terminology and Examples 2
"Precocious" describes a child who shows unusually advanced abilities or maturity at an early age.
The precocious child recited Shakespearean sonnets at age six.
Her precocious talent for mathematics amazed her teachers.
He was a precocious reader, finishing novels meant for adults before he turned ten.
The artist’s precocious creativity was evident in her early paintings.
Despite being only nine, his precocious understanding of politics impressed the panel.
"Premonition" is a strong feeling or sense that something, especially something bad, is about to happen.
She had a premonition that the trip would end in disaster.
His sudden unease felt like a premonition of bad news.
Before the storm hit, the sky gave him a premonition of danger.
The dream seemed like a premonition of the events to come.
He ignored the premonition and went ahead with the climb.
"Prevarication" is the act of evading the truth or being deliberately vague or misleading.
The witness’s prevarication frustrated the defense attorney.
Her constant prevarication made it hard to trust anything she said.
He was accused of prevarication during the investigation.
Prevarication in his testimony hinted that he was hiding something.
Instead of answering directly, she resorted to prevarication.
"Privations" are the hardships or lack of basic necessities, such as food, shelter, or comfort.
The refugees endured many privations during their long journey.
War brought years of hunger and other privations to the village.
Despite the privations, they remained hopeful and united.
Her memoir detailed the emotional and physical privations of captivity.
He spoke about the privations of life during the Great Depression.
"Prodigious" refers to something remarkably great in size, force, or extent, or impressively amazing.
The scientist made a prodigious discovery that changed medicine.
He had a prodigious appetite and could eat a whole pizza by himself.
Her prodigious memory allowed her to recall entire books.
The mountain’s prodigious height made the climb a challenge.
They achieved prodigious success within just one year of launching the product.
"Proffer" means to offer or present something for acceptance.
She decided to proffer her resignation before the meeting ended.
He politely refused the hand that was proffered in friendship.
They proffered a solution that addressed everyone's concerns.
The witness proffered new evidence that changed the outcome of the trial.
At the negotiation table, both sides proffered compromises.
"Profligate" describes someone who is recklessly wasteful or immoral, especially with money or resources.
The profligate heir squandered his entire fortune in a year.
Her profligate lifestyle eventually led to bankruptcy.
Critics condemned the profligate use of taxpayer funds on luxury items.
The novel portrayed a profligate character living without limits.
Even after the recession, some remained profligate with spending.
"Profuse" means given, produced, or existing in large amounts.
She offered profuse apologies for arriving late.
Blood flowed in profuse streams from the wound.
The garden was in profuse bloom after the spring rains.
His profuse compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
The host received profuse thanks for his generosity.
"Prognostication" refers to a prediction or forecast, especially about future events.
The economist's prognostication warned of a coming recession.
Ancient cultures relied on stars for prognostication.
His gloomy prognostication dampened the team’s optimism.
The weatherman's prognostication turned out to be accurate.
Political analysts offered various prognostications after the debate.
"Promulgated" means formally declared or made known, often in reference to laws or official policies.
The new safety regulations were promulgated last week.
The king promulgated a decree banning public gatherings.
Her ideas were quickly promulgated through social media.
The policy was promulgated to ensure equal treatment.
The constitution was promulgated after years of negotiation.
"Propensity" means a natural tendency or inclination to behave in a particular way.
She has a propensity to worry about the smallest details.
His propensity for taking risks often got him into trouble.
Children have a propensity to imitate what they see.
He showed a strong propensity toward leadership roles.
Their propensity to overspend led to financial issues.
"Propinquity" refers to physical closeness or the closeness of relationships.
The propinquity of their offices led to a quick friendship.
Despite their propinquity, the neighbors rarely spoke.
Propinquity often plays a role in forming romantic relationships.
The team’s propinquity during travel fostered unity.
Living in such close propinquity made privacy difficult.
"Propitious" means favorable or indicating a good chance of success.
The sunny weather was a propitious sign for the wedding.
They waited for a propitious moment to make their move.
Her timing was propitious, arriving just as help was needed.
The conditions were not propitious for launching a new product.
His speech came at a propitious time, calming the crowd.
"Propriety" means the state of conforming to accepted standards of behavior or morals.
She questioned the propriety of his casual tone during the meeting.
Propriety was expected at all formal events.
He behaved with utmost propriety at the dinner.
The committee debated the propriety of the decision.
