GregMat Vocab Mountain Groups 1-37 (with example sentences)

abound

v: To be full to overflowing.

v: To be wealthy.

v: To be highly productive.

1. The forests abound with wildlife, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts.

2. In ancient times, the kingdom abounded in gold and precious stones, making it a target for invaders.

3. During the harvest season, the fields abound with crops, showcasing the hard work of the farmers.

amorphous

adj: Lacking a definite form or clear shape.

adj: Being without definite character or nature.

adj: Lacking organization or unity.

1. The amorphous cloud in the sky shifted shapes rapidly.

2. His amorphous ideas made the meeting difficult to follow.

3. The amorphous nature of the project led to confusion among the team members.

austere

adj: Grim or severe in manner or appearance

adj: Lacking decoration; trivial; not extravagant or gaudy

1. The old monk's lifestyle was austere, focused solely on meditation and prayer.

2. The courtroom was an austere place, with plain wooden furniture and no adornments.

3. Despite its austere exterior, the building housed a vibrant community center.

belie

v: To give a false representation of; to show (something) to be false.

v: To contradict, to show (something) to be false.

v: To surround (an army); to beleaguer.

1. v: Her calm face belied the anger she was feeling inside.

2. v: His cheerful tone belied the seriousness of his words.

3. v: The evidence presented in court belied the defendant's claim of innocence.

capricious

adj: Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim

1. The weather in the mountains is incredibly capricious, making it difficult to plan outdoor activities.

2. Her capricious decision to leave her job surprised everyone at the office.

3. The stock market's capricious nature makes it challenging for investors to predict its movements.

cerebral

adj: Of, or relating to the brain, cerebrum, or cerebral cortex.

adj: Intellectual rather than emotional.

adj: Retroflex.

1. The injury affected his cerebral functions, leading to some cognitive challenges.

2. She enjoyed cerebral activities like puzzles and strategy games.

3. The retroflex nasal sound is marked by a cerebral articulation.

congenial

adj: Having the same or very similar nature, personality, tastes, habits or interests.

adj: Friendly or sociable.

adj: Suitable to one's needs.

1. Her congenial personality made her a favorite among colleagues.

2. The host was so congenial that all the guests felt instantly at ease.

3. The environment was congenial to his work habits, allowing him to be very productive.

conspicuous

adj: Obvious or easy to notice.

adj: Noticeable or attracting attention, especially if unattractive.

1. His bright red car was conspicuous in the parking lot full of black and gray vehicles.

2. The conspicuous stain on her dress made her feel embarrassed during the meeting.

3. The graffiti on the wall was conspicuous and drew the attention of everyone passing by.

cursory

adj: Hasty; superficial; careless

adj: Running about; not stationary

1. He gave a cursory glance at the report before tossing it aside.

2. Her cursory attempt to clean the room left much to be desired.

3. The cursory nature of the inspection meant many issues were overlooked.

daunting

adj: Discouraging; inspiring fear.

adj: Intimidatingly impressive; awe-inspiring, overwhelming.

adj: Appearing to be difficult; challenging.

1. The idea of climbing Mount Everest seemed daunting to the inexperienced hiker.

2. The task of organizing the entire event by herself was daunting because of the sheer number of details involved.

3. Facing the expert panel in the final round of the quiz show felt downright daunting to all the contestants.

deify

v: To make a god of (something or someone).

v: To treat as worthy of worship; to regard as a deity.

1. The ancient Greeks would often deify their heroes after their death.

2. Some fans practically deify their favorite celebrities, placing them on impossibly high pedestals.

3. In certain cultures, people deify natural elements like the sun and the moon.

didactic

adj: Instructive or intended to teach or demonstrate, especially with regard to morality.

adj: Excessively moralizing.

adj: Teaching from textbooks rather than laboratory demonstration and clinical application.

1. adj: The professor's didactic style made the complex subject matter accessible to all students.

2. adj: Her didactic tone can sometimes come off as patronizing to her peers.

3. adj: The didactic approach was criticized for lacking hands-on experience and real-world applications.

disseminate

v: To sow and scatter principles, ideas, opinions, etc, or concrete things, for growth and propagation, like seeds.

v: To become widespread.

1. The organization's mission is to disseminate information about the importance of conservation.

2. Modern technology allows news to disseminate rapidly through social media platforms.

3. Education campaigns aim to disseminate knowledge about health and safety practices.

feasible

adj: Able to be done in practice.

