HMH Critical Vocabulary Words

evident

Clearly understandable or obvious.

Etymology: From Latin evidens "visible, clear, obvious," from e- "out" + videns "seeing." (ca. late 14c)

Synonyms: apparent, obvious, clear, manifest, plain, visible

Antonyms: hidden, obscure, unclear, doubtful, concealed

Example Sentence: It was evident from her smile that she was happy.

factor

1. A circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result or outcome.

2. One of two or more numbers or expressions that are multiplied together to get a product.

Etymology: From Latin factor "a doer, maker," from facere "to do, make." (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: element, component, constituent, determinant, cause, aspect

Antonyms: result, product (when referring to cause and effect)

Example Sentence: Good communication is a key factor in a successful relationship.

indicate

Point out or show something; be a sign or symptom of.

Etymology: From Latin indicare "to point out, disclose, make known," from in- "in" + dicare "to proclaim, dedicate." (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: show, point to, signify, denote, suggest, reveal, imply

Antonyms: conceal, hide, disregard, suppress

Example Sentence: The fever and rash indicate a possible infection.

similar

Resembling without being identical; having a likeness or resemblance.

Etymology: From French similaire, from Latin similaris "like, resembling," from similis "like." (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: alike, comparable, analogous, parallel, matching, much the same

Antonyms: different, dissimilar, unlike, disparate, distinct

Example Sentence: The two paintings were remarkably similar in style and theme.

specific

Clearly defined or identified; precise and exact.

Etymology: From Latin specificus "particular, special," from species "kind, sort." (ca. mid 17c)

Synonyms: precise, exact, particular, distinct, definite, explicit

Antonyms: general, vague, imprecise, broad, ambiguous

Example Sentence: Please give me specific instructions on how to complete the task.

solution

1. A means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.

2. A liquid mixture in which the minor component (the solute) is uniformly distributed within the major component (the solvent).

Etymology: From Latin solutio "a loosening, a release," from solvere "to loosen, untie, dissolve." (ca. late 14c for chemical sense, mid 16c for answer to problem)

Synonyms: answer, resolution, remedy, key, fix, mixture (chemical)

Antonyms: problem, difficulty, complication, predicament

Example Sentence: They worked together to find a solution to the complex math problem.

responsibility

The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.

Etymology: From French responsabilité, from Latin responsum "an answer." (ca. late 18c)

Synonyms: duty, obligation, accountability, burden, liability, trust

Antonyms: irresponsibility, unaccountability, freedom, impunity

Example Sentence: It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your students.

stammer

Speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat initial letters of words.

Etymology: From Middle English stamelen, a frequentative of Old English stamur "stammering." Related to Old High German stamalon. (ca. late 14c)

Synonyms: stutter, hesitate, falter, mumble, stumble

Antonyms: articulate, enunciate clearly, speak fluently

Example Sentence: He would often stammer when he was nervous or excited.

fume

1. Emit gas or vapor.

2. Feel, show, or express great anger.

Etymology: From Latin fumus "smoke, steam, vapor." (ca. early 15c for smoke sense, late 16c for anger sense)

Synonyms: smoke, reek, smolder, rage, seethe, boil

Antonyms: exhale (for gas), calm, soothe, cheer (for anger)

Example Sentence: The driver began to fume when he got stuck in traffic.

activate

Make something active or operative.

Etymology: From Latin actus "a doing, deed" + -ate. (ca. late 19c)

Synonyms: start, operate, trigger, enable, initiate, engage

Antonyms: deactivate, stop, disable, turn off, switch off

Example Sentence: The alarm clock will activate at 7 AM.

turbulence

Violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or of some other fluid.

Etymology: From Latin turbulentia "disorder, confusion," from turbulentus "full of commotion, disordered." (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: choppiness, agitation, disturbance, commotion, instability, disarray

Antonyms: calm, stillness, tranquility, smoothness, order

Example Sentence: The airplane experienced severe turbulence during the storm.

trigger

1. A small lever that activates a mechanism (e.g., a gun's firing mechanism).

2. An event or circumstance that is the cause of a particular action, process, or situation.

Etymology: From Dutch trekker "puller," from trekken "to draw, pull." (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: activate, initiate, cause, provoke, set off, instigate

Antonyms: prevent, stop, suppress, halt, inhibit

Example Sentence: Loud noises often trigger his migraines.

immaturity

The state of being immature; lack of full natural development.