Observing social propriety was important to her family.
"Pugnacious" means eager or quick to argue, fight, or quarrel.
His pugnacious attitude made collaboration difficult.
The debate turned hostile due to her pugnacious tone.
A pugnacious dog must be trained carefully.
His pugnacious nature often led to office conflicts.
The article criticized the politician’s pugnacious rhetoric.
"Puissant" means having great power or influence.
The king was a puissant ruler admired by his people.
Her puissant voice carried through the auditorium.
A puissant lobby influenced the new legislation.
The CEO’s decisions reflected his puissant position.
The general led his army with a puissant presence.
"Quandary" means a state of uncertainty or confusion, often about what to do.
She was in a quandary about whether to stay or leave.
His sudden resignation left the team in a quandary.
I found myself in a moral quandary during the discussion.
The company faced a financial quandary after the failed merger.
He admitted his quandary with a shrug and a sigh.
"Quarry" means a place where stone is extracted, or a person or animal being pursued.
The workers returned to the quarry before sunrise.
The lion stalked its quarry through the grass.
They spotted the quarry high in the mountains.
The detective closed in on his quarry after months of searching.
The film crew used an abandoned quarry for the set.
"Quell" means to suppress or put an end to something, often by force.
The troops were sent to quell the uprising.
She tried to quell her rising panic before the speech.
The teacher quelled the argument with a firm voice.
Authorities acted quickly to quell the rumors.
He took a deep breath to quell his anger.
"Quip" means a clever or witty remark.
He ended the meeting with a sarcastic quip.
Her quick quip made the audience laugh.
The article was filled with playful quips and puns.
He couldn't resist making a quip about her lateness.
Their banter was full of light-hearted quips.
“Raconteur” is a person who is skilled at telling engaging and amusing stories.
My grandfather was such a raconteur that everyone gathered around to hear his adventures.
The famous author proved to be a natural raconteur during her book tour.
As a raconteur, he could transform the dullest events into hilarious tales.
At every party, she became the center of attention because she was a gifted raconteur.
The raconteur captivated the audience with stories from his travels around the globe.
“Raiment” refers to clothing or garments that someone wears.
The king’s raiment shimmered with gold thread and precious jewels.
She chose simple raiment for the ceremony to avoid drawing attention.
The merchant sold fine raiment imported from distant lands.
The festival featured performers in colorful traditional raiment.
His worn raiment showed the hardships he had endured over the years.
“Raucous” describes a loud, harsh, and noisy sound or behavior.
The raucous laughter from the next table made it hard to concentrate.
Fans erupted in raucous cheers when their team scored the winning goal.
A raucous crowd filled the streets during the midnight celebration.
The comedian’s raucous jokes offended some of the more reserved guests.
She awoke to the raucous calls of crows outside her window.
“Razed” means to completely destroy or demolish something to the ground.
The old factory was razed to make way for a modern apartment complex.
The invading army razed the village before retreating across the border.
After the fire, the entire block had to be razed for safety reasons.
The developers razed the abandoned building despite protests from historians.
A powerful storm razed dozens of homes along the coastline.
“Recanted” means to formally withdraw or take back a statement or belief previously held.
Under pressure, the witness recanted his earlier testimony.
She recanted her accusations when new evidence proved them false.
The philosopher recanted his controversial theories late in life.
After the confession was recanted, the case was reopened by the authorities.
He publicly recanted his support for the policy after learning of its consequences.
“Recondite” describes something that is difficult to understand because it is highly complex or obscure.
The professor’s lecture on recondite philosophical concepts left many students bewildered.
She enjoys reading recondite texts about quantum mechanics in her spare time.
His recondite references to ancient literature impressed only the most erudite scholars.
The novel’s recondite symbolism requires careful analysis to appreciate fully.
The documentary covered recondite theories that most viewers had never encountered.
“Redolent” means strongly suggestive or reminiscent of something, or having a pleasant smell.
The kitchen was redolent of freshly baked bread.
Her stories were redolent of childhood summers spent by the sea.
The old library was redolent with the scent of aged paper and leather bindings.
His speech was redolent of the optimism of earlier generations.
The garden was redolent with the fragrance of blooming roses.
“Redress” means to set right, remedy, or compensate for a wrong or grievance.
The company offered to redress the customer’s complaint with a full refund.
He sought legal action to redress the damage to his reputation.
The new policy was designed to redress economic inequalities in the region.
