Index of Word Meanings
1:
tether
/ˈtɛðə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: tether; 3rd person present: tethers; past tense: tethered; past participle: tethered; gerund or present participle: tethering
1.
tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement.
"the horse had been tethered to a post"
h
Similar:
tie
tie up
hitch
rope
chain
fasten
secure
bind
fetter
shackle
restrain
Opposite:
unleash
release
2.
use (a smartphone) in order to connect a computer or other device to the internet.
"check if Wi-Fi access is free in the lobby or tether your phone"
noun
noun: tether; plural noun: tethers
a rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement.
"regulations banning neck and girth tethers for sows"
h
Similar:
rope
chain
cord
lead
leash
fetter
restraint
halter
---
2:
contempt
/kənˈtɛm(p)t/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: contempt
the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
"Pam stared at the girl with total contempt"
h
Similar:
scorn
disdain
disrespect
deprecation
disparagement
denigration
opprobrium
odium
obloquy
scornfulness
derision
mockery
ridicule
disgust
loathing
detestation
abhorrence
hatred
contumely
h
Opposite:
respect
disregard for something that should be considered.
"this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority"
h
Similar:
disrespect
disregard
slighting
neglect
contumacy
h
Opposite:
respect
the offence of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers.
plural noun: contempts; noun: contempt of court; plural noun: contempts of court
"when he was found to have lied to the House this was a contempt"
Phrases
beneath contempt
utterly worthless or despicable. "tawdry trash that is beneath contempt"
hold in contempt
judge (someone) to have committed the offence of contempt of court. "the advocate was held in contempt for subpoenaing the judge"
Origin
late Middle English: from Latin contemptus, from contemnere (see contemn).
hold in contempt
phrase of contempt
judge (someone) to have committed the offence of contempt of court.
"the advocate was held in contempt for subpoenaing the judge"
consider (someone or something) to be unworthy of respect or attention.
"the speed limit is held in contempt by many drivers"
---
3:
bereft
/bɪˈrɛft/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: bereft
1.
deprived of or lacking (something).
"her room was stark and bereft of colour"
h
Similar:
deprived of
robbed of
stripped of
denuded of
cut off from
parted from
devoid of
destitute of
bankrupt of
wanting
in need of
lacking
without
free from
low on
short of
deficient in
minus
sans
clean out of
fresh out of
2.
(of a person) sad and lonely, especially through someone's death or departure.
"his death in 1990 left her bereft"
Origin
late 16th century: archaic past participle of bereave.
Translate bereft to
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4:
vociferously
/və(ʊ)ˈsɪf(ə)rəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: vociferously
in a loud and forceful manner.
"the country vociferously opposed the war"
---
5:
egalitarian
/ɪˌɡalɪˈtɛːrɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: egalitarian
believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
"a fairer, more egalitarian society"
noun
noun: egalitarian; plural noun: egalitarians
a person who advocates or supports the principle of equality for all people.
"he was a social and political egalitarian"
Origin
late 19th century: from French égalitaire, from égal ‘equal’, from Latin aequalis (see equal).
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6:
proliferation
/prəlɪfəˈreɪʃn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: proliferation
rapid increase in the number or amount of something.
"a continuing threat of nuclear proliferation"
rapid reproduction of a cell, part, or organism.
"we attempted to measure cell proliferation"
h
Similar:
rapid increase
growth
multiplication
spread
escalation
expansion
build-up
buildout
burgeoning
snowballing
mushrooming
h
Opposite:
decrease
a large number of something.
"stress levels are high, forcing upon them a proliferation of ailments"
Origin
mid 19th century: from French prolifération, from prolifère ‘proliferous’.
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7:
tenaciously
/tɪˈneɪʃəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: tenaciously
with a firm hold of something; closely.
"he tenaciously gripped the struts to keep from falling"
in a determined or unwavering manner.
"people fought tenaciously to have the school restored"
---
8:
recalcitrant
/rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: recalcitrant
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.
"a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds"
h
Similar:
uncooperative
obstinately disobedient
intractable
unmanageable
ungovernable
refractory
insubordinate
defiant
rebellious
mutinous
wilful
wayward
headstrong
self-willed
contrary
perverse
difficult
awkward
obdurate
bloody-minded
bolshie
stroppy
contumacious
froward
renitent
pervicacious
h
Opposite:
amenable
docile
compliant
noun
noun: recalcitrant; plural noun: recalcitrants
a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude.