Etymology: From Latin immaturus "untimely, unripe" + -ity. (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: childishness, youthfulness, puerility, unripeness, greenness

Antonyms: maturity, ripeness, adulthood, sophistication

Example Sentence: His immaturity prevented him from taking the situation seriously.

amygdala

A roughly almond-shaped mass of grey matter inside each cerebral hemisphere, involved with the experience of emotions, especially fear and aggression.

Etymology: From Greek amygdale "almond." (ca. late 18c)

Synonyms: emotional center (of the brain), fear center (of the brain)

Antonyms: (No direct antonym for a specific brain part. Can be contrasted with other brain functions like prefrontal cortex for rational thought.)

Example Sentence: The amygdala plays a crucial role in our fear response.

inconvenient

Causing trouble, difficulties, or discomfort.

Etymology: From Latin inconveniens "not suitable, inappropriate," from in- "not" + conveniens "fitting." (ca. mid 16c)

Synonyms: awkward, troublesome, difficult, untimely, bothersome, disruptive

Antonyms: convenient, opportune, handy, suitable, easy

Example Sentence: It was very inconvenient for me to reschedule my appointment at such short notice.

undemocratic

Not in accordance with or supporting democratic principles or practice.

Etymology: From Latin un- "not" + Greek demos "people" + kratos "power." (ca. mid 19c)

Synonyms: authoritarian, autocratic, tyrannical, despotic, unfair, repressive

Antonyms: democratic, fair, equitable, representative, just

Example Sentence: Many viewed the government's decision as undemocratic and unjust.

misquote

Quote something incorrectly.

Etymology: From Latin mis- "wrongly" + cotare "to number, sum up." (ca. mid 18c)

Synonyms: misrepresent, distort, garble, pervert, falsify

Antonyms: quote accurately, cite correctly, state precisely

Example Sentence: The journalist decided to misquote the politician to make the headline more sensational.

essential

Absolutely necessary or important.

Etymology: From Latin essentia "being, essence." (ca. late 14c)

Synonyms: vital, crucial, indispensable, fundamental, key, core

Antonyms: unnecessary, peripheral, inessential, superfluous, optional

Example Sentence: Water is essential for human survival.

amplify

1. Increase the volume of (sound), especially using an amplifier.

2. Enlarge upon or add detail to (a story or statement).

Etymology: From Latin amplificare "to enlarge, widen," from amplus "large." (ca. early 15c)

Synonyms: magnify, boost, intensify, augment, expand, elaborate

Antonyms: diminish, reduce, decrease, soften, condense, shorten

Example Sentence: The microphone helped to amplify the speaker's voice so everyone could hear.

generate

Produce or create something.

Etymology: From Latin generare "to beget, produce," from genus "birth, race, kind." (ca. late 16c)

Synonyms: create, produce, make, form, engender, cause

Antonyms: destroy, terminate, abolish, consume, deplete

Example Sentence: The new factory will generate many jobs for the community.

humiliation

The action of humiliating someone or the state of being humiliated.

Etymology: From Latin humiliatio "a humbling," from humiliare "to humble." (ca. early 16c)

Synonyms: embarrassment, shame, degradation, disgrace, mortification, abasement

Antonyms: honor, glory, pride, respect, exaltation, triumph

Example Sentence: She felt intense humiliation after tripping on stage in front of everyone.

prefrontal cortex

The part of the brain located at the very front of the frontal lobe, involved in complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behavior.

Etymology: From Latin prae- "before" + frons "forehead" + cortex "bark." (ca. late 19c)

Synonyms: (No direct synonyms, it's a specific brain region. Can be described as the executive control center of the brain.)

Antonyms: (No direct antonym for a specific brain part. Often contrasted with the amygdala for emotional responses.)

Example Sentence: The prefrontal cortex is crucial for planning and impulse control.

murky

Dark and gloomy, especially due to thick mist; (of water) clouded with sediment.

Etymology: From Middle English merke "darkness," akin to Old Norse myrkr "dark." (ca. late 14c)

Synonyms: dark, gloomy, obscure, cloudy, foggy, dim, opaque

Antonyms: clear, bright, luminous, lucid, transparent

Example Sentence: The diver struggled to see in the murky depths of the lake.

rivulet

A very small stream.