She worked tirelessly to redress injustices faced by marginalized communities.
The apology did little to redress the harm that had already been done.
“Relegated” means assigned to a lower position, rank, or status.
After the mistake, he was relegated to a minor role in the project.
The team was relegated to a lower division after a series of losses.
She felt unfairly relegated to routine tasks despite her experience.
The old equipment was relegated to the storage room and forgotten.
His suggestions were relegated to the bottom of the priority list.
“Remiss” means negligent or careless in performing one’s duties or obligations.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank everyone who helped with this project.
The supervisor was remiss in failing to address the safety violations.
She was remiss in submitting her application after the deadline had passed.
He admitted he had been remiss in keeping in touch with old friends.
The manager was found remiss in his responsibility to train new employees.
“Remuneration” is the payment or compensation received for services or work performed.
The workers demanded fair remuneration for the long hours they put in.
Her remuneration included both a base salary and performance bonuses.
The contract outlined the terms of remuneration for all consultants.
He accepted the job because it offered generous remuneration and benefits.
The artist received little remuneration despite the popularity of her work.
“Repose” means a state of rest, tranquility, or relaxation.
After the long journey, she sought repose in the quiet of her garden.
His face appeared calm in repose, free of all worry.
The sculpture depicts the goddess in serene repose.
They found repose by the lakeside, listening to the gentle waves.
The old house seemed to be in perpetual repose beneath the ancient trees.
“Reproached” means expressed disapproval or disappointment toward someone.
She reproached him for forgetting their anniversary yet again.
The teacher reproached the students for their lack of preparation.
He was reproached by his colleagues for arriving late to the meeting.
His mother gently reproached him for not calling more often.
The editor reproached the reporter for the inaccuracies in the article.
“Repudiate” means to reject, deny, or refuse to accept something.
The senator was quick to repudiate any association with the scandal.
She decided to repudiate the old traditions she no longer believed in.
The company issued a statement to repudiate the false claims in the report.
He tried to repudiate his earlier remarks after facing criticism.
The witness chose to repudiate the agreement he had signed under duress.
“Repugnant” describes something that is extremely distasteful, unacceptable, or offensive.
The proposal was so repugnant that the entire board rejected it immediately.
She found his rude behavior utterly repugnant.
The idea of exploiting vulnerable people was morally repugnant to them.
His repugnant comments sparked outrage across the community.
The smell coming from the abandoned building was absolutely repugnant.
“Reputed” means generally believed or said to be something, often without certain proof.
The scientist was reputed to have discovered a cure for the disease.
That restaurant is reputed to serve the best seafood in town.
She is reputed to be one of the most talented designers in the industry.
The castle is reputed to be haunted by several restless spirits.
He was reputed to have amassed a fortune through clever investments.
“Requisite” means something that is necessary or required for a particular purpose.
A valid passport is a requisite for international travel.
She completed all the requisite training before starting the job.
The project lacked the requisite funding to move forward.
Good communication skills are a requisite for this position.
The team gathered all the requisite materials before beginning construction.
“Respite” is a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.
The weekend offered a welcome respite from the demands of work.
They enjoyed a brief respite from the heat when the rain began to fall.
After hours of negotiations, both sides agreed to a respite.
Caring for her sick relative left her little time for respite.
The ceasefire provided a much-needed respite for the war-torn region.
“Reticent” describes someone who is reluctant to share thoughts or feelings; reserved.
He was reticent about discussing the details of his personal life.
Despite her success, she remained reticent in interviews.
The witness was reticent when asked about what he had seen.
She grew reticent whenever the topic of her childhood came up.
His reticent demeanor made it hard to know what he was thinking.
“Reverberated” means echoed or resounded repeatedly through a space.
The sound of the church bells reverberated through the valley.
Her laughter reverberated across the empty hall.
The announcement reverberated throughout the community.
The explosion reverberated in their ears long after it ended.
His words of encouragement reverberated in her mind for days.
“Reverts” means returns to a previous state, condition, or behavior.
When stressed, he often reverts to old habits he thought he had overcome.
If you click cancel, the document reverts to the last saved version.
The land reverts to the state if no heirs can be found.
Without consistent practice, your skills may quickly revert to beginner level.
She reverts to speaking her native language when she’s with her family.
“Rife” means widespread, abundant, or common.
Corruption was rife in the government during that period.
The rumor was rife throughout the entire office by lunchtime.
