make a decision

[no object]

• The jury deliberated for two days before reaching a verdict.

[+ object]

• They will deliberate the question.

— often + whether, what, etc.

• I've been deliberating [=debating] whether or not to accept the job offer.

.

— deliberation noun

: careful thought or discussion done in order to make a decision

[noncount]

• After hours of deliberation, the council came to a decision.

[count]

• Jury deliberations lasted two days.

2 

[noncount] : the quality of being slow and careful

• She spoke to the audience with clarity and deliberation.

Demarcate

— verb

[+ object] formal

: to show the limits or edges of (something)

• The plot of land is demarcated by a low brick wall.

• The boundary between the countries must be clearly demarcated.

— demarcation noun, plural demarcations

[noncount]

• the demarcation of the boundary

• Troops are positioned on either side of the line of demarcation. = Troops are positioned on either side of the demarcation line.

[count]

• The media has blurred the demarcations [=lines, boundaries] between news and entertainment.

Desultory

— adjective

[more desultory; most desultory] formal

1 

: not having a plan or purpose

• desultory [=aimless] conversation.

2 

: done without serious effort

• He made a desultory [=halfhearted] attempt to study.

— desultorily adverb

• Talk drifted desultorily from one topic to another.

Devise

— verb

[+ object]

: to invent or plan (something that is difficult or complicated)

• They have devised a new method for converting sunlight into electricity.

• She is accused of devising [=hatching] a plot to overthrow the government.

Disconcert

— verb

[+ object] somewhat formal

: to make (someone) upset or embarrassed

• News of his criminal past has disconcerted even his admirers.

— often used as (be) disconcerted

• I was disconcerted by her tone of voice.

— disconcerted adjective [more disconcerted; most disconcerted]

• We were very disconcerted to learn that our flight had been canceled.

— disconcerting adjective [more disconcerting; most disconcerting]

• I found it disconcerting to be left alone in her office.

• He has a disconcerting habit of answering a question with another question.

— disconcertingly adverb

Discord

— noun

formal

1 

[noncount] : lack of agreement between people, ideas, etc.

• marital discord [=conflict]

• discord between political parties

• The city has long been known as a scene of racial intolerance and discord.

2 

: an unpleasant combination of musical notes

[count]

• The song ends on a discord.

[noncount]

• musical discord

Discount

— verb
[+ object]

1 

a : to lower the amount of (a bill, price, etc.)

• The vacation plan included a discounted price/rate on our hotel room.

b : to lower the price of (a product)

• Car dealers are heavily discounting last year's unsold models.

2 

a : to think of (something) as having little importance or value

• You shouldn't discount [=minimize] the importance of studying.

b : to believe that (something, such as information, a rumor, etc.) is not worth serious attention

• We can't discount [=dismiss, disregard] the possibility that the economy will worsen in the near future.

• These threats cannot be entirely discounted.

Discretion

— noun

[noncount]

1 

: the right to choose what should be done in a particular situation

• Each artist in the gallery has discretion over the price that will be charged for his or her work.

• The coach used/exercised his own discretion to let the injured quarterback play.

• The amount each person contributes will be left to the discretion of the individual. [=each person will decide how much he or she will contribute]

• Because of the violence in the movie, parental discretion is advised. [=parents are advised to think about whether or not they want their children to see the movie]

◊ Something that is done at your discretion is done if, how, when, etc., you choose to do it.

• You can cancel the service at your (own) discretion. [=you can cancel the service whenever you choose]

• Exactly how much to tip a server is at the discretion of the customer.

2 

: the quality of being careful about what you do and say so that people will not be embarrassed or offended : the quality of being discreet

• He always uses care and discretion when dealing with others.

• She handled the awkward situation with great discretion.

• She is the soul of discretion. [=she is very discreet]

— opposite indiscretion

discretion is the better part of valor

— used to say that it is better to be careful than to do something that is dangerous and unnecessary

Disorient

— adjective

[+ object]

: to make (someone) lost or confused

• Thick fog can disorient even an experienced hiker.