"a stiff-necked recalcitrant and troublemaker"
Origin
mid 19th century: from Latin recalcitrant- ‘kicking out with the heels’, from the verb recalcitrare, based on calx, calc- ‘heel’.
---
9:
familial
/fəˈmɪljəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: familial
relating to or occurring in a family or its members.
"familial relationships"
Origin
mid 19th century: from French, from Latin familia ‘family’.
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10:
quotidian
/kwɒˈtɪdɪən,kwəʊˈtɪdɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: quotidian
1.
of or occurring every day; daily.
"the car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic"
ordinary or everyday; mundane.
"his story is an achingly human one, mired in quotidian details"
h
Similar:
daily
everyday
occurring each/every day
day-to-day
diurnal
circadian
ordinary
average
normal
run-of-the-mill
standard
typical
middle-of-the-road
common
conventional
mainstream
unremarkable
unexceptional
unpretentious
modest
plain
simple
workaday
undistinguished
nondescript
characterless
colourless
commonplace
humdrum
mundane
unmemorable
pedestrian
prosaic
uninteresting
uneventful
dull
boring
uninspiring
homely
homespun
common or garden
garden-variety
OK
so-so
bog-standard
nothing to write home about
a dime a dozen
no great shakes
not up to much
ornery
h
Opposite:
unusual
exciting
2.
Medicine
denoting the malignant form of malaria.
Origin
Middle English: via Old French from Latin quotidianus, earlier cotidianus, from cotidie ‘daily’.
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11:
unsullied
/ʌnˈsʌlɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: unsullied
not spoiled or made impure.
"an unsullied reputation"
h
Similar:
spotless
untarnished
unblemished
untainted
impeccable
undamaged
unspoiled
unimpaired
undefiled
stainless
intact
perfect
---
12:
culpability
/ˌkʌlpəˈbɪlɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: culpability
responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame.
"a level of moral culpability"
h
---
13:
shibboleth
/ˈʃɪbəlɛθ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: shibboleth; plural noun: shibboleths
a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important.
"the majority, under the influence of vague nineteenth-century shibboleths, understood him to be associating himself with the doctrine that every nation has a right to be a sovereign state"
Origin
mid 17th century: from Hebrew šibbōleṯ ‘ear of corn’, used as a test of nationality by its difficult pronunciation (Judg. 12:6).
---
14:
proximal
/ˈprɒksɪm(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: proximal
Anatomy
situated nearer to the centre of the body or the point of attachment.
"the proximal end of the forearm"
Geology
relating to or denoting an area close to a centre of a geological process such as sedimentation or volcanism.
Origin
early 19th century (as a term in anatomy and zoology): from Latin proximus ‘nearest’ + -al. In geology, usage dates from the 1940s.
---
15:
ignoble
/ɪɡˈnəʊb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: ignoble; comparative adjective: ignobler; superlative adjective: ignoblest
1.
not honourable in character or purpose.
"ignoble feelings of intense jealousy"
h
Similar:
dishonourable
unworthy
base
shameful
contemptible
despicable
shabby
abject
low
sordid
degraded
corrupt
mean
wrong
improper
unprincipled
unchivalrous
uncharitable
discreditable
blameworthy
reprehensible
h
Opposite:
noble
2.
of humble origin or social status.
---
16:
savage
/ˈsavɪdʒ/
adjective
adjective: savage
1.
(of an animal or force of nature) fierce, violent, and uncontrolled.
"packs of savage dogs roamed the streets"
h
Similar:
ferocious
fierce
wild
untamed
undomesticated
feral
predatory
ravening
h
Opposite:
tame
cruel and vicious; aggressively hostile.
"a savage attack on the government"
h
Similar:
vicious
brutal
cruel
sadistic
ferocious
fierce
violent
bloody
murderous
homicidal
bloodthirsty
bestial
brutish
barbaric
barbarous
merciless
ruthless
pitiless
heartless
inhuman
harsh
callous
cold-blooded
fell
sanguinary
blistering
scathing
searing
stinging
devastating
mordant
trenchant
caustic
cutting
biting
withering
virulent
vitriolic
h
Opposite:
mild
gentle
2.
(of something bad or negative) very great; severe.