1. It's feasible to complete the project by the end of the week if everyone works extra hours.

2. The engineer concluded that it was feasible to build the bridge within the current budget.

3. To determine if the plan was feasible, the team conducted a thorough cost-benefit analysis.

flout

n: The act of violating a law or regulation.

n: A mockery or insult.

v: To express contempt for (laws, rules, etc.) by word or action.

v: To scorn.

1. n: The company's flouting of environmental regulations led to heavy fines.

2. n: His speech was a deliberate flout, mocking the traditions of the host country.

3. v: She continued to flout the dress code, wearing jeans to formal events.

homogeneous

adj: Of the same kind; alike, similar.

adj: Having the same composition throughout; of uniform make-up.

adj: In the same state of matter.

1. The population of the small town was very homogeneous, with most residents sharing a similar cultural background.

2. The scientist needed a homogeneous mixture for her experiment to ensure accurate results.

3. The solution remained homogeneous, maintaining a consistent state of matter throughout the experiment.

humdrum

n: The quality of lacking variety or excitement.

n: A stupid fellow.

adj: Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring.

1. n: The humdrum of his daily routine made him yearn for adventure.

2. n: He felt like such a humdrum compared to his more adventurous friends.

3. adj: The movie was so humdrum that she fell asleep halfway through.

insipid

adj: Unappetizingly flavorless.

adj: Flat; lacking character or definition.

1. The soup was so insipid that I had to add a lot of seasoning just to make it edible.

2. Her presentation was insipid and failed to capture the audience's interest.

3. The book's plot was insipid, making it difficult for readers to stay engaged.

loquacious

adj: Talkative; chatty.

1. She was so loquacious at the party that we could hardly get a word in edgewise.

2. Jake's loquacious nature made him a natural fit for a career in broadcasting.

3. Despite his loquacious demeanor, he was very private about his personal life.

misanthropic

adj: Hating or disliking mankind

1. adj: Her misanthropic views made it difficult for her to trust anyone.

2. adj: The character in the novel exhibited a deeply misanthropic attitude towards society.

3. adj: After years of disappointment, he developed a misanthropic perspective on human nature.

misnomer

n: A use of a term that is misleading; a misname.

n: A term that is misleading.

n: A term whose sense in common usage conflicts with a technical sense.

v: To use a misleading term; to misname.

1. n: Calling the tiny puppy a "giant" was certainly a misnomer.

2. n: The term "killer whale" is a misnomer because orcas are not actually whales.

3. v: It is easy to misnomer a country as a "third world" nation without considering its advancements.

negligent

adj: Careless, without appropriate or sufficient attention.

adj: Culpable due to a lack of proper care.

1. The teacher was negligent in checking the students' homework, resulting in numerous errors.

2. The company faced a lawsuit because their negligent practices led to an accident.

3. The negligent driver caused a serious accident but was let off with a warning.

obsequious

adj: Obedient; compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.

adj: Excessively eager and attentive to please or to obey instructions; fawning, subservient, servile.

1. The intern's obsequious behavior irritated his coworkers, who wished he would show more independence.

2. Her obsequious manner made it clear that she was desperate to gain favor with the manager, even at the expense of her dignity.

3. The obsequious waiter hovered around their table, constantly complimenting them and anticipating their needs in an effort to earn a large tip.

placate

v: To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate.

1. She attempted to placate the angry customer with a refund.

2. He brought flowers to placate his upset girlfriend.

3. The teacher's calm explanation helped to placate the nervous students.

proclivity

n: A predisposition or natural inclination, propensity, or a predilection; especially, a strong disposition or bent.

1. His proclivity for solving complex mathematical problems made him the best candidate for the job.

2. She has a proclivity for picking up new languages quickly.

3. Despite her proclivity for adventure, she sometimes enjoyed spending quiet evenings at home.

puerile

adj: Childish; trifling; silly.

adj: Characteristic of, or pertaining to, a boy or boys.

1. His puerile jokes did not amuse the professors.

2. The argument had a puerile quality, lacking any real substance.

3. The puerile behavior of the attendees made the meeting unproductive.

quixotic

adj: Possessing or acting with the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality; exceedingly idealistic.

adj: Impulsive.

adj: Like Don Quixote; romantic to extravagance; absurdly chivalric; apt to be deluded.