The abandoned house was rife with mold and decay.
Speculation about the merger was rife among the employees.
The novel depicts a society rife with injustice and greed.
“Rue” means to feel regret or remorse for something.
He would later rue the day he ignored his mentor’s advice.
She will rue her harsh words once she calms down.
Many rue their impulsive decisions when consequences appear.
He came to rue the choices that cost him his friendships.
You may rue this opportunity if you let it pass by.
“Ruminated” means thought deeply or repeatedly about something.
She ruminated over the question for hours before answering.
He ruminated on the events that had led him to this point.
As he ruminated, he realized he had made a serious mistake.
They ruminated about how different life could have been.
She ruminated on the meaning behind his cryptic message.
“Salient” means most noticeable, important, or prominent.
The report highlighted the most salient points of the investigation.
Her salient feature was her brilliant smile that lit up the room.
One salient fact emerged from the data: sales had doubled in a year.
He addressed the salient issues without wasting time on trivial matters.
The salient themes of the book revolve around justice and redemption.
"Salubrious" means promoting health or well-being.
The mountain air was wonderfully salubrious and invigorated everyone on the hike.
She moved to a more salubrious climate to recover from her illness.
They chose a salubrious neighborhood with clean streets and plenty of trees.
His diet of fresh fruits and vegetables contributed to his salubrious lifestyle.
The spa advertised its salubrious mineral waters as a natural remedy.
"Sanctimonious" means pretending to be morally superior to others in a hypocritical way.
His sanctimonious speech about honesty rang hollow after his fraud conviction.
She grew tired of his sanctimonious attitude during every team meeting.
The politician’s sanctimonious remarks about family values were widely mocked.
He offered a sanctimonious apology that lacked any real sincerity.
The film satirized the sanctimonious behavior of religious hypocrites.
"Sanguine" means optimistic or hopeful, especially in a difficult situation.
Despite the delays, she remained sanguine about the project's success.
His sanguine outlook helped lift the team's spirits during the crisis.
Investors were surprisingly sanguine about the market's recovery.
He spoke in a sanguine tone, confident that things would improve.
Her sanguine personality made her popular among coworkers.
"Satiety" means the state of being fully satisfied, especially with food.
After the rich meal, he leaned back in satiety, unable to eat another bite.
The buffet promised a level of satiety few diners could resist.
She ate slowly, stopping at the first sign of satiety.
A sense of satiety settled over the room as dessert was cleared.
The snack provided just enough satiety to last until dinner.
"Schism" means a division or split between strongly opposed parties, often within a religion or organization.
The schism in the church led to the formation of a new denomination.
Years of disagreement finally resulted in a political schism.
The group faced a major schism over leadership choices.
His radical views caused a schism among former allies.
The schism between traditionalists and reformers threatened the group's unity.
"Scion" means a descendant or heir of a notable family, often one with wealth or influence.
The young scion of the tech empire was expected to take over the company.
As a scion of royalty, she was educated in diplomacy from a young age.
The film tells the story of a rebellious scion who rejects his family fortune.
He was introduced as a scion of one of the city's oldest banking families.
The scion used his inheritance to start a charity for underprivileged youth.
"Scurrilous" means making or spreading scandalous claims with the intent to damage someone's reputation.
The tabloid published a scurrilous article full of lies about the celebrity.
He faced backlash for his scurrilous remarks during the press conference.
The campaign took a dark turn with scurrilous attacks on the opponent’s character.
She sued the blogger for writing scurrilous content about her past.
His scurrilous jokes about coworkers were offensive and unprofessional.
"Servile" means showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others, often in a demeaning way.
His servile attitude toward his boss irritated the rest of the team.
She refused to play the servile role expected of women in her culture.
The waiter’s servile behavior felt more forced than polite.
He acted servile around the rich guests, hoping for a tip.
The character was portrayed as weak and servile, lacking independence.
"Shibboleths" means customs, beliefs, or phrases that distinguish a particular group, often outdated or empty in meaning.
The politician relied on old shibboleths about patriotism to rally support.
Many corporate shibboleths are used more to impress than to inform.
His speech was full of familiar shibboleths but offered no real solutions.
They rejected the cultural shibboleths of their parents' generation.
The club had its own shibboleths that newcomers struggled to understand.
"Sinecure" means a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.
He held a sinecure at the university, drawing a salary with minimal duties.