"the decision was a savage blow for the town"
h
Similar:
severe
crushing
devastating
crippling
terrible
awful
dreadful
dire
catastrophic
calamitous
ruinous
mortal
lethal
fatal
3.
offensive•dated
(of a person or group) primitive and uncivilized.
"a savage race"
h
Similar:
primitive
uncivilized
unenlightened
in a state of nature
heathen
wild
barbarian
barbarous
barbaric
rude
h
Opposite:
civilized
(of a place) wild-looking and inhospitable; uncultivated.
h
Similar:
rugged
rough
wild
inhospitable
uninhabitable
noun
noun: savage; plural noun: savages
1.
a brutal or vicious person.
"the mother of one of the victims has described his assailants as savages"
h
Similar:
brute
beast
monster
barbarian
ogre
demon
sadist
animal
2.
offensive•dated
a member of a people regarded as primitive and uncivilized.
h
Similar:
barbarian
wild man
wild woman
primitive
heathen
cannibal
3.
Heraldry
a representation of a bearded and semi-naked man with a wreath of leaves.
verb
verb: savage; 3rd person present: savages; past tense: savaged; past participle: savaged; gerund or present participle: savaging
(especially of a dog or wild animal) attack ferociously and maul.
"police are rounding up dogs after a girl was savaged"
h
Similar:
maul
attack
tear to pieces
lacerate
claw
bite
mutilate
mangle
worry
subject to a vicious verbal attack; criticize brutally.
"he savaged the government for wasting billions in their failed bid to prop up the pound"
h
Similar:
criticize severely
attack
lambast
condemn
flay
shoot down
pillory
revile
jump on
tear to pieces
take to pieces
take/pull apart
lay into
pitch into
hammer
slam
bash
do a hatchet job on
crucify
give something a battering
roast
skewer
throw brickbats at
knock
slate
rubbish
slag off
monster
bad-mouth
pummel
trash
bag
give someone bondi
excoriate
slash
h
Opposite:
praise
commend
applaud
Origin
Middle English: from Old French sauvage ‘wild’, from Latin silvaticus ‘of the woods’, from silva ‘a wood’.
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17:
denizen
/ˈdɛnɪz(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: denizens
formal•humorous
a person, animal, or plant that lives or is found in a particular place.
"denizens of field and forest"
h
Similar:
inhabitant
resident
townsman
townswoman
native
local
occupier
occupant
dweller
local yokel
burgher
burgess
habitant
residentiary
oppidan
indweller
historical•British
a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country.
Origin
late Middle English deynseyn, via Anglo-Norman French from Old French deinz ‘within’ (from Latin de ‘from’ + intus ‘within’) + -ein (from Latin -aneus ‘-aneous’). The change in the form of the word was due to association with citizen.
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18:
indigenous
/ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: indigenous
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
"the indigenous peoples of Siberia"
h
Similar:
native
aboriginal
local
original
earliest
first
initial
ancient
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19:
astray
/əˈstreɪ/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: astray
1.
away from the correct path or direction.
"we went astray but a man redirected us"
h
Similar:
off target
wide of the mark
wide
awry
off course
off track
off the right track
adrift
off beam
2.
into error or morally questionable behaviour.
"he was led astray by boozy colleagues"
h
Similar:
into wrongdoing
into error
into sin
into iniquity
off the rails
Phrases
go astray — (of an object) become lost or mislaid.
"the money had gone astray"
Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘distant from the correct path’): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French estraie, past participle of estraier, based on Latin extra ‘out of bounds’ + vagari ‘wander’.
go astray
phrase of astray
(of an object) become lost or mislaid.
"the money had gone astray"
---
20:
incisive
/ɪnˈsʌɪsɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: incisive
1.
(of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking.
"she was an incisive critic"
h
Similar:
penetrating
acute
sharp
sharp-witted
razor-sharp
keen
rapier-like
astute
shrewd
trenchant
piercing
perceptive
insightful
percipient
perspicacious
discerning
analytical
intelligent
canny
clever
smart
quick
concise
succinct
pithy
to the point
crisp
clear
punchy
on the ball
heads-up
argute
sapient
h
Opposite:
rambling
vague
(of an account) accurate and sharply focused.
"the songs offer incisive pictures of American ways"
2.
(of an action) quick and direct.
"the most incisive move of a tight match"
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘cutting, penetrating’): from medieval Latin incisivus, from Latin incidere ‘cut into’ (see incise).