1. His quixotic quest to single-handedly save the rainforest was admired but deemed impractical by many experts.

2. She often made quixotic decisions, acting on a whim without considering the consequences.

3. The character's quixotic adventures were filled with grand gestures and wild, impractical dreams.

spendthrift

n: Someone who spends money improvidently or wastefully.

adj: Improvident, profligate, or wasteful.

1. n: The spendthrift squandered his inheritance on luxury cars and lavish vacations.

2. adj: Her spendthrift habits left her with little savings and mounting debt.

3. adj: The company's spendthrift approach to marketing resulted in financial losses.

taciturn

adj: Silent; temperamentally untalkative; disinclined to speak.

1. adj: Despite being taciturn, his actions spoke volumes about his kindness.

2. adj: Her taciturn demeanor often led people to believe she was unfriendly.

3. adj: The taciturn witness made the courtroom tense with his brief answers.

wary

adj: Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, trickery, and dangers; suspiciously prudent

adj: Characterized by caution; guarded; careful; on one's guard

adj: Thrifty, provident

1. She gave a wary glance around the deserted street before proceeding.

2. Investors are often wary of putting their money into high-risk ventures.

3. The traveler was wary of offers that seemed too good to be true in the foreign market.

adulterate

v: To corrupt.

v: To spoil by adding impurities.

v: To commit adultery.

adj: Tending to commit adultery.

adj: Corrupted; impure; -ed.

1. v: The company was fined for attempting to adulterate the milk with water to increase profits.

2. adj: She was considered to have an adulterate character after the scandal broke.

3. v: Numerous reports indicate that vendors often adulterate spices by mixing them with cheaper substances.

advocate

n: Someone whose job is to speak for someone's case in a court of law; a counsel.

n: Anyone who argues the case of another; an intercessor.

n: A person who speaks in support of something.

v: To plead in favour of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.

1. n: She is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation.

2. n: The advocate presented compelling evidence during the trial.

3. v: He decided to advocate for better working conditions for employees.

aggrandize

v: To make great; to enlarge; to increase.

v: To make great or greater in power, rank, honor, or wealth (applied to persons, countries, etc.).

v: To make appear great or greater; to exalt.

1. The king sought to aggrandize his realm by conquering neighboring territories.

2. The CEO used every opportunity to aggrandize his own reputation at the expense of his colleagues.

3. The artist's work was intended to aggrandize the beauty of the natural landscape, capturing its grandeur on canvas.

alacrity

n: Eagerness; liveliness; enthusiasm.

n: Promptness; speed.

1. She accepted the invitation with alacrity, excited for the event.

2. His alacrity in finishing the project was impressive and much appreciated by his team.

3. The students responded to the challenge with surprising alacrity, ready to tackle the problem head-on.

ambivalent

adj: Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, or motivations.

adj: Alternately having one opinion or feeling, and then the opposite.

1. She felt ambivalent about the job offer, excited by the opportunity but unsure about the relocation.

2. His ambivalent attitude towards the project caused delays, as he couldn't commit to a specific plan.

3. Many people are ambivalent about the new policy, recognizing its benefits but also worrying about potential drawbacks.

ameliorate

v: To make better, or improve, something perceived to be in a negative condition.

v: To become better; improve.

1. v: The government implemented new policies to ameliorate the economic crisis.

2. v: Her condition began to ameliorate after she started the new treatment.

3. v: They are looking for ways to ameliorate the situation in the community.

amenable

adj: Willing to respond to persuasion or suggestions.

adj: Willing to comply; easily led.

adj: Liable to be brought to account; responsible; accountable; answerable.

1. She was amenable to trying the new restaurant downtown.

2. The new puppy was surprisingly amenable to training.

3. As the project manager, he is amenable for the team's performance.

anachronistic

adj: Erroneous in date; in a wrong time; not applicable/belonging to or not appropriate for the time.

adj: (of a person) Having opinions from the past; preferring things or values of the past; behind the times; overly conservative.

1. Her use of a typewriter in the age of laptops seemed anachronistic to her colleagues.

2. The director was criticized for the film's anachronistic portrayal of ancient Rome, with characters using modern technology.

3. His anachronistic views on gender roles often alienated him from younger crowds who embraced more progressive ideals.

audacious

adj: Showing willingness to take bold risks; recklessly daring.

adj: Impudent.