— compare orient

— disorientation /dɪsˌorijənˈteɪʃən/ noun [noncount]

• The medication may cause drowsiness and disorientation.

— disoriented adjective [more disoriented; most disoriented]

• The patient became increasingly disoriented as the illness progressed.

• a disoriented hiker

— disorienting adjective [more disorienting; most disorienting]

• It's disorienting to wake up in total darkness.

Disparage

— verb

[+ object] formal

: to describe (someone or something) as unimportant, weak, bad, etc.

• Voters don't like political advertisements in which opponents disparage one another.

• It's a mistake to disparage their achievements.

• The article disparaged polo as a game for the wealthy.

— disparagement noun [noncount]

• a term of disparagement

• the author's relentless disparagement of politicians

— disparaging adjective [more disparaging; most disparaging]

• I heard her making disparaging remarks about her coworkers.

— disparagingly adverb

• He referred disparagingly to his car as “an old clunker.”

Disparate

— adjective

[more disparate; most disparate] formal

: different from each other

• The conversation covered topics as disparate [=diverse] as fashion and biology.

• disparate cultures

• music that combines/blends disparate [=dissimilar] elements

Diverge

— verb

[no object] formal

1 

: to split and move out in different directions from a single point

• A prism causes rays of light to diverge.

• “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…”

— opposite converge

2 

: to be or become different

• They were close friends in college, but after graduation, their lives diverged.

• When it comes to politics, their opinions/views diverge. [=they have different opinions/views]

— divergence noun, plural divergences

[count]

• divergences between dialects

• There is a wide divergence of opinion between the parties.

[noncount]

• He is studying the levels of divergence between the species.

— divergent adjective [more divergent; most divergent]

• divergent lines/opinions/cultures

• Their views are widely divergent.

Dynamic

— adjective

[more dynamic; most dynamic]

a : always active or changing

• a dynamic city

• a dynamic relationship

b : having or showing a lot of energy

• a dynamic [=enthusiastic] speaker

• an exciting and dynamic performance

2 

technical : of or relating to energy, motion, or physical force

• the dynamic theory of heat

• dynamic and potential energy

— dynamically adverb

• The camera moves dynamically around the actors.

.

— noun

1 

: the way that two or more people behave with each other because of a particular situation

[singular]

• the dynamic between a doctor and a patient

• the teacher-student dynamic

[plural]

• Group dynamics are important to consider.

• The dynamics of this class are different from those of other classes.

2 

[count] : something that causes change or growth in something else

• Disease was a central dynamic in the decrease in population.

• a study on famine and population dynamics

3 

dynamics [noncount] technical : the science that studies motion and the forces that cause or stop motion

• molecular/fluid dynamics

Earnest

— adjective

[more earnest; most earnest]

: serious and sincere : not lighthearted or playful

• an earnest plea for help

• an earnest young journalist

— earnestly adverb

• speaking earnestly

— earnestness noun [noncount]

.

— noun

in earnest

1 

: in an earnest or serious way

• The search began in earnest when the police arrived.

• It began to rain in earnest [=heavily] in the evening.

• It's hard to tell if he's making this proposal in earnest.

2 

: not fooling : serious and sincere

• We thought he was joking at first, but then we realized that he was in earnest. [=he was being serious]

— compare for real at ¹real

Eclipse

— noun

2 

: a loss of power, success, popularity, etc.

[singular]

• the civilization's sudden/eventual eclipse

• The popularity of television led to the eclipse of the radio drama.

[noncount]

• an author who has fallen/gone into eclipse [=who has become much less popular]

• an artist whose reputation/career has long been in eclipse

.

— verb

[+ object]

1 

: to cause an eclipse of (the sun or moon)

• The sun was partially eclipsed by the moon.

2 

a : to make (something) less important or popular

• Train travel was eclipsed by the growth of commercial airlines.

b : to do or be much better than (someone or something)

• Her sister's accomplishments always seemed to eclipse [=outshine] her own.

• The new runner's time eclipsed [=surpassed] the old record.

Eloquent

— adjective

[more eloquent; most eloquent]

1 

: having or showing the ability to use language clearly and effectively

• an eloquent speech/speaker

• an eloquent essay

• He waxed eloquent [=he said many things] on/about the pleasures of gardening.