Critics called the role a political sinecure created for loyal supporters.
She was accused of using her connections to land a comfortable sinecure.
The position turned out to be more of a sinecure than a real job.
Many envied his sinecure, which paid well without demanding effort.
"Slovenly" means untidy, careless, or excessively messy in appearance or habits.
His slovenly desk was piled high with papers, food wrappers, and coffee cups.
She was criticized for her slovenly handwriting during the exam.
Despite his talent, his slovenly work ethic held him back.
The room had a slovenly look, with clothes and dishes scattered everywhere.
He gave a slovenly presentation, mumbling and flipping through wrinkled notes.
"Sojourn" means a temporary stay at a place.
Her brief sojourn in Paris left her inspired by art and culture.
During his sojourn in the countryside, he found peace and clarity.
The travelers planned a short sojourn before continuing their journey.
His sojourn at the monastery changed the way he viewed the world.
They met during a sojourn at a seaside retreat in Italy.
"Sophistry" means clever but misleading reasoning, often used to deceive.
The lawyer’s argument was dismissed as mere sophistry by the judge.
He used sophistry to justify his questionable decision.
Her explanation sounded logical but was pure sophistry.
They saw through the politician’s sophistry and demanded real answers.
His use of sophistry frustrated the debate moderator and audience alike.
"Sordid" means morally degraded, dirty, or dishonorable.
The book revealed the sordid secrets of the powerful businessman.
They investigated the sordid conditions of the factory.
His past was filled with sordid tales of betrayal and greed.
She refused to get involved in the sordid scandal.
The film depicted the sordid underworld of the drug trade.
"Spate" means a large number or sudden outburst of something, typically negative.
A spate of burglaries left the neighborhood uneasy.
There was a spate of complaints after the new policy was announced.
The region experienced a spate of flooding during the storm season.
A recent spate of layoffs rattled employees across the company.
The internet saw a spate of rumors after the celebrity’s disappearance.
"Stentorian" means extremely loud and powerful in sound or voice.
The announcer’s stentorian voice echoed through the stadium.
He gave a stentorian warning that silenced the entire courtroom.
The teacher’s stentorian command brought immediate order to the class.
A stentorian laugh erupted from the back of the bar.
Her stentorian singing voice filled the opera house without a microphone.
"Strident" means harsh, grating, and unpleasantly forceful in tone or sound.
The strident alarm startled everyone in the building.
His strident criticism offended the entire team.
A strident voice interrupted the peaceful silence of the night.
The politician's strident rhetoric divided the audience.
She winced at the strident screech of chalk on the board.
"Stymied" means blocked, hindered, or thwarted from making progress.
The investigation was stymied by a lack of evidence.
Heavy snow stymied our travel plans.
He felt stymied by the bureaucracy at every step.
Creative efforts were stymied by constant interruptions.
Their attempt to reach a compromise was stymied by stubbornness.
"Subjugated" means brought under control, especially by conquest or force.
The rebels were quickly subjugated by the military.
For centuries, the region was subjugated by a foreign empire.
They subjugated native populations to establish their colony.
The dictator subjugated the media to control public opinion.
Women were subjugated by rigid societal norms in that era.
"Subservient" means excessively willing to follow orders or serve others, often in a submissive way.
He remained subservient to his boss despite the unfair treatment.
The butler was trained to be subservient and discreet.
She took a subservient role in the relationship to keep the peace.
The regime demanded subservient loyalty from all its citizens.
His subservient attitude made him easy to exploit.
"Substantiate" means to provide evidence or proof to support a claim or statement.
She could not substantiate her claim without any documents.
The scientist substantiated his theory with detailed experiments.
He was asked to substantiate his accusations before the board.
The news report failed to substantiate its bold assertions.
Witnesses were brought in to substantiate the timeline of events.
"Subterfuge" means deceit used in order to achieve a goal or avoid something.
He used subterfuge to sneak out of the house undetected.
The spy’s subterfuge helped her gather classified information.
They relied on subterfuge to win the negotiation.
Her excuse was clearly a subterfuge to avoid the meeting.
The plot was full of intrigue, betrayal, and subterfuge.
"Subterranean" means existing, occurring, or situated beneath the earth's surface.
They discovered a subterranean cave filled with crystals.
The city has a vast subterranean transit system.
Subterranean homes are designed to stay naturally cool.
The miners worked long hours in the subterranean tunnels.
