Understanding words

Incorrect Use of Words

Thesaurus of Words

 

Most of the Examination papers in English contain a question on the use of words of similar sound but different in meaning. The question usually takes a form something like the following:

Use these words in sentences to show that you know their meanings:
aisle     diary    principal          stationary         compliment

isle       dairy    principle          stationery         complement

A comprehensive list of these words is found in most good spelling books and it is not intended to repeat these here.

It is, however, important for the student to remember that when he is asked to use these words in sentences in order to illustrate their meaning, his sentences should be explicit enough as to leave no doubt in the examiner's mind that the writer knows the exact meaning of the words which he is using.

Take for example the words stationary, stationery. When used in the following sentences the meaning is not fully brought out.

(a) The bus is stationary, (b) I bought some stationery at the store.

Sentences (c) and (d) however, leave no doubt in the reader's mind that the writer is fully acquainted with the meaning of the words:

Wait until the bus is stationary before attempting to get off.

I will need a good deal of stationery to write all these letters.

Note also that it is a good plan to underline the significant word in the sentence.

 

see also Commonly Confused Words

 

abandon	abandoned, abandoning, abandonment, abandons, e.g.	abandon
abstract	abstraction, abstractions, abstractly, abstracts, e.g.	abstract
academy	academia, academic, academically, academics, academies, e.g.	academy
access	accessed, accesses, accessibility, accessible, accessing, inaccessible	access
accommodate	accommodated, accommodates, accommodating, accommodation	accommodate
accompany	accompanied, accompanies, accompaniment, accompanying, unaccompanied	accompany
accumulate	accumulated, accumulating, accumulation, accumulates	accumulate
accurate	accuracy, accurately, inaccuracy, inaccuracies, inaccurate	accurate
achieve	achievable, achieved, achievement, achievements, achieves, achieving	achieve
acknowledge	acknowledged, acknowledges, acknowledging, acknowledgement, acknowledgements	acknowledge
acquire	acquired, acquires, acquiring, acquisition, acquisitions	acquire
adapt	adaptability, adaptable, adaptation, adaptations, adapted, adapting, adaptive, adapts	adapt
adequate	adequacy, adequately, inadequacies, inadequacy, inadequate, inadequately	adequate
adjacent		adjacent
adjust	adjusted, adjusting, adjustment, adjustments, adjusts, readjust, readjusted, readjusting, readjustment, readjustments, readjusts	adjust
administrate	administrates, administration, administrations, administrative, administratively, administrator, administrators	administrate
adult	adulthood, adults	adult
advocate	advocacy, advocated, advocates, advocating	advocate
affect	affected, affecting, affective, affectively, affects, unaffected	affect
aggregate	aggregated, aggregates, aggregating, aggregation	aggregate
aid	aided, aiding, aids, unaided	aid
albeit		albeit
allocate	allocated, allocates, allocating, allocation, allocations	allocate
alter	alterable, alteration, alterations, altered, altering, alternate, alternating, alters, unalterable, unaltered	alter
alternative	alternatively, alternatives	alternative
ambiguous	ambiguities, ambiguity, unambiguous, unambiguously	ambiguous
amend	amended, amending, amendment, amendments, amends	amend
analogy	analogies, analogous	analogy
analyse	analysed, analyser, analysers, analyses, analysing, analysis, analyst, analysts, analytic, analytical, analytically	analyse
annual	annually	annual
anticipate	anticipated, anticipates, anticipating, anticipation, unanticipated	anticipate
apparent	apparently	apparent
append	appendix, appended, appends, appending, appendices, appendixes	append
appreciate	appreciable, appreciably, appreciated, appreciates, appreciating, appreciation, unappreciated	appreciate
approach	approachable, approached, approaches, approaching, unapproachable	approach
appropriate	appropriacy, appropriately, appropriateness, inappropriacy, inappropriate, inappropriately	appropriate
approximate	approximated, approximately, approximates, approximating, approximation, approximations	approximate
arbitrary	arbitrariness, arbitrarily	arbitrary
area	areas	area
aspect	aspects	aspect
assemble	assembled, assembles, assemblies, assembling, assembly	assemble
assess	assessable, assessed, assesses, assessing, assessment, assessments, reassess, reassessed, reassessing, reassessment, unassessed	assess