1. He made an audacious decision to climb the mountain without any gear.

2. The comedian's audacious jokes sometimes offended his audience.

3. The audacious student talked back to the teacher without hesitation.

avaricious

adj: Extremely greedy for wealth or material gain; immoderately desirous of accumulating property.

1. His avaricious nature drove him to betray his closest friends for financial gain.

2. The avaricious businessman couldn't resist the temptation to exploit his workers.

3. The character's downfall was a result of his avaricious pursuit of wealth above all else.

banal

adj: Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.

adj: (history) Relating to a type of feudal jurisdiction or service.

1. The movie's plot was so banal that I could predict the ending within the first ten minutes.

2. adj: His speech was filled with banal statements that failed to inspire the audience.

3. adj: The banal duties of a serf were exhausting and monotonous.

benign

adj: Kind; gentle; mild.

adj: (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable.

adj: (in combination) Not harmful to the environment.

1. The elderly woman had a benign smile that made everyone feel at ease.

2. The coastal region enjoys a benign climate year-round, attracting tourists from all over.

3. Their choice to use benign materials for packaging ensured the product was eco-friendly.

brazen

adj: Pertaining to, made of, or resembling brass (in color or strength).

adj: Sounding harsh and loud, like brass cymbals or brass instruments.

adj: Shameless and bold, unrestrained by convention.

v: to face with defiance or impudence

1. adj: The statue had a brazen look, its surface gleaming like polished brass in the sunlight.

2. adj: The brazen clang of the metal gate as it slammed shut startled everyone nearby.

3. adj: Her brazen disregard for the rules left everyone in the meeting speechless.

4. v: Undeterred by the criticism, the politician chose to brazen it out during the press conference.

calumny

n: A false accusation or charge brought to tarnish another's reputation or standing.

n: Falsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another.

1. n: The politician faced a deluge of calumny from his opponents during the campaign.

2. n: The rumor was nothing more than calumny, intended to ruin her career.

3. n: The playwright's brilliant script was overshadowed by unrelenting calumny, spread by those envious of her talent.

candid

adj: Marked by honest sincere expression.

adj: Disposed to criticize severely; BLUNT.

adj: Indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception.

adj: Free from bias, prejudice, or malice; FAIR.

adj: Relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed.

adj: WHITE.

1. The manager had a candid discussion with the team about their performance, emphasizing areas for improvement.

2. The candid critics of the new movie didn't hesitate to point out its flaws.

3. Her candid face conveyed a sense of trustworthiness that reassured everyone she met.

4. As a candid observer, she reported the incident without any bias or prejudice.

5. During their vacation, he captured many candid photos of his family enjoying the beach.

6. The candid flames in the bonfire cast a warm, white glow over the campsite.

castigate

v: To punish or reprimand someone severely.

v: To execrate or condemn something in a harsh manner, especially by public criticism.

1. The principal decided to castigate the students for their disruptive behavior.

2. The critics did not hesitate to castigate the politician for his controversial statements.

3. The anime fandom castigated the production studio for the drastic changes made to the beloved manga storyline.

caustic

adj: Capable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue.

adj: Sharp, bitter, cutting, biting, and sarcastic in a scathing way.

n: Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action.

1. adj: The caustic chemicals required careful handling during the lab experiment.

2. adj: Her caustic remark left him feeling insulted and angry.

3. n: The doctor applied a caustic to the wound to prevent infection.

construe

n: A translation.

n: An interpretation.

v: To interpret or explain the meaning of something.

1. n: The lawyer provided a construe of the contract to ensure both parties understood the terms.

2. n: Her construe of the poem revealed new layers of meaning that we hadn't considered.

3. v: It is often challenging to construe ancient texts due to language evolution and cultural differences.

4. v: The unexpected shift from major to minor in the symphony's third movement was construed by many as a reflection of the composer's turbulent emotions during that period.

contrite

adj: Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one's own actions; apologetic.

adj: Thoroughly bruised or broken.

n: A person with the above adjectives applied; a penitent.

1. adj: After realizing the pain she had caused, she gave him a contrite apology.

2. adj: The leaves, after being trampled by the deer, were left contrite and wilted on the ground.

3. n: The contrite stood at the altar, seeking forgiveness for his past misdeeds.

convoluted

adj: Having numerous overlapping coils or folds.

adj: Complex, complicated, or intricate.