A subterranean river flowed silently beneath the ruins.
"Sullen" means silently gloomy, sulky, or showing resentment.
He sat in sullen silence after being scolded.
Her sullen mood affected the whole group.
A sullen teenager glared from the corner of the room.
The sky looked sullen and gray before the storm.
She gave a sullen shrug and walked away.
"Sultry" means oppressively hot and humid, or attractively sensual and passionate.
The sultry weather made everyone feel sluggish.
She gave him a sultry glance across the room.
The sultry air clung to their skin during the hike.
A sultry jazz tune played in the background.
He struggled to sleep in the sultry heat of summer.
"Sumptuous" means rich, luxurious, and costly in appearance or quality.
They dined in a sumptuous hall filled with golden chandeliers.
The queen wore a sumptuous velvet gown embroidered with pearls.
A sumptuous meal was laid out for the wedding guests.
He admired the sumptuous furnishings of the palace.
The hotel offered sumptuous rooms with ocean views.
"Supine" means lying face upward, or showing a passive or indifferent attitude.
He lay supine on the grass, staring at the clouds.
The patient was placed in a supine position before the surgery.
Her supine reaction to injustice frustrated the activists.
The soldiers found him supine and unconscious on the battlefield.
Supine compliance to the regime's orders led to widespread oppression.
"Surfeit" means an excessive amount of something.
After the feast, there was a surfeit of desserts left untouched.
The market was flooded with a surfeit of cheap goods.
He suffered a stomachache from a surfeit of rich food.
The article had a surfeit of technical jargon.
They grew bored with the surfeit of entertainment options.
"Surmised" means guessed or inferred something without sufficient evidence.
She surmised he was upset by the tone of his voice.
They surmised that the thief had escaped through the window.
I surmised she hadn’t read the memo based on her confusion.
He surmised that the meeting had been canceled due to the silence.
From the clues, they surmised the treasure was buried nearby.
"Surreptitiously" means done in a secret, stealthy, or unauthorized way.
He surreptitiously slipped the note into her backpack.
She glanced surreptitiously at her phone during the lecture.
They surreptitiously filmed the conversation without permission.
He surreptitiously left the room before the argument began.
The documents were surreptitiously passed under the table.
"Tantamount" means equivalent in seriousness, value, or effect.
His refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt.
Ignoring the warning was tantamount to inviting disaster.
Her silence was tantamount to agreement.
The criticism was tantamount to an attack on his character.
Skipping the exam was tantamount to failing the course.
"Taut" means stretched or pulled tight; not slack.
The rope was pulled taut between the two poles.
His face was taut with anxiety before the speech.
She kept the canvas taut while painting.
The muscles in his arms were taut from lifting.
Taut wires hummed in the wind above the field.
"Temerity" means excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
He had the temerity to question the judge’s ruling.
She showed temerity by entering the restricted area.
No one else had the temerity to speak up.
His temerity shocked the entire room into silence.
They were amazed by her temerity in challenging authority.
"Tenable" means able to be defended or maintained against criticism or attack.
His theory was no longer tenable after new evidence emerged.
The soldier's position was barely tenable under heavy fire.
Her argument was well-reasoned and tenable.
Their excuse was weak and not tenable.
The leadership role became tenable only after gaining support.
"Tenacious" means persistent, determined, and not easily letting go or giving up.
She was tenacious in pursuing her dreams.
The tenacious reporter kept digging for the truth.
He had a tenacious grip on the rope.
Their tenacious efforts finally led to success.
Despite many failures, he remained tenacious and hopeful.
"Termagant" means a harsh-tempered or overbearing woman.
The termagant scolded the children loudly in the store.
His boss was a notorious termagant who intimidated the entire office.
She was feared in the neighborhood as a relentless termagant.
The play featured a classic termagant who terrorized her meek husband.
He avoided his termagant aunt whenever he visited.
"Terse" means brief and direct in a way that may seem unfriendly or abrupt.
His terse reply ended the conversation quickly.
She gave a terse nod and walked away.
The teacher’s terse comment made the class go silent.
His emails were always terse and to the point.
A terse warning was written on the sign.
"Thwarted" means prevented from accomplishing something or achieving a goal.
The storm thwarted their plans for a beach picnic.
She felt thwarted by constant delays.
His ambition was thwarted by poor health.
The police thwarted the robbery in progress.
Their escape attempt was thwarted at the border.