assign	assigned, assigning, assignment, assignments, assigns, reassign, reassigned, reassigning, reassigns, unassigned	assign
assist	assistance, assistant, assistants, assisted, assisting, assists, unassisted	assist
assume	assumed, assumes, assuming, assumption, assumptions	assume
assure	assurance, assurances, assured, assuredly, assures, assuring	assure
attach	attached, attaches, attaching, attachment, attachments, unattached	attach
attain	attainable, attained, attaining, attainment, attainments, attains, unattainable	attain
attitude	attitudes	attitude
attribute	attributable, attributed, attributes, attributing, attribution	attribute
author	authored, authoring, authors, authorship	author
authority	authoritative, authorities	authority
automate	automatic, automated, automates, automating, automatically, automation	automate
available	availability, unavailable	available
aware	awareness, unaware	aware
behalf		behalf
benefit	beneficial, beneficiary, beneficiaries, benefited, benefiting, benefits	benefit
bias	biased, biases, biasing, unbiased	bias
bond	bonded, bonding, bonds	bond
brief	brevity, briefed, briefing, briefly, briefs	brief
bulk	bulky	bulk
capable	capabilities, capability, incapable	capable
capacity	capacities, incapacitate, incapacitated	capacity
category	categories, categorisation, categorise, categorised, categorises, categorising, categorizing	category
cease	ceased, ceaseless, ceases, ceasing	cease
challenge	challenged, challenger, challengers, challenges, challenging	challenge
channel	channelled, channelling, channels	channel
chapter	chapters	chapter
chart	charted, charting, charts, uncharted	chart
chemical	chemically, chemicals	chemical
circumstance	circumstances	circumstance
cite	citation, citations, cited, citing, cites	cite
civil		civil
clarify	clarification, clarified, clarifies, clarifying, clarity	clarify
classic	classical, classics	classic
clause	clauses	clause
code	coded, codes, coding	code
coherent	coherence, coherently, incoherent, incoherently	coherent
coincide	coincided, coincides, coinciding, coincidence, coincidences, coincident, coincidental	coincide
collapse	collapsed, collapses, collapsible, collapsing	collapse
colleague	colleagues	colleague
commence	commenced, commences, commencement, commencing, recommences, recommenced, recommencing	commence
comment	commentaries, commentary, commentator, commentators, commented, commenting, comments	comment
commission	commissioned, commissioner, commissioners, commissioning, commissions	commission
commit	commitment, commitments, commits, committed, committing	commit
commodity	commodities	commodity
communicate	communicable, communicated, communicates, communicating, communication, communications, communicative, communicatively, uncommunicative	communicate
community	communities	community
compatible	compatibility, incompatibility, incompatible	compatible
compensate	compensated, compensates, compensating, compensation, compensations, compensatory	compensate
compile	compilation, compilations, compiled, compiles, compiling	compile
complement	complementary, complemented, complementing, complements	complement
complex	complexities, complexity	complex
component	componentry, components	component
compound	compounded, compounding, compounds	compound
comprehensive	comprehensively	comprehensive
comprise	comprised, comprises, comprising	comprise
compute	computation, computational, computations, computable, computer, computed, computerised, computers, computing	compute
conceive	conceivable, conceivably, conceived, conceives, conceiving, inconceivable, inconceivably	conceive
concentrate	concentrated, concentrates, concentrating, concentration	concentrate
concept	conception, concepts, conceptual, conceptualisation, conceptualise, conceptualised, conceptualises, conceptualising, conceptually	concept
conclude	concluded, concludes, concluding, conclusion, conclusions, conclusive, conclusively, inconclusive, inconclusively	conclude
concurrent	concurrently	concurrent
conduct	conducted, conducting, conducts	conduct
confer	conference, conferences, conferred, conferring, confers	confer
confine	confined, confines, confining, unconfined	confine
confirm	confirmation, confirmed, confirming, confirms	confirm
conflict	conflicted, conflicting, conflicts	conflict
conform	conformable, conformability, conformance, conformation, conformed, conforming, conformist, conformists, conformity, conforms, nonconformist, nonconformists, nonconformity, non-conformist, non-conformists, non-conformity	conform
consent	consensus, consented, consenting, consents	consent
consequent	consequence, consequences, consequently	consequent