2 

: clearly showing feeling or meaning

• His success serves as an eloquent reminder of the value of hard work.

— eloquently adverb [more eloquently; most eloquently]

• She spoke eloquently about the need for better schools.

Elusive

— adjective

[more elusive; most elusive]

1 

: hard to find or capture

• elusive creatures

• The solution remains elusive.

• The truth may prove elusive.

2 

: hard to understand, define, or remember

• an elusive concept/idea/name

— elusively adverb

— elusiveness noun [noncount]

• the elusiveness of truth

Encompass

— verb

[+ object]

1 

: to include (something) as a part

• My interests encompass [=cover, include] a broad range of topics.

• The district encompasses most of the downtown area.

— see also all-encompassing

2 

: to cover or surround (an area)

• A thick fog encompassed [=enveloped] the city.

• a neighborhood encompassed by a highway

Enduring

— adjective

: long-lasting

• Their 50-year friendship is enduring.

Exacerbate

— verb

[+ object]

: to make (a bad situation, a problem, etc.) worse

• The proposed factory shutdown would only exacerbate our unemployment problems.

• His angry comments have exacerbated tensions in the negotiation process.

— exacerbation noun [noncount]

• the exacerbation of symptoms/problems/tensions

Exactitude

— noun

[noncount] formal

: the quality or state of being accurate and correct

• She was able to recall the event with remarkable exactitude. [=exactness, precision]

Exemplify

— verb

[+ object]

: to be a very good example of (something) : to show (something) very clearly

• His works exemplify the taste of the period.

• a style exemplifying romanticism

• The city's economic growth is exemplified by the many new buildings that are currently under construction.

— exemplification noun, plural exemplifications [count, noncount]

Exhaustive

— adjective

[more exhaustive; most exhaustive]

: including all possibilities : very thorough

• exhaustive research

• an exhaustive study/search

• The list was long but not exhaustive.

— exhaustively adverb

• an exhaustively researched report

— exhaustiveness noun [noncount]

Explicable

— adjective

formal

: possible to explain : explainable

• phenomena explicable by the laws of physics

• his least explicable mistake

— opposite inexplicable

Extraneous

— adjective

: not forming a necessary part of something

• She sped up the process by eliminating all extraneous steps.

: not important

• extraneous [=irrelevant] information/details

Foretell

— verb

[+ object] formal + literary

: to describe (something) before it happens : predict

• We cannot foretell the future.

• Economists foretold impending disaster.

Foster

— verb
1 

[+ object] : to help (something) grow or develop

• We are trying to foster [=encourage, promote] a sense of community.

• Such conditions foster the spread of the disease.

2 

: to provide the care that a parent usually gives to a child : to be or become the foster parent of a child

[+ object]

• Would you consider fostering a child?

[no object]

• (chiefly Brit) Would you consider fostering?

.

— adjective

always used before a noun

— used to describe a situation in which for a period of time a child lives with and is cared for by people who are not the child's parents

• They are foster parents to three foster children.

• She's in foster care. = She's in a foster home. [=she is living in a home with and being taken care of by foster parents]

Fruitless

— adjective

: producing no good results : not successful

• They made a fruitless attempt to find a solution.

• It would be fruitless to continue.

• a fruitless argument

— compare fruitful

— fruitlessly adverb

• They argued fruitlessly.

— fruitlessness noun [noncount]

Grapple

— verb

[no object]

1 

: to hold and fight with another person

• The wrestlers grappled [=wrestled] on the mat.

— usually + with

• The wrestlers grappled with each other.

2 

: to try to solve a problem : to deal with a problem — + with

• Every parent has to grapple with [=cope with] a variety of serious issues.

• The company has been grappling with supply problems.

— grappler /ˈgræpəlɚ/ noun, plural grapplers [count]

• a famous grappler [=wrestler]

Habitual

— adjective

1 

: done regularly or repeatedly

• He was fired for his habitual lateness.

• habitual drug use

• They went for their habitual evening walk.