"Timorous" means showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence.
The timorous student avoided speaking in class.
He gave a timorous knock at the door.
Her timorous smile revealed her anxiety.
The timorous deer bolted at the slightest sound.
His timorous voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Transient" means lasting only a short time or temporary in nature.
The beauty of the sunset was transient but breathtaking.
He worked a series of transient jobs after college.
The town has a large transient population during harvest season.
Her happiness proved to be transient.
A transient rain shower passed through in the afternoon.
"Tremulous" means shaking slightly, especially from nervousness, weakness, or fear.
Her tremulous hands betrayed her anxiety before the speech.
He gave a tremulous smile and stepped onto the stage.
The letter was written in tremulous handwriting.
She spoke in a tremulous voice, barely above a whisper.
His tremulous fingers fumbled with the keys in the lock.
"Trenchant" means sharp, forceful, and clear in expression or style.
The critic’s trenchant review stunned the director.
Her trenchant observations cut through the confusion.
He gave a trenchant analysis of the political situation.
The speaker’s trenchant wit kept the audience engaged.
His trenchant comments left no room for misinterpretation.
"Turpitude" means depravity or wickedness, especially of a moral nature.
The scandal revealed the depths of his turpitude.
He was fired for acts of moral turpitude.
The novel explores the turpitude of a corrupt society.
She was appalled by the turpitude of the crime.
Turpitude in public office damages public trust.
"Tussle" means a vigorous struggle or fight, often physical but sometimes verbal.
The two boys got into a brief tussle on the playground.
There was a political tussle over control of the committee.
She had a tussle with her conscience before telling the truth.
The dogs engaged in a playful tussle in the yard.
A legal tussle arose over the property rights.
"Tyro" means a beginner or novice in a particular field or activity.
As a tyro in cooking, he often burned the food.
The tyro programmer struggled with the complex code.
She approached the piano like a curious tyro.
The class is designed for tyros, not experts.
He may be a tyro now, but he learns quickly.
"Ubiquitous" means present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of daily life.
The company’s logo was ubiquitous throughout the city.
Security cameras are now ubiquitous in public spaces.
His influence was so strong, it felt ubiquitous.
Plastic waste is becoming a ubiquitous problem in oceans.
"Umbrage" means offense or annoyance, often taken at a remark or action.
She took umbrage at his sarcastic comment.
He expressed umbrage at the unfair accusation.
They took umbrage at the decision to exclude them.
The senator took umbrage at the media’s portrayal.
She tried not to show her umbrage during the meeting.
"Unabated" means continuing at full strength or intensity without weakening.
The storm raged on with unabated fury.
His enthusiasm remained unabated despite the setbacks.
The noise continued unabated throughout the night.
Sales grew unabated for the third consecutive quarter.
Their protest went on unabated for weeks.
"Unctuous" means excessively flattering or insincerely earnest, often in a smug or oily way.
His unctuous compliments made her uncomfortable.
The salesman’s unctuous tone was hard to trust.
She dismissed his unctuous apology as fake.
His unctuous manner hid his true intentions.
They were put off by his unctuous charm.
"Unwieldy" means difficult to carry or manage because of size, shape, or complexity.
The box was large and unwieldy to move alone.
The committee grew so large it became unwieldy.
She struggled with the unwieldy umbrella in the wind.
The law was criticized for being too unwieldy to enforce.
He tried to fix the unwieldy machine without help.
"Vacillated" means wavered between different opinions or actions; was indecisive.
He vacillated between going to law school and joining the family business.
She vacillated for days before finally making a decision.
The voters vacillated as new information came to light.
He vacillated on whether to accept the promotion or relocate.
They vacillated between optimism and doubt throughout the project.
"Venerable" means accorded a great deal of respect, especially due to age, wisdom, or character.
The venerable professor was admired by generations of students.
A venerable old tree stood at the center of the village.
She addressed the venerable leader with deep reverence.
The museum is housed in a venerable building from the 18th century.
His venerable reputation gave weight to his words.
"Venial" means slight or minor, especially in reference to a fault or sin that is easily forgiven.
Forgetting to return the pen was a venial offense.
His mistake was venial and quickly overlooked.
She committed a venial error in the report.
The priest explained that some sins are venial while others are grave.
They considered his tardiness a venial lapse.
"Vexatious" means causing irritation, annoyance, or worry.