considerable	considerably	considerable
consist	consisted, consistency, consistent, consistently, consisting, consists, inconsistencies, inconsistency, inconsistent	consist
constant	constancy, constantly, constants, inconstancy, inconstantly	constant
constitute	constituencies, constituency, constituent, constituents, constituted, constitutes, constituting, constitution, constitutions, constitutional, constitutionally, constitutive, unconstitutional	constitute
constrain	constrained, constraining, constrains, constraint, constraints, unconstrained	constrain
construct	constructed, constructing, construction, constructions, constructive, constructs, reconstruct, reconstructed, reconstructing, reconstruction, reconstructs	construct
consult	consultancy, consultant, consultants, consultation, consultations, consultative, consulted, consults, consulting	consult
consume	consumed, consumer, consumers, consumes, consuming, consumption	consume
contact	contactable, contacted, contacting, contacts	contact
contemporary	contemporaries	contemporary
context	contexts, contextual, contextualise, contextualised, contextualising, uncontextualised	context
contract	contracted, contracting, contractor, contractors, contracts	contract
contradict	contradicted, contradicting, contradiction, contradictions, contradictory, contradicts	contradict
contrary	contrarily	contrary
contrast	contrasted, contrasting, contrastive, contrasts	contrast
contribute	contributed, contributes, contributing, contribution, contributions, contributor, contributors	contribute
controversy	controversies, controversial, controversially, uncontroversial	controversy
convene	convention, convenes, convened, convening, conventional, conventionally, conventions, unconventional	convene
converse	conversely	converse
convert	conversion, conversions, converted, convertible, converting, converts	convert
convince	convinced, convinces, convincing, convincingly, unconvinced	convince
cooperate	cooperated, cooperates, cooperating, cooperation, cooperative, cooperatively, co-operate, co-operated, co-operates, co-operation, co-operative, co-operatively	cooperate
coordinate	coordinated, coordinates, coordinating, coordination, coordinator, coordinators, co-ordinate, co-ordinated, co-ordinates, co-ordinating, co-ordination, co-ordinator, co-ordinators	coordinate
core	cores, coring, cored	core
corporate	corporates, corporation, corporations	corporate
correspond	corresponded, correspondence, corresponding, correspondingly, corresponds	correspond
couple	coupled, coupling, couples	couple
create	created, creates, creating, creation, creations, creative, creatively, creativity, creator, creators, recreate, recreated, recreates, recreating	create
credit	credited, crediting, creditor, creditors, credits	credit
criteria	criterion	criteria
crucial	crucially	crucial
culture	cultural, culturally, cultured, cultures, uncultured	culture
currency	currencies	currency
cycle	cycled, cycles, cyclic, cyclical, cycling	cycle
data		data
debate	debatable, debated, debates, debating	debate
decade	decades	decade
decline	declined, declines, declining	decline
deduce	deduced, deduces, deducing, deduction, deductions	deduce
define	definable, defined, defines, defining, definition, definitions, redefine, redefined, redefines, redefining, undefined	define
definite	definitely, definitive, indefinite, indefinitely	definite
demonstrate	demonstrable, demonstrably, demonstrated, demonstrates, demonstrating, demonstration, demonstrations, demonstrative, demonstratively, demonstrator, demonstrators	demonstrate
denote	denotation, denotations, denoted, denotes, denoting	denote
deny	deniable, denial, denials, denied, denies, denying, undeniable	deny
depress	depressed, depresses, depressing, depression	depress
derive	derivation, derivations, derivative, derivatives, derived, derives, deriving	derive
design	designed, designer, designers, designing, designs	design
despite		despite
detect	detectable, detected, detecting, detection, detective, detectives, detector, detectors, detects	detect
deviate	deviated, deviates, deviating, deviation, deviations	deviate
device	devices	device
devote	devoted, devotedly, devotes, devoting, devotion, devotions	devote
differentiate	differentiated, differentiates, differentiating, differentiation	differentiate
dimension	dimensional, dimensions, multidimensional	dimension
diminish	diminished, diminishes, diminishing, diminution, undiminished	diminish
discrete	discretely, discretion, discretionary, indiscrete, indiscretion	discrete
discriminate	discriminated, discriminates, discriminating, discrimination	discriminate
displace	displaced, displacement, displaces, displacing	displace