Etymology: From Italian rivoletto, diminutive of rivo "stream," from Latin rivus. (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: streamlet, brooklet, runnel, tricklet, rill

Antonyms: river, torrent, flood, ocean

Example Sentence: A small rivulet of water trickled down the smooth rock face.

cascade

1. A small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope.

2. A process whereby something, typically information or knowledge, is successively passed on.

Etymology: From Italian cascata "a waterfall," from cascare "to fall." (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: waterfall, cataract, torrent, series, sequence, outpouring

Antonyms: trickle, drip, stagnation

Example Sentence: Her hair fell in a beautiful cascade over her shoulders.

precipice

A very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one.

Etymology: From Latin praecipitium "a steep place," from praeceps "headlong." (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: cliff, bluff, scarp, crag, escarpment, brink

Antonyms: valley, plain, flatland, ascent

Example Sentence: They stood at the edge of the precipice, gazing down into the canyon.

winced

Give a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of pain or distress.

Etymology: From Old French guenchir "to turn aside, recoil." (ca. mid 13c)

Synonyms: flinched, grimaced, recoiled, cringed, shuddered, squirmed

Antonyms: faced, endured, braved, welcomed

Example Sentence: He winced as the doctor poked the sore muscle.

scoffed

Speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way.

Etymology: From Old Norse skaufr "jest, mockery." (ca. late 14c)

Synonyms: mocked, sneered, ridiculed, derided, made fun of, gibed

Antonyms: praised, commended, applauded, respected, believed, taken seriously

Example Sentence: She scoffed at his ridiculous suggestion.

parallel

1. (Of lines, planes, or surfaces) side by side and having the same distance continuously between them.

2. Equivalent to or analogous to something else.

Etymology: From Greek parallēlos "beside one another," from para- "beside" + allēlois "one another." (ca. mid 16c)

Synonyms: analogous, corresponding, equivalent, alongside, similar, comparable

Antonyms: divergent, perpendicular, converging, dissimilar, different

Example Sentence: The two roads run parallel to each other for several miles.

reliable

Consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted.

Etymology: From rely + -able. (ca. early 17c)

Synonyms: trustworthy, dependable, consistent, faithful, credible, steady

Antonyms: unreliable, untrustworthy, erratic, inconsistent, dubious

Example Sentence: She is a very reliable employee who always finishes her tasks on time.

credible

Able to be believed; convincing.

Etymology: From Latin credibilis "worthy of belief," from credere "to believe." (ca. early 15c)

Synonyms: believable, plausible, convincing, trustworthy, probable, authentic

Antonyms: incredible, unbelievable, implausible, dubious, untrustworthy

Example Sentence: The witness provided a credible account of the accident.

benefit

1. An advantage or profit gained from something.

2. Receive an advantage; profit.

Etymology: From Latin bene "well" + facere "to do." (ca. late 14c)

Synonyms: advantage, gain, profit, good, aid, welfare

Antonyms: disadvantage, drawback, detriment, harm, loss

Example Sentence: Regular exercise has many health benefits.

distinct

Clearly separate and different from each other.

Etymology: From Latin distinctus "separate, different," past participle of distinguere "to distinguish." (ca. early 15c)

Synonyms: separate, different, discrete, individual, clear, evident

Antonyms: indistinct, similar, identical, vague, confused, obscure

Example Sentence: The twins had distinct personalities despite looking alike.

environment

1. The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.

2. The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area.

Etymology: From Old French environ "around" + -ment. (ca. mid 17c)

Synonyms: surroundings, habitat, milieu, setting, ecosystem, atmosphere

Antonyms: (No direct antonym, refers to context or surrounding conditions)

Example Sentence: Protecting our natural environment is crucial for future generations.

illustrate

1. Provide (a book, newspaper, etc.) with pictures.

2. Explain or make clear by using examples, charts, etc.

Etymology: From Latin illustrare "to light up, make clear," from in- "in" + lustrare "to purify, make bright." (ca. mid 16c)

Synonyms: demonstrate, exemplify, explain, clarify, depict, show

Antonyms: obscure, confuse, obfuscate, conceal, hide

Example Sentence: The professor used a diagram to illustrate his point.

respond

Say something in reply; react positively or in a desired way.

Etymology: From Latin respondere "to answer, correspond to," from re- "back" + spondere "to promise." (ca. late 14c)

Synonyms: answer, reply, retort, react, reciprocate, acknowledge

Antonyms: ignore, disregard, abstain, overlook, provoke (as an action without reply)

Example Sentence: Please respond to my email by the end of the day.