The constant interruptions were vexatious and distracting.
She found the repeated questions vexatious.
His vexatious attitude tested everyone's patience.
The lawsuit was dismissed as a vexatious legal action.
It was a vexatious delay that threw off the whole schedule.
"Vicissitudes" means changes or variations, often unexpected and typically unpleasant.
They endured the vicissitudes of life with resilience.
The company survived the vicissitudes of a volatile market.
His career was marked by many vicissitudes.
She wrote a memoir about the vicissitudes of her journey.
The vicissitudes of weather made farming unpredictable.
"Virulent" means extremely harmful, hostile, or infectious.
The virus proved to be more virulent than expected.
He launched a virulent attack on his political rival.
The venom of that snake is highly virulent.
Her virulent criticism left him speechless.
A virulent rumor spread quickly through the town.
"Vitiate" means to spoil, weaken, or impair the quality or effectiveness of something.
One mistake can vitiate the entire argument.
His dishonest actions vitiated the agreement.
Poor planning vitiated the success of the event.
Bias can vitiate the fairness of a trial.
Their refusal to cooperate vitiated the investigation.
"Vitriolic" means filled with bitter criticism or malice.
The debate turned vitriolic after the first few minutes.
She wrote a vitriolic letter to the editor.
His vitriolic remarks alienated even his allies.
The review was so vitriolic it bordered on a personal attack.
Their conversation devolved into a vitriolic exchange.
"Vituperation" means harsh and abusive language.
The internet is often a place of relentless vituperation.
He endured the vituperation of angry protestors.
Her speech was met with loud vituperation from the crowd.
The political ads were full of vituperation and slander.
Despite the vituperation, he remained calm and composed.
"Vivacious" means lively, spirited, and full of energy.
She had a vivacious personality that lit up every room.
The actor brought a vivacious charm to the role.
Her vivacious laugh was contagious.
The party was hosted by a vivacious and engaging couple.
He admired her vivacious spirit and zest for life.
"Volition" means the act of making a conscious choice or decision.
She signed the contract of her own volition.
He left the company by his own volition, not because he was fired.
They acted on their volition, without any external pressure.
No one forced him; it was a matter of personal volition.
The witness came forward of her own volition.
"Voluble" means speaking easily and at length; talkative or fluent.
The voluble host kept the conversation lively.
She was voluble in her praise of the new book.
His voluble nature made him a popular speaker.
The voluble child chatted nonstop during the trip.
They were charmed by his voluble storytelling.
"Voracious" means having a huge appetite or an eager approach to an activity.
He had a voracious hunger after the long hike.
She was a voracious reader who finished three books a week.
The lion had a voracious look in its eyes.
He pursued knowledge with a voracious curiosity.
Their voracious demand for content kept the website busy.
"Wan" means pale and weak, often from illness or exhaustion.
She gave a wan smile and lay back on the pillow.
His face looked wan under the harsh hospital lights.
The wan sunlight barely lit the room.
He appeared wan and tired after the long journey.
Her wan complexion alarmed the doctor.
"Wane" means to decrease gradually in size, strength, or intensity.
His influence began to wane after the scandal.
The moon began to wane after the full phase.
Interest in the show started to wane by the third season.
Her energy seemed to wane as the day wore on.
Public enthusiasm for the project continued to wane.
"Wheedle" means to influence or persuade someone through flattery or smooth talk.
He tried to wheedle extra money from his parents.
She wheedled her way into getting the last ticket.
They wheedled him into helping with the project.
The child wheedled a cookie out of his grandmother.
He wheedled a promotion by charming the manager.
"Whet" means to sharpen or stimulate, especially interest, desire, or appetite.
The smell of baking bread whetted her appetite.
The trailer whetted the audience’s curiosity about the film.
A short preview was enough to whet his interest in the book.
The crisp air whetted their excitement for the hike.
She offered a hint to whet his desire for the full story.
"Yen" means a strong desire or craving for something.
He had a sudden yen for adventure and travel.
She felt a yen to return to her hometown.
His yen for success drove him to work long hours.
They had a yen for spicy food after the movie.
A deep yen for freedom stirred within him.
"Zenith" means the highest point or peak of something, especially success or achievement.
At the zenith of her career, she was known worldwide.
The sun reached its zenith at noon.
His performance marked the zenith of his athletic career.
The company reached its zenith in the early 2000s.
They were at the zenith of their power before the collapse.