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21:
doughy
/ˈdəʊi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: doughy; comparative adjective: doughier; superlative adjective: doughiest
(of food) having a thick, malleable consistency.
"doughy white bread"
(of a person) pale and rather fat.
"a pasty, doughy, chubby white kid from the suburbs"
---
22:
infantilism
/ɪnˈfantɪlɪz(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: infantilism
childish behaviour.
"his comedy is a blend of slapstick and sentimental infantilism"
Psychology
the persistence of infantile characteristics or behaviour in adult life.
---
23:
predicament
/prɪˈdɪkəm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: predicament; plural noun: predicaments
1.
a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
"the club's financial predicament"
h
Similar:
difficult situation
awkward situation
mess
difficulty
problematic situation
issue
plight
quandary
trouble
muddle
mare's nest
crisis
hole
fix
jam
sticky situation
pickle
scrape
bind
tight spot/corner
spot
corner
dilemma
hot/deep water
kettle of fish
how-do-you-do
2.
(in Aristotelian logic) each of the ten ‘categories’, often listed as: substance or being, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, posture, having or possession, action, and passion.
Origin
late Middle English (in predicament (sense 2)): from late Latin praedicamentum ‘something predicated’ (rendering Greek katēgoria ‘category’), from Latin praedicare (see predicate). From the sense ‘category’ arose the sense ‘state of being, condition’; hence ‘unpleasant situation’.
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24:
pernicious
/pəˈnɪʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: pernicious
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
"the pernicious influences of the mass media"
h
Similar:
harmful
damaging
destructive
injurious
hurtful
detrimental
deleterious
dangerous
adverse
inimical
unhealthy
unfavourable
bad
evil
baleful
wicked
malign
malevolent
malignant
noxious
poisonous
cancerous
corrupting
ruinous
deadly
lethal
fatal
malefic
maleficent
pestilent
pestilential
baneful
pestiferous
h
Opposite:
beneficial
benign
favourable
Origin
late Middle English: from Latin perniciosus ‘destructive’, from pernicies ‘ruin’, based on nex, nec- ‘death’.
---
25:
contour
/ˈkɒntʊə/
Learn to pronounce
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mathematics
music
phonetics
cosmetics
transportation
noun
plural noun: contours
1.
an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something.
"she traced the contours of his face with her finger"
h
Similar:
outline
shape
form
lines
curves
figure
silhouette
profile
lineation
an outline of a natural feature such as a hill.
"the road climbs steadily, following the contours of the hillside"
short for contour line.
"below the 1200-ft contour is a belt of limestone"
a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value.
"the figure shows contours of 21-cm line emission of atomic hydrogen"
2.
a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance.
verb
3rd person present: contours
1.
mould into a specific shape, especially one designed to fit into something else.
"the compartment has been contoured with smooth rounded corners"
shade (an area or areas of the face) with make-up, typically foundation or bronzer, in such a way as to accentuate or enhance the facial shape or structure.
"I prefer to only contour my cheeks"
2.
mark (a map or diagram) with contour lines.
"a variety of different data sources have been compiled to contour the maps"
3.
(of a road or railway) follow the outline of (a topographical feature), especially along a contour line.
"the road contours the hillside"
Origin
mid 17th century: from French, from Italian contorno, from contornare ‘draw in outline’, from con- ‘together’ + tornare ‘to turn’.
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26:
troupe
/truːp/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: troupes
a group of dancers, actors, or other entertainers who tour to different venues.
"a dance troupe"
h
Similar:
group
company
band
ensemble
set
cast
Origin
early 19th century: from French, literally ‘troop’.
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27:
ornery
/ˈɔːnəri/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveinformal•North American
adjective: ornery
bad-tempered or difficult to deal with.
"an ornery old military man"
h
Similar:
grouchy
grumpy
cranky
crotchety
cantankerous
bad-tempered
ill-tempered
dyspeptic
irascible
waspish
Origin
early 19th century: variant of ordinary, representing a dialect pronunciation.
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28:
saddle
/ˈsad(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
See definitions in:
all
riding
racing
verb
past tense: saddled; past participle: saddled
1.
put a saddle on (a horse).
"he was in the stable saddling up his horse"
(of a trainer) enter (a horse) for a race.
"he saddles Native Mission in today's Tote Gold Trophy Hurdle at Newbury"
2.
burden (someone) with an onerous responsibility or task.