1. The plot of the novel was so convoluted that many readers found it difficult to follow.

2. The scientist explained the convoluted structure of the protein to the students.

3. His convoluted explanation only served to confuse everyone further.

covet

v: To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of, often enviously.

v: To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).

v: To yearn; to have or indulge an inordinate desire, especially for another's possession.

1. v: She began to covet her neighbor's brand new sports car, wishing it were hers.

2. v: He couldn't help but covet the position of his colleague, even though it was unethical.

3. v: They secretly coveted the luxurious lifestyle displayed on social media.

craven

n: a person who is not at all brave and who is too eager to avoid danger, difficulty, or pain

adj: Unwilling to fight; lacking even the rudiments of courage; extremely cowardly.

v: To make cowardly

1. n: The craven ran at the first sign of danger, abandoning his comrades.

2. adj: His craven behavior in the face of adversity was shameful.

3. v: I must die, and if you don't kill me, you aren't truly serving your master. There's a divine prohibition against self-slaughter that cravens my weak hand.

decorum

n: Appropriate social behavior.

n: A convention of social behavior.

1. The professor insisted on a certain level of decorum in her classroom to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning.

2. Despite their casual dress, the attendees observed the decorum expected at the formal dinner.

3. The company's reputation was built on the decorum and professionalism of its employees.

deft

adj: Quick and neat in action; skillful.

1. Her deft fingers wove the intricate tapestry effortlessly.

2. The magician's deft movements captivated the audience.

3. With deft precision, the chef prepared a gourmet meal in under an hour.

demur

n: Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.

v: To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.

v: To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk.

1. n: After a brief demur, she decided to go ahead with the plan.

2. He was ready to demur, believing the proposal had several flaws.

3. They did not demur to the new policy changes, agreeing readily.

derivative

n: Something derived.

n: A financial instrument whose value depends on the valuation of an underlying asset.

adj: Obtained by derivation; not radical, original, or fundamental.

1. n: The English word "electricity" is a derivative of the Latin "electricus."

2. n: She decided to invest in derivatives to diversify her portfolio.

3. adj: His painting style is considered highly derivative, closely mimicking that of his tutors.

desiccate

v: To remove moisture from; to dry.

v: To preserve by drying.

adj: Having had moisture removed; dehydrated, desiccated.

1. v: The intense heat from the sun desiccated the small pond, leaving nothing but cracked mud.

2. v: They used salt to desiccate the fish, ensuring it wouldn't spoil during the long journey.

3. adj: The museum displayed a desiccated mummy, perfectly preserved for centuries.

diatribe

n: an abusive, bitter attack or criticism; denunciation

n: a prolonged discourse

n: a speech or writing which bitterly denounces something

1. The senator's diatribe against the new policy left the chamber in stunned silence.

2. After reading the diatribe, the editor decided it was too harsh to publish.

3. The professor launched into a diatribe about the decline of academic standards.

incredulous

adj: skeptical, disbelieving, or unable to believe

adj: expressing or indicative of incredulity

adj: difficult to believe; incredible

1. She gave him an incredulous look when he claimed he could run a marathon without any training.

2. His incredulous expression showed that he didn't trust a word they were saying.

3. The story he told was so incredulous that no one in the room believed him.

ingenuous

adj: Naive and trusting.

adj: Demonstrating childlike simplicity.

adj: Unsophisticated; clumsy or obvious.

1. Her ingenuous smile made everyone feel at ease.

2. The child's ingenuous questions revealed his genuine curiosity.

3. The author's ingenuous writing style charmed many readers.

abate

v: To reduce in degree or intensity; to lessen.

v: To become null and void.

1. As the storm began to abate, the skies cleared, and the sun started to shine through.

2. Once the medication took effect, her pain gradually abated.

3. The judge ruled to abate the contract, rendering it legally void.

abjure

v: To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow.

v: To cause one to renounce or recant.

v: To reject with solemnity; to abandon forever; to repudiate; to disclaim.

1. v: He decided to abjure his allegiance to the king and join the rebels.

2. v: The witness was forced to abjure his previous testimony in court.

3. v: She chose to abjure her former lifestyle in favor of a more peaceful existence.

anomalous

adj: Deviating from the normal; marked by incongruity or contradiction; aberrant or abnormal.

adj: Of uncertain or unknown categorization; strange.

adj: Having anomalies.

1. The results of the experiment were anomalous, deviating significantly from the anticipated outcomes.

2. His anomalous behavior at the meeting caught everyone off guard.

3. The scientist noted that the sample's anomalous structure warranted further investigation.

antipathy

n: A feeling of dislike (normally towards someone, less often towards something); repugnance or distaste.

n: Natural contrariety or incompatibility

1. Her antipathy towards the new policy was evident in her outspoken criticism.

2. Despite their mutual antipathy, they managed to maintain a professional relationship.

3. The antipathy between the two species was a result of their natural contrariety.

arcane

adj: Understood by only a few.

adj: Obscure, mysterious.

adj: Requiring secret or mysterious knowledge to understand.

1. The professor's arcane references to ancient texts left most of the students confused.

2. The ritual involved arcane symbols and incantations that were no longer part of mainstream practice.

3. The arcane nature of the manuscript meant only a select group of scholars could decipher its meanings.

arduous

adj: Needing or using up much energy; testing powers of endurance.

adj: Burning; ardent

adj: Difficult or exhausting to traverse.

1. The hikers embarked on an arduous journey up the steep mountain.

2. His arduous passion for the project was evident in every detail.

3. The path through the dense jungle proved to be arduous and treacherous.

artless

adj: Having or displaying no guile, cunning, or deceit.

adj: Free of artificiality; natural.

adj: Lacking art, knowledge, or skill; uncultured and ignorant.

1. Her artless smile convinced everyone of her honesty.

2. The artless beauty of the landscape took his breath away.

3. Despite his artless manner, he had a kind heart.

ascetic

n: One who is devoted to the practice of self-denial, either through seclusion or stringent abstinence.

adj: Of or relating to ascetics

adj: Characterized by rigorous self-denial or self-discipline; austere; abstinent; involving a withholding of physical pleasure.

1. n: The monk lived as an ascetic, shunning all forms of luxury and comfort.

2. adj: Her ascetic lifestyle was evident in her simple clothing and minimalist living space.

3. adj: The ascetic regimen he adopted involved fasting and hours of meditation each day.

assuage

v: To lessen the intensity of, to mitigate or relieve (hunger, emotion, pain etc.).

v: To pacify or soothe (someone).

v: To calm down, become less violent (of passion, hunger etc.); to subside, to abate.

1. v: She tried to assuage her guilt by volunteering at the local shelter.

2. v: The teacher's kind words did much to assuage the crying child.

3. v: As the storm continued to assuage, the crew felt safe to come out of their hiding place.

betray

v: To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly.

v: To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive.

v: To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which one is bound in honor not to make known.

1. v: He was accused of betraying his country by leaking classified information to enemy forces.

2. v: She felt deeply hurt when her friend betrayed her trust by spreading personal secrets.

3. v: The spy betrayed his comrades by revealing their hidden location to the enemy.

bucolic

adj: Rustic, pastoral, country-styled.

adj: Relating to the pleasant aspects of rustic country life.

adj: Pertaining to herdsmen or peasants.

n: A pastoral poem.

n: A rustic, peasant.

1. adj: The bucolic landscape was dotted with grazing sheep and small cottages.

2. adj: They spent the weekend in a bucolic cabin away from the city's hustle.

3. n: The poet wrote a lovely bucolic that brought readers to the serene countryside.

burgeon

v: To grow or expand.

v: To swell to the point of bursting.

v: Of plants, to bloom, bud.

1. The company's market presence began to burgeon after the release of their innovative product.

2. Her excitement seemed to burgeon with each passing day leading up to the trip.

3. By late spring, the garden began to burgeon with a colorful array of flowers.

cacophonous

adj: Containing, consisting of, or producing harsh, unpleasant or discordant sounds.

1. The cacophonous sound of the alarm clock jolted him awake.

2. The band's rehearsal was a cacophonous mix of mismatched notes.

3. The city street was filled with the cacophonous noise of traffic and construction.

canonize

v: To declare (a deceased person) as a saint, and enter them into the canon of saints.

v: To regard as a saint; to glorify, to exalt to the highest honour.

v: To formally declare (a piece of religious writing) to be part of the biblical canon.

1. The Pope decided to canonize the beloved nun after years of investigation and numerous reported miracles.

2. Many fans canonize their favorite athletes, treating them as if they could do no wrong.

3. The council met to canonize several ancient texts that had long been revered by the community.

censure

n: The act of blaming, criticizing, or condemning as wrong; reprehension.

n: An official reprimand.

v: To criticize harshly.

1. n: The senator faced censure from his colleagues for his inappropriate remarks.

2. n: The board issued a formal censure against the CEO for his misconduct.

3. The teacher did not censure the student for the mistake, but instead offered guidance on how to improve.

chicanery

n: Deception by use of trickery, quibbling, or subterfuge.

1. The company's financial chicanery was eventually uncovered by the auditors.

2. His political career was marked by chicanery and underhand dealings.

3. They managed to win the case through sheer chicanery.

coalesce

v: (of separate elements) To join into a single mass or whole.

v: (of a whole or a unit) To form from different pieces or elements.

v: To bond pieces of metal into a continuous whole by liquefying parts of each piece, bringing the liquids into contact, and allowing the combined liquid to solidify.

1. v: The various streams coalesce into a single river.

2. v: The committee's ideas coalesce into a comprehensive plan.

3. v: The welder skillfully made the two steel beams coalesce.

cogent

adj: Reasonable and convincing; based on evidence.

adj: Appealing to the intellect or powers of reasoning.

adj: Forcefully persuasive; relevant, pertinent.

1. Her cogent argument quickly convinced the committee to change their decision.

2. The lawyer presented a cogent case that left no room for doubt in the jury's mind.

3. The article provided a cogent analysis of the economic situation, making it easy to understand complex concepts.

compelling

v: To drive together, round up.

v: To overpower; to subdue.

v: To force, constrain or coerce.

adj: Strongly or irresistibly evoking interest or attention.

adj: Forceful.

1. v: The manager compelled the employees to stay late and finish the project.

2. v: The soldiers were compelled to surrender after being surrounded.

3. adj: Her compelling speech on climate change moved the audience to take immediate action.

contend

v: To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

v: To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.

v: To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

1. They had to contend with many challenges to secure their funding.

2. The two teams will contend for the championship title next week.

3. He contended that the new policy was fundamentally flawed.

copious

adj: Vast in quantity or number, profuse, abundant; taking place on a large scale.

adj: Having an abundant supply.

adj: Full of thought, information, or matter; exuberant in words, expression, or style.

1. Her notebook was filled with copious notes from the lecture.

2. They enjoyed a copious feast prepared for the holidays.

3. The author's copious writing style made the book a challenging but rewarding read.

cosmopolitan

n: A cosmopolitan person; a cosmopolite.

n: A cocktail containing vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice.

adj: Inclusive; affecting the whole world.

1. n: She considers herself a cosmopolitan, having lived in six different countries.

2. n: The bartender mixed a perfect cosmopolitan for the guest.

3. adj: The university has a cosmopolitan atmosphere, attracting students from over 50 countries.

deference

n: Great respect.

n: The willingness to carry out the wishes of others.

1. In deference to her mentor's advice, she decided to change her major.

2. His deference to the elders in his community earned him their trust.

3. The employee completed the project in deference to his supervisor's instructions.

desultory

adj: Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order, planning, or rational connection; lacking logical sequence.

adj: Out of course; by the way; not connected with the subject.

adj: Disappointing in performance or progress.

1. His desultory approach to studying made it difficult for him to retain information.

2. The committee's desultory discussions went nowhere and no decisions were made.

3. Her desultory work on the project left much to be desired.

diffident

adj: Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.

adj: Lacking self-confidence; timid; modest

1. adj: She was diffident when presenting her project, speaking quietly and avoiding eye contact.

2. adj: His diffident manner made it difficult for him to network at the conference.

3. adj: The diffident student hesitated to raise her hand during the discussion.

dilatory

adj: Relating to dilation; dilative

adj: Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision.

adj: Slow or tardy.

1. adj: The lawyer's dilatory tactics frustrated the court proceedings.

2. adj: Her dilatory response to the urgent email caused the project to miss its deadline.

3. adj: His dilatory attitude towards his studies worried his parents.

equivocate

v: To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead.

v: To render equivocal or ambiguous.

1. v: The politician seemed to equivocate when asked about his stance on the controversial issue.

2. v: Rather than giving a straightforward answer, she chose to equivocate to avoid revealing her true intentions.

3. v: The spokesperson equivocated the company's future plans, leaving investors uncertain and wary.

polarize

v: To cause to have a polarization

v: To cause a group to be divided into extremes

1. The debate over the new policy served to polarize the community, leaving little room for middle ground.

2. The magnetic field will polarize the light, affecting its direction and properties.

3. The controversial statement by the politician polarized the voters, leading to increased tensions.

prodigal

n: a prodigal person, a spendthrift

adj: wastefully extravagant

adj: profuse, lavishly abundant

1. n: The young heir was known to be a prodigal, squandering his inheritance on reckless ventures.

2. adj: Her prodigal spending on designer clothes left her in significant debt by the end of the month.

3. adj: The garden was a prodigal display of colorful flowers and lush greenery, captivating everyone who saw it.

verbose

adj: Abounding in words, containing more words than necessary; long-winded.

adj: Producing unusually detailed output for diagnostic purposes.

1. The professor's verbose lecture made it difficult for students to follow his main points.

2. Tim's verbose writing style often detracts from the clarity of his arguments.

3. The verbose output from the diagnostic tool provided more information than the technician needed.

abstain

v: Keep or withhold oneself.

v: Refrain from (something or doing something); keep from doing, especially an indulgence.

v: Fast (not eat for a period).

1. Despite the tempting array of desserts, she decided to abstain.

2. Many choose to abstain from alcohol for health reasons.

3. During the religious period, followers may abstain from certain foods.

approbation

n: The act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval, sanction, commendation or official recognition.

1. The CEO's speech received widespread approbation from the employees.

2. The artist sought approbation from his peers for his latest work.

3. The committee's approbation of the new policy boosted team morale.

cherish

v: To treat with affection, care, and tenderness; to nurture or protect with care.

v: To have a deep appreciation of; to hold dear.

v: To cheer, to gladden.

1. v: She will always cherish the memories of her childhood.

2. v: He cherished the rare book collection he inherited from his grandfather.

3. v: The coach's encouraging words cherished the spirit of the young athletes.

corroborate

v: To confirm or support something with additional evidence; to attest or vouch for.

v: To make strong; to strengthen.

1. The witness was called to corroborate the defendant's alibi.

2. The scientist's experiment sought to corroborate her earlier findings.

3. His unwavering confidence helped to corroborate the team's morale.

disparate

n: Any of a group of unequal or dissimilar things.

adj: Composed of inherently different or distinct elements; incongruous.

adj: Essentially different; of different species, unlike but not opposed in pairs; incapable of being compared.

1. n: The collection included a disparate of artifacts from various ancient civilizations.

2. adj: The committee members had disparate opinions on the proposed policy changes.

3. adj: The twins had disparate interests, one preferring sports while the other loved painting.

emulate

v: To attempt to equal or be the same as.

v: To copy or imitate, especially a person.

v: To feel a rivalry with; to be jealous of, to envy.

adj: Striving to excel; ambitious; emulous.

1. v: She tried to emulate her older sister's success in academics.

2. v: Many young athletes emulate their sports heroes.

3. adj: His emulative nature drove him to consistently outperform his peers.

enervate

v: To reduce strength or energy; debilitate.

v: To weaken morally or mentally.

adj: Made feeble; weakened.

1. v: The long hours of work enervate even the most dedicated employees.

2. v: The tragic news seemed to enervate her spirit for weeks.

3. adj: After the intense workout, he felt completely enervate and could barely move.

ephemeral

n: Something which lasts for a short period of time.

adj: Lasting for a short period of time.

adj: Existing for only one day, as with some flowers, insects, and diseases.

1. n: The joy she felt was an ephemeral, quickly replaced by worry.

2. adj: The ephemeral beauty of the sunset took his breath away.

3. adj: Many insects have ephemeral lives, living and dying within a single day.

fervid

adj: Intensely hot, emotional, or zealous.

1. adj: The fervid debate lasted for hours, with each side passionately defending their position.

2. adj: Her fervid love for classical music was evident in her extensive vinyl collection.

3. adj: They launched a fervid campaign to raise awareness about the environmental crisis.

garrulous

adj: Excessively or tiresomely talkative.

adj: (of something written or performed) Excessively wordy and rambling.

1. Everyone avoided sitting next to the garrulous man at the party because they knew he'd never stop talking.

2. Her garrulous nature made meetings drag on much longer than they needed to.

3. The novel's garrulous prose made it difficult to stay engaged with the story.