College-Level Words #1

Nuance (n.)

• Definition(s): A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound. A subtle quality.

• Synonyms: subtlety, shade, distinction, gradation, refinement

• Antonyms: obviousness, bluntness, simplicity

• Example Sentences:

  • The painter's use of light and shadow created a beautiful nuance in the portrait.

Epistemology (n.)

• Definition(s): The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. The investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

• Synonyms: philosophy of knowledge, theory of knowledge

• Antonyms: N/A (as it's a specific philosophical field)

• Example Sentences:

  • In philosophy class, we debated the central questions of epistemology: how do we know what we know?

  • His thesis explored the epistemology of scientific discovery, questioning whether new knowledge is found or created.

Profligate (adj. or n.)

• Definition(s):

  • (adj.) Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.

  • (n.) A person who is recklessly extravagant or wasteful.

• Synonyms: wasteful, extravagant, prodigal, spendthrift, improvident

• Antonyms: thrifty, frugal, economical, provident

• Example Sentences:

  • The company's profligate spending on unnecessary led to its bankruptcy.

Assiduous (adj.)

• Definition(s): Showing great care, attention, and perseverance.

• Synonyms: diligent, industrious, meticulous, painstaking, sedulous

• Antonyms: lazy, careless, nonchalant, indolent

• Example Sentences:

  • Through assiduous study, he mastered the complex subject matter.

  • The project requires an assiduous effort from everyone on the team.

Austerity (n.)

• Definition(s): Sternness or severity of manner or attitude; extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance; difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce public expenditure.

• Synonyms: severity, strictness, rigor, solemnity, starkness

• Antonyms: luxury, opulence, flamboyance, indulgence

• Example Sentences:

  • Following the economic crisis, the government imposed a period of fiscal austerity

Pernicious (adj.)

• Definition(s): Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

• Synonyms: harmful, destructive, damaging, ruinous, deleterious

• Antonyms: beneficial, harmless, benign, salubrious

• Example Sentences:

  • The spread of fake news has a pernicious effect on a functioning democracy.

  • He was unaware of the pernicious influence his friends were having on his academic performance.

Celerity (n.)

• Definition(s): Rapid of movement.

• Synonyms: speed, rapidity, alacrity, dispatch, swiftness

• Antonyms: slowness, sluggishness, lethargy

• Example Sentences:

  • The emergency services responded with impressive celerity to the accident.

  • He completed the assignment with such celerity that he had the rest of the day to relax.

Didactic (adj.)

• Definition(s): Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

• Synonyms: educational, instructional, informative, moralistic, preachy

• Antonyms: unsystematic, uninstructive

• Example Sentences:

  • The novel was criticized for its overly didactic tone, which made the characters feel like puppets for the author's moral lessons.

  • He was an engaging speaker, but his presentation was a bit too didactic for the casual audience.

Salient (adj.)

• Definition(s): Most noticeable or important. Prominent.

• Synonyms: important, primary, main, principal, prominent

• Antonyms: insignificant, minor, inconspicuous, unimportant

• Example Sentences:

  • The salient points of the lecture were highlighted in the professor's notes.

  • The most salient feature of the building was its large, glass dome.

Axiom (n.)

• Definition(s): A statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.

• Synonyms: postulate, truism, fundamental, principle, maxim

• Antonyms: absurdity, paradox, contradiction

• Example Sentences:

  • The professor began the physics lesson with the fundamental axiom that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

  • It is a widely accepted axiom in business that the customer is always right.

Cognizant (adj.)

• Definition(s): Having knowledge or being aware of something.

• Synonyms: aware, conscious, mindful, informed, perceptive

• Antonyms: ignorant, oblivious, unaware, unconscious

• Example Sentences:

  • The company was not cognizant of the impending financial crisis until it was too late.

  • As a student leader, he was cognizant of the various challenges facing his peers.

Ubiquitous (adj.)

• Definition(s): Present, appearing, or found everywhere.

• Synonyms: pervasive, universal, everywhere

• Antonyms: rare, scarce, limited, infrequent

• Example Sentences:

  • In today's digital age, smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of everyday life.

  • His influence on modern art is ubiquitous, seen in the work of countless other painters.

Verisimilitude (n.)

• Definition(s): The appearance of being true or real.

• Synonyms: realism, authenticity, plausibility, credibility

• Antonyms: implausibility, artificiality, unreality

• Example Sentences:

  • The special effects in the film had such verisimilitude that the audience forgot they were not watching real events.

  • The author's detailed descriptions gave the fictional world a remarkable verisimilitude.

Enervate (v.)

• Definition(s): To cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken.

• Synonyms: exhaust, fatigue, drain, debilitate, weaken

• Antonyms: invigorate, energize, revitalize, strengthen

• Example Sentences:

  • The long, humid hike began to enervate even the most experienced climbers.

  • A lack of sleep can enervate a student's ability to focus and learn.

Eschew (v.)

• Definition(s): To deliberately avoid using.

• Synonyms: renounce, abandon, refrain from, spurn

• Antonyms: embrace, welcome, seek, pursue

• Example Sentences:

  • He chose to eschew a life of luxury and devote himself to serving the poor.

  • To write a clear essay, one should eschew unnecessary jargon.