2 

always used before a noun : doing something regularly or repeatedly

• She was a habitual liar. [=she always lied]

• habitual criminals/offenders

— habitually adverb

• He was habitually late.

Haphazard

— adjective

[more haphazard; most haphazard]

: having no plan, order, or direction

• We were given a haphazard tour of the city.

• a haphazard procedure

— haphazardly adverb

• Books and papers were scattered haphazardly on the desk.

Hinder

— verb

[+ object]

: to make (something, such as a task or action) slow or difficult

• Their journey was hindered [=impeded, slowed] by snow and high winds.

• The witness refused to cooperate, hindering the investigation.

• The country's economic growth is being hindered by the sanctions.

• It's not clear whether the change will help or hinder our project.

hinder from [phrasal verb]

hinder (someone or something) from (something)

: to stop (someone) from (doing something)

• Financial troubles hindered [=prevented] him from going on the trip.

• Unfortunately, her ignorance has never hindered [=stopped] her from giving her opinion.
  
  

Homogeneous

— adjective

[more homogeneous; most homogeneous] somewhat formal

: made up of the same kind of people or things

• a racially homogeneous neighborhood [=a neighborhood in which all the people belong to the same race]

• a fairly homogeneous collection of examples

— compare heterogeneous

— homogeneity noun, formal [noncount]

• racial/economic/cultural homogeneity

Imaginative

— adjective

1

[more imaginative; most imaginative] : having or showing an ability to think of new and interesting ideas : having or showing imagination

• an imaginative [=creative] filmmaker

• She wrote an imaginative story about life on the planet Venus.

• The restaurant's menu is quite imaginative.

• imaginative thinking/writing

2 

always used before a noun : of or relating to imagination

• a child's imaginative life

— imaginatively adverb

• an imaginatively designed menu

Imminent

— adjective

[more imminent; most imminent]

: happening very soon

• We are awaiting their imminent arrival.

• Their arrival is imminent.

• These patients are facing imminent death.

• The species is in imminent danger of extinction. [=the species is very close to becoming extinct]

— imminence noun [noncount]

• the imminence of danger

— imminently adverb

Impartial

— adjective

[more impartial; most impartial]

: treating all people and groups equally : not partial or biased

• an impartial analysis of the case

• an impartial judge/jury/observer

— impartiality noun [noncount]

— impartially adverb

Impending

— adjective

always used before a noun

: happening or likely to happen soon

• She's worried about an impending business trip.

• We need to prepare for their impending arrival.

Impenetrable

adj. Impossible to pass through. The fortress was impenetrable to enemy attack.

Imperceptible

— adjective

[more imperceptible; most imperceptible]

: impossible to see or notice

• imperceptible changes/differences

• an almost imperceptible smile/breeze

• These changes will be imperceptible to most people.

— imperceptibly adverb

Implement

v. To put into effect or execute. The business will implement new rules to comply with the change in laws.

Implication

— noun

1 

[count] : a possible future effect or result — usually plural

• We must consider the long-term implications of the new trade policies. [=we must consider the effect the policies may have in the future]

• The closing of the factory has economic implications for the entire community. [=the closing will affect the economy of the entire community]

• He needs to be aware of the political implications of his decision.

2 

: something that is suggested without being said directly : something that is implied

[count]

• I'm offended by his implication that women can't be good at mathematics.

• I resent that/your implication!

[noncount]

• He condemned the court and, by implication, the entire legal system.

3 

[noncount] : the fact or state of being involved in or connected to something (such as a crime) : the fact or state of being implicated in something

• He was shocked by the implication of his partner in the theft.

Implicit

— adjective

1 

: understood though not clearly or directly stated

• an implicit agreement/warning/promise

• Their plans are based on the implicit [=implied] assumption that the proposal will be accepted.

• There is a sense of moral duty implicit in her writings.

— opposite explicit

2 

: not affected by doubt : absolute, complete

• I have implicit trust/confidence/faith in her honesty.

— implicitly adverb

• In his criticism of the court he implicitly condemns the entire legal system.