display	displayed, displaying, displays	display
dispose	disposable, disposal, disposed, disposes, disposing	dispose
distinct	distinction, distinctions, distinctive, distinctively, distinctly, indistinct, indistinctly	distinct
distort	distorted, distorting, distortion, distortions, distorts	distort
distribute	distributed, distributing, distribution, distributional, distributions, distributive, distributor, distributors, redistribute, redistributed, redistributes, redistributing, redistribution	distribute
diverse	diversely, diversification, diversified, diversifies, diversify, diversifying, diversity	diverse
document	documentation, documented, documenting, documents	document
domain	domains	domain
domestic	domestically, domesticate, domesticated, domesticating, domestics	domestic
dominate	dominance, dominant, dominated, dominates, dominating, domination	dominate
draft	drafted, drafting, drafts, redraft, redrafted, redrafting, redrafts	draft
drama	dramas, dramatic, dramatically, dramatise, dramatised, dramatising, dramatises, dramatisation, dramatisations, dramatist, dramatists, dramatization, dramatizations, dramatizing	drama
duration		duration
dynamic	dynamically, dynamics	dynamic
economy	economic, economical, economically, economics, economies, economist, economists, uneconomical	economy
edit	edited, editing, edition, editions, editor, editorial, editorials, editors, edits	edit
element	elements	element
eliminate	eliminated, eliminates, eliminating, elimination	eliminate
emerge	emerged, emergence, emergent, emerges, emerging	emerge
emphasis	emphasise, emphasised, emphasising, emphatic, emphatically	emphasis
empirical	empirically, empiricism	empirical
enable	enabled, enables, enabling	enable
encounter	encountered, encountering, encounters	encounter
energy	energetic, energetically, energies	energy
enforce	enforced, enforcement, enforces, enforcing	enforce
enhance	enhanced, enhancement, enhances, enhancing	enhance
enormous	enormity, enormously	enormous
ensure	ensured, ensures, ensuring	ensure
entity	entities	entity
environment	environmental, environmentalist, environmentalists, environmentally, environments	environment
equate	equated, equates, equating, equation, equations	equate
equip	equipment, equipped, equipping, equips	equip
equivalent	equivalence	equivalent
erode	eroded, erodes, eroding, erosion	erode
error	erroneous, erroneously, errors	error
establish	disestablish, disestablished, disestablishes, disestablishing, disestablishment, established, establishes, establishing, establishment, establishments	establish
estate	estates	estate
estimate	estimated, estimates, estimating, estimation, estimations, over-estimate, overestimate, overestimated, overestimates, overestimating, underestimate, underestimated, underestimates, underestimating	estimate
ethic	ethical, ethically, ethics, unethical	ethic
ethnic	ethnicity	ethnic
evaluate	evaluated, evaluates, evaluating, evaluation, evaluations, evaluative, re-evaluate, re-evaluated, re-evaluates, re-evaluating, re-evaluation	evaluate
eventual	eventuality, eventually	eventual
evident	evidenced, evidence, evidential, evidently	evident
evolve	evolution, evolved, evolving, evolves, evolutionary, evolutionist, evolutionists	evolve
exceed	exceeded, exceeding, exceeds	exceed
exclude	excluded, excludes, excluding, exclusion, exclusionary, exclusionist, exclusions, exclusive, exclusively	exclude
exhibit	exhibited, exhibiting, exhibition, exhibitions, exhibits	exhibit
expand	expanded, expanding, expands, expansion, expansionism, expansive	expand
expert	expertise, expertly, experts	expert
explicit	explicitly	explicit
exploit	exploitation, exploited, exploiting, exploits	exploit
export	exported, exporter, exporters, exporting, exports	export
expose	exposed, exposes, exposing, exposure, exposures	expose
external	externalisation, externalise, externalised, externalises, externalising, externality	external
extract	extracted, extracting, extraction, extracts	extract
facilitate	facilitated, facilitates, facilities, facilitating, facilitation, facilitator, facilitators, facility	facilitate
factor	factored, factoring, factors	factor
feature	featured, features, featuring	feature
federal	federation, federations	federal
fee	fees	fee
file	filed, files, filing	file
final	finalise, finalised, finalises, finalising, finality, finally, finals	final
finance	financed, finances, financial, financially, financier, financiers, financing	finance
finite	infinite, infinitely	finite
flexible	flexibility, inflexible, inflexibility	flexible
fluctuate	fluctuated, fluctuates, fluctuating, fluctuation, fluctuations	fluctuate
focus	focused, focuses, focusing, refocus, refocused, refocuses, refocusing	focus
format	formatted, formatting, formats	format
formula	formulae, formulas, formulate, formulated, formulating, formulation, formulations, reformulate, reformulated, reformulating, reformulation, reformulations	formula
forthcoming		forthcoming
found	founded, founder, founders, founding, unfounded	found
foundation	foundations	foundation
framework	frameworks	framework
function	functional, functionally, functioned, functioning, functions	function
fund	funded, funder, funders, funding, funds	fund
fundamental	fundamentally	fundamental
furthermore		furthermore
gender	genders	gender
generate	generated, generates, generating	generate
generation	generations	generation
globe	global, globally, globalisation, globalization	globe
goal	goals	goal
grade	graded, grades, grading	grade
grant	granted, granting, grants	grant
guarantee	guaranteed, guaranteeing, guarantees	guarantee
guideline	guidelines	guideline
hence		hence
hierarchy	hierarchical, hierarchies	hierarchy
highlight	highlighted, highlighting, highlights	highlight
hypothesis	hypotheses, hypothesise, hypothesised, hypothesises, hypothesising, hypothetical, hypothetically	hypothesis
identical	identically	identical
identify	identifiable, identification, identified, identifies, identifying, identities, identity, unidentifiable	identify
ideology	ideological, ideologically, ideologies	ideology
ignorant	ignorance, ignore, ignored, ignores, ignoring	ignorant
illustrate	illustrated, illustrates, illustrating, illustration, illustrations, illustrative	illustrate
image	imagery, images	image
immigrate	immigrant, immigrants, immigrated, immigrates, immigrating, immigration	immigrate
impact	impacted, impacting, impacts	impact
implement	implementation, implemented, implementing, implements	implement
implicate	implicated, implicates, implicating, implication, implications	implicate
implicit	implicitly	implicit
imply	implied, implies, implying	imply
impose	imposed, imposes, imposing, imposition	impose
incentive	incentives	incentive
incidence	incident, incidentally, incidents	incidence
incline	inclination, inclinations,inclined, inclines, inclining	incline
income	incomes	income
incorporate	incorporated, incorporates, incorporating, incorporation	incorporate
index	indexed, indexes, indexing	index
indicate	indicated, indicates, indicating, indication, indications, indicative, indicator, indicators	indicate
individual	individualised, individuality, individualism, individualist, individualists, individualistic, individually, individuals	individual
induce	induced, induces, inducing, induction	induce
inevitable	inevitability, inevitably	inevitable
infer	inference, inferences, inferred, inferring, infers	infer
infrastructure	infrastructures	infrastructure
inherent	inherently	inherent
inhibit	inhibited, inhibiting, inhibition, inhibitions, inhibits	inhibit
initial	initially	initial
initiate	initiated, initiates, initiating, initiation, initiations, initiative, initiatives, initiator, initiators	initiate
injure	injured, injures, injuries, injuring, injury, uninjured	injure
innovate	innovation, innovated, innovates, innovating, innovations, innovative, innovator, innovators	innovate
input	inputs	input
insert	inserted, inserting, insertion, inserts	insert
insight	insightful, insights	insight
inspect	inspected, inspecting, inspection, inspections, inspector, inspectors, inspects	inspect
instance	instances	instance
institute	instituted, institutes, instituting, institution, institutional, institutionalise, institutionalised, institutionalises, institutionalising, institutionally, institutions	institute
instruct	instruction, instructed, instructing, instructions, instructive, instructor, instructors, instructs	instruct
integral		integral
integrate	integrated, integrates, integrating, integration	integrate
integrity		integrity
intelligent	intelligence, intelligently, unintelligent	intelligent
intense	intensely, intenseness, intensification, intensified, intensifies, intensify, intensifying, intension, intensity, intensive, intensively	intense
interact	interacted, interacting, interaction, interactions, interactive, interactively, interacts	interact
intermediate		intermediate
internal	internalise, internalised, internalises, internalising, internally	internal
interpret	interpretation, interpretations, interpretative, interpreted, interpreting, interpretive, interprets, misinterpret, misinterpretation, misinterpretations, misinterpreted, misinterpreting, misinterprets, reinterpret, reinterpreted, reinterprets, reinterpreting, reinterpretation, reinterpretations	interpret
interval	intervals	interval
intervene	intervened, intervenes, intervening, intervention, interventions	intervene
intrinsic	intrinsically	intrinsic
invest	invested, investing, investment, investments, investor, investors, invests, reinvest, reinvested, reinvesting, reinvestment, reinvests	invest
investigate	investigated, investigates, investigating, investigation, investigations, investigative, investigator, investigators	investigate
invoke	invoked, invokes, invoking	invoke
involve	involved, involvement, involves, involving, uninvolved	involve
isolate	isolated, isolates, isolating, isolation, isolationism	isolate
issue	issued, issues, issuing	issue
item	itemisation, itemise, itemised, itemises, itemising, items	item
job	jobs	job
journal	journals	journal
justify	justifiable, justifiably, justification, justifications, justified, justifies, justifying, unjustified	justify
label	labelled, labelling, labels	label
labour	laboured, labouring, labours	labour
layer	layered, layering, layers	layer
lecture	lectured, lecturer, lecturers, lectures, lecturing	lecture
legal	illegal, illegality, illegally, legality, legally	legal
legislate	legislated, legislates, legislating, legislation, legislative, legislator, legislators, legislature	legislate
levy	levies	levy
liberal	liberalise, liberalism, liberalisation, liberalised, liberalises, liberalising, liberalization, liberate, liberated, liberates, liberation, liberations, liberating, liberator, liberators, liberally, liberals	liberal
licence	licences, license, licensed, licensing, licenses, unlicensed	licence
likewise		likewise
link	linkage, linkages, linked, linking, links	link
locate	located, locating, location, locations, relocate, relocated, relocates, relocating, relocation	locate
logic	illogical, illogically, logical, logically, logician, logicians	logic
maintain	maintained, maintaining, maintains, maintenance	maintain
major	majorities, majority	major
manipulate	manipulated, manipulates, manipulating, manipulation, manipulations, manipulative	manipulate
manual	manually, manuals	manual
margin	marginal, marginally, margins	margin
mature	immature, immaturity, maturation, maturational, matured, matures, maturing, maturity	mature
maximise	max, maximised, maximises, maximising, maximisation, maximum	maximise
mechanism	mechanisms	mechanism
media		media
mediate	mediated, mediates, mediating, mediation	mediate
medical	medically	medical
medium		medium
mental	mentality, mentally	mental
method	methodical, methodological, methodologies, methodology, methods	method
migrate	migrant, migrants, migrated, migrates, migrating, migration, migrations, migratory	migrate
military		military
minimal	minimalisation, minimalise, minimalises, minimalised, minimalising, minimalist, minimalists, minimalistic, minimally	minimal
minimise	minimised, minimises, minimising	minimise
minimum		minimum
ministry	ministered, ministering, ministerial, ministries	ministry
minor	minorities, minority, minors	minor
mode	modes	mode
modify	modification, modifications, modified, modifies, modifying, unmodified	modify
monitor	monitored, monitoring, monitors, unmonitored	monitor
motive	motivate, motivated, motivates, motivating, motivation, motivations, motives, unmotivated	motive
mutual	mutually	mutual
negate	negative, negated, negates, negating, negatively, negatives	negate
network	networked, networking, networks	network
neutral	neutralisation, neutralise, neutralised, neutralises, neutralising, neutrality	neutral
nevertheless		nevertheless
nonetheless		nonetheless
norm	norms	norm
normal	abnormal, abnormally, normalisation, normalise, normalised, normalises, normalising, normality, normally	normal
notion	notions	notion
notwithstanding		notwithstanding
nuclear		nuclear
objective	objectively, objectivity	objective
obtain	obtainable, obtained, obtaining, obtains, unobtainable	obtain
obvious	obviously	obvious
occupy	occupancy, occupant, occupants, occupation,occupational, occupations, occupied, occupier, occupiers, occupies, occupying	occupy
occur	occurred, occurrence, occurrences, occurring, occurs, reoccur, reoccurred, reoccurring, reoccurs	occur
odd	odds	odd
offset	offsets, offsetting	offset
ongoing		ongoing
option	optional, options	option
orient	orientate, orientated, orientates, orientation, orientating, oriented, orienting, orients, reorient, reorientation	orient
outcome	outcomes	outcome
output	outputs	output
overall		overall
overlap	overlapped, overlapping, overlaps	overlap
overseas		overseas
panel	panelled, panelling, panels	panel
paradigm	paradigms	paradigm
paragraph	paragraphing, paragraphs	paragraph
parallel	paralleled, parallels, unparalleled	parallel
parameter	parameters	parameter
participate	participant, participants, participated, participates, participating, participation, participatory	participate
partner	partners, partnership, partnerships	partner
passive	passively, passivity	passive
perceive	perceived, perceives, perceiving, perception, perceptions	perceive
percent	percentage, percentages	percent
period	periodic, periodical, periodically, periodicals, periods	period
persist	persisted, persistence, persistent, persistently, persisting, persists	persist
perspective	perspectives	perspective
phase	phased, phases, phasing	phase
phenomenon	phenomena, phenomenal	phenomenon
philosophy	philosopher, philosophers, philosophical, philosophically, philosophies, philosophise, philosophised, philosophises, philosophising	philosophy
physical	physically	physical
plus	pluses	plus
policy	policies	policy
portion	portions	portion
pose	posed, poses, posing	pose
positive	positively	positive
potential	potentially	potential
practitioner	practitioners	practitioner
precede	preceded, precedence, precedent, precedes, preceding, unprecedented	precede
precise	imprecise, precisely, precision	precise
predict	predictability, predictable, predictably, predicted, predicting, prediction, predictions, predicts, unpredictability, unpredictable	predict
predominant	predominance, predominantly, predominate, predominated, predominates, predominating	predominant
preliminary	preliminaries	preliminary
presume	presumably, presumed, presumes, presuming, presumption, presumptions, presumptuous	presume
previous	previously	previous
primary	primarily	primary
prime	primacy	prime
principal	principally	principal
principle	principled, principles, unprincipled	principle
prior		prior
priority	priorities, prioritisation, prioritise, prioritised, prioritises, prioritising	priority
proceed	procedural, procedure, procedures, proceeded, proceeding, proceedings, proceeds	proceed
process	processed, processes, processing	process
professional	professionally, professionals, professionalism	professional
prohibit	prohibited, prohibiting, prohibition, prohibitions, prohibitive, prohibits	prohibit
project	projected, projecting, projection, projections, projects	project
promote	promoted, promoter, promoters, promotes, promoting, promotion, promotions	promote
proportion	disproportion, disproportionate, disproportionately, proportional, proportionally, proportionate, proportionately, proportions	proportion
prospect	prospective, prospects	prospect
protocol	protocols	protocol
psychology	psychological, psychologically, psychologist, psychologists	psychology
publication	publications	publication
publish	published, publisher, publishers, publishes, publishing, unpublished	publish
purchase	purchased, purchaser, purchasers, purchases, purchasing	purchase
pursue	pursued, pursues, pursuing, pursuit, pursuits	pursue
qualitative	qualitatively	qualitative
quote	quotation, quotations, quoted, quotes, quoting	quote
radical	radically, radicals	radical
random	randomly, randomness	random
range	ranged, ranges, ranging	range
ratio	ratios	ratio
rational	irrational, rationalisation, rationalisations, rationalise, rationalised, rationalises, rationalising, rationalism, rationality, rationally	rational
react	reacted, reacts, reacting, reaction, reactionaries, reactionary, reactions, reactive, reactivate, reactivation, reactor, reactors	react
recover	recoverable, recovered, recovering, recovers, recovery	recover
refine	refined, refinement, refinements, refines, refining	refine
regime	regimes	regime
region	regional, regionally, regions	region
register	deregister, deregistered, deregistering, deregisters, deregistration, registered, registering, registers, registration	register
regulate	deregulated, deregulates, deregulating, deregulation, regulated, regulates, regulating, regulation,regulations, regulator, regulators, regulatory, unregulated	regulate
reinforce	reinforced, reinforcement, reinforcements, reinforces, reinforcing	reinforce
reject	rejected, rejecting, rejection, rejects, rejections	reject
relax	relaxation, relaxed, relaxes, relaxing	relax
release	released, releases, releasing	release
relevant	irrelevance, irrelevant, relevance	relevant
reluctance	reluctant, reluctantly	reluctance
rely	reliability, reliable, reliably, reliance, reliant, relied, relies, relying, unreliable	rely
remove	removable, removal, removals, removed, removes, removing	remove
require	required, requirement, requirements, requires, requiring	require
research	researched, researcher, researchers, researches, researching	research
reside	resided, residence, resident, residential, residents, resides, residing	reside
resolve	resolution, resolved, resolves, resolving, unresolved	resolve
resource	resourced, resourceful, resources, resourcing, unresourceful, under-resourced	resource
respond	responded, respondent, respondents, responding, responds, response, responses, responsive, responsiveness, unresponsive	respond
restore	restoration, restored, restores, restoring	restore
restrain	restrained, restraining, restrains, restraint, restraints, unrestrained	restrain
restrict	restricted, restricting, restriction, restrictions, restrictive, restrictively, restricts, unrestricted, unrestrictive	restrict
retain	retained, retaining, retainer, retainers, retains, retention, retentive	retain
reveal	revealed, revealing, reveals, revelation, revelations	reveal
revenue	revenues	revenue
reverse	reversal, reversed, reverses, reversible, reversing, reversals, irreversible	reverse
revise	revised, revises, revising, revision, revisions	revise
revolution	revolutionary, revolutionaries, revolutionise, revolutionised, revolutionises, revolutionising, revolutionist, revolutionists, revolutions	revolution
rigid	rigidities, rigidity, rigidly	rigid
role	roles	role
route	routed, routes, routing	route
scenario	scenarios	scenario
schedule	reschedule, rescheduled, reschedules, rescheduling, scheduled, schedules, scheduling, unscheduled	schedule
scheme	schematic, schematically, schemed, schemes, scheming	scheme
scope		scope
section	sectioned, sectioning, sections	section
sector	sectors	sector
secure	insecure, insecurities, insecurity, secured, securely, secures, securing, securities, security	secure
seek	seeking, seeks, sought	seek
select	selected, selecting, selection, selections, selective, selectively, selector, selectors, selects	select
sequence	sequenced, sequences, sequencing, sequential, sequentially	sequence
series		series
sex	sexes, sexism, sexual, sexuality, sexually	sex
shift	shifted, shifting, shifts	shift
significant	insignificant, insignificantly, significance, significantly, signified, signifies, signify, signifying	significant
similar	dissimilar, similarities, similarity, similarly	similar
simulate	simulated, simulates, simulating, simulation	simulate
site	sites	site
so-called		so-called
sole	solely	sole
somewhat		somewhat
source	sourced, sources, sourcing	source
specific	specifically, specification, specifications, specificity, specifics	specific
specify	specifiable, specified, specifies, specifying, unspecified	specify
sphere	spheres, spherical, spherically	sphere
stable	instability, stabilisation, stabilise, stabilised, stabilises, stabilising, stability, unstable	stable
statistic	statistician, statisticians, statistical, statistically, statistics	statistic
status		status
straightforward		straightforward
strategy	strategic, strategies, strategically, strategist, strategists	strategy
stress	stressed, stresses, stressful, stressing, unstressed	stress
structure	restructure, restructured, restructures, restructuring, structural, structurally, structured, structures, structuring, unstructured	structure
style	styled, styles, styling, stylish, stylise, stylised, stylises, stylising	style
submit	submission, submissions, submits, submitted, submitting	submit
subordinate	subordinates, subordination	subordinate
subsequent	subsequently	subsequent
subsidy	subsidiary, subsidies, subsidise, subsidised, subsidises, subsidising	subsidy
substitute	substituted, substitutes, substituting, substitution	substitute
successor	succession, successions, successive, successively, successors	successor
sufficient	sufficiency, insufficient, insufficiently, sufficiently	sufficient
sum	summation, summed, summing, sums	sum
summary	summaries, summarise, summarised, summarises, summarising, summarisation, summarisations	summary
supplement	supplementary, supplemented, supplementing, supplements	supplement
survey	surveyed, surveying, surveys	survey
survive	survival, survived, survives, surviving, survivor, survivors	survive
suspend	suspended, suspending, suspends, suspension	suspend
sustain	sustainable, sustainability, sustained, sustaining, sustains, sustenance, unsustainable	sustain
symbol	symbolic, symbolically, symbolise, symbolises, symbolised, symbolising, symbolism, symbols	symbol
tape	taped, tapes, taping	tape
target	targeted, targeting, targets	target
task	tasks	task
team	teamed, teaming, teams	team
technical	technically	technical
technique	techniques	technique
technology	technological, technologically	technology
temporary	temporarily	temporary
tense	tension, tensely, tenser, tensest, tensions	tense
terminate	terminal, terminals, terminated, terminates, terminating, termination, terminations	terminate