"he's saddled with debts of $12 million"
h
Similar:
burden
encumber
lumber
hamper
weigh down
land
charge
inflict something on
impose something on
thrust something on
unload something on
fob something off on to
Origin
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29:
capitulate
/kəˈpɪtjʊleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: capitulate; 3rd person present: capitulates; past tense: capitulated; past participle: capitulated; gerund or present participle: capitulating
cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; yield.
"the patriots had to capitulate to the enemy forces"
Similar:
surrender
give in
yield
admit defeat
concede defeat
give up the struggle
submit
back down
climb down
give way
cave in
succumb
crumble
bow to someone/something
relent
acquiesce
accede
come to terms
be beaten
be overcome
be overwhelmed
fall
lay down one's arms
raise/show the white flag
throw in the towel
throw in the sponge
Opposite:
resist
hold out
Origin
mid 16th century (in the sense ‘parley, draw up terms’): from French capituler, from medieval Latin capitulare ‘draw up under headings’, from Latin capitulum, diminutive of caput ‘head’.
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30:
stymie
/ˈstʌɪmi/
Learn to pronounce
verbinformal
past tense: stymied; past participle: stymied
prevent or hinder the progress of.
"the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments"
h
Similar:
impede
interfere with
hamper
hinder
obstruct
inhibit
frustrate
thwart
foil
spoil
stall
shackle
fetter
stop
check
block
cripple
handicap
scotch
put paid to
put the kibosh on
snooker
scupper
h
Opposite:
assist
help
Origin
mid 19th century (originally a golfing term, denoting a situation on the green where a ball obstructs the shot of another player): of unknown origin.
---
31:
degeneration
/dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: degeneration
the state or process of being or becoming degenerate; decline or deterioration.
"overgrazing has caused serious degeneration of grassland"
h
Similar:
deterioration
decline
decay
debasement
degradation
slide
sinking
descent
drop
regression
retrogression
lapse
atrophy
devolution
h
Opposite:
improvement
Medicine
deterioration and loss of function in the cells of a tissue or organ.
"degeneration of the muscle fibres"
---
32:
whiny
/ˈwʌɪni/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: whiny; adjective: whiney; comparative adjective: whinier; superlative adjective: whiniest
having a drawn-out, high-pitched, unpleasant sound.
"he speaks in a whiny, childish voice"
having a complaining tone.
"without wanting to sound whiny, it's quite hard work"
---
33:
treachery
/ˈtrɛtʃ(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: treachery; plural noun: treacheries
betrayal of trust.
"many died because of his treachery"
h
Similar:
betrayal
disloyalty
perfidy
perfidiousness
faithlessness
unfaithfulness
infidelity
bad faith
breach of trust
duplicity
deceit
deceitfulness
deception
false-heartedness
falseness
stab in the back
back-stabbing
double-dealing
untrustworthiness
treason
two-timing
Punic faith
h
Opposite:
loyalty
faithfulness
the quality of being deceptive.
"the treachery of language"
Origin
Middle English: from Old French trecherie, from trechier ‘to cheat’.
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34:
antics
/ˈantɪks/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: antics
foolish, outrageous, or amusing behaviour.
"the antics of our political parties"
h
Similar:
capers
amusing behaviour
pranks
larks
escapades
high jinks
skylarking
stunts
tricks
horseplay
romps
frolics
silliness
foolish behaviour
tomfoolery
foolery
clowning
buffoonery
monkey tricks
didoes
harlequinades
Origin
early 16th century: from antic.
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35:
recalcitrant
/rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/
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adjective
adjective: recalcitrant
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.
"a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds"
h
Similar:
uncooperative
obstinately disobedient
intractable
unmanageable
ungovernable
refractory
insubordinate
defiant
rebellious
mutinous
wilful
wayward
headstrong
self-willed
contrary
perverse
difficult
awkward
obdurate
bloody-minded
bolshie
stroppy
contumacious
froward
renitent
pervicacious
h
Opposite:
amenable
docile
compliant
noun
noun: recalcitrant; plural noun: recalcitrants
a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude.
"a stiff-necked recalcitrant and troublemaker"
Origin
mid 19th century: from Latin recalcitrant- ‘kicking out with the heels’, from the verb recalcitrare, based on calx, calc- ‘heel’.
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