• I trust her implicitly. [=completely]

Improvise

— verb

1 

: to speak or perform without preparation

[no object]

• If you forget any of your lines, try to improvise.

• Good jazz musicians know how to improvise.

[+ object]

• He had to improvise his opening speech when he forgot his notes.

• The trumpet player performed an improvised solo.

2 

[+ object] : to make or create (something) by using whatever is available

• I wasn't expecting guests, so I had to improvise a meal with what I had in my refrigerator.

— improvisation noun, plural improvisations

[noncount]

• an actor who is good at improvisation

[count]

• His performance featured several clever improvisations.

— improvisational also improvisatory adjective

• an improvisational performance

• improvisational theater

— improviser also chiefly US improvisor noun, plural improvisers also improvisors [count]

• jazz improvisers

Inactive

— adjective

[more inactive; most inactive]

: not active: such as

a : not doing things that require physical movement and energy : not exercising

• Inactive people suffer higher rates of heart disease.

b : not involved in the activities of a group or organization

• an inactive club member

c : no longer being used

• an inactive mine

: not currently being used

• the bank's inactive accounts

d of a volcano : not capable of erupting

e : not having a chemical effect

• inactive ingredients

— inactively adverb

• inactively traded stocks

Inadvertent

— adjective

: not intended or planned : accidental

• an inadvertent error/omission

— inadvertence noun [noncount]

• mistakes made by/through inadvertence

— inadvertently adverb

• I inadvertently [=accidentally, mistakenly] dialed the wrong number.

Incite

— verb

[+ object]

1 

: to cause (someone) to act in an angry, harmful, or violent way

• The victim had done nothing to incite [=provoke] the attackers.

— often + to

• They were clearly trying to incite the crowd to violence.

— often followed by to + verb

• He incited the students to riot.

2 

: to cause (an angry, harmful, or violent action or feeling)

• They were arrested and charged with inciting [=provoking] a riot.

• The news incited widespread fear and paranoia.

— incitement noun, plural incitements

[count]

• His words were an incitement to riot.

[noncount]

• They were charged with incitement to violence.

Inconspicuous

— adjective

[more inconspicuous; most inconspicuous]

: not very easy to see or notice : not conspicuous

• an inconspicuous brick building

• She tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible so that no one would see her there.

— inconspicuously adverb

• He always dressed inconspicuously in a gray suit.

Indecipherable

— adjective
[more indecipherable; most indecipherable]

: impossible to read or understand : not decipherable

• His handwriting is almost indecipherable.

• an indecipherable code/message

Indifferent

— adjective

[more indifferent; most indifferent]

1 

: not interested in or concerned about something

• She was amazed that people could be so indifferent about the trial. [=could care so little about the trial]

• The movie was poorly received by an indifferent public.

— often + to

• They seem to be indifferent to the problems of poor people.

2 

: neither good nor bad : not very good

• She was tired and gave a rather indifferent [=unimpressive] performance.

• indifferent [=mediocre] leadership

• Was the food good, bad, or indifferent?

— indifferently adverb

• a biography received indifferently by the critics

Indisputable

— adjective

[more indisputable; most indisputable]

: impossible to question or doubt : not disputable

• He had indisputable [=unquestionable] proof that he had been there.

• Her success is indisputable. [=undeniable]

— indisputably adverb

• an indisputably certain fact

Indistinct

— adjective

more indistinct; most indistinct]

: not easily seen, heard, or recognized : not distinct or clear

• indistinct figures in the fog

• a far-off indistinct light

• The sound was indistinct [=faint] at first, then gradually became louder.

— indistinctly adverb

• Her voice could only be heard indistinctly. [=faintly]

— indistinctness noun [noncount]

Ineffectual

— adjective
[more ineffectual; most ineffectual]

: not producing or able to produce the effect you want

• an ineffectual politician

• an ineffectual struggle

— ineffectually adverb

• They struggled ineffectually for reform.

Inexplicable

— adjective
: not able to be explained or understood

• an inexplicable mystery

• He had a series of seemingly inexplicable accidents.

— inexplicably adverb

• The files have inexplicably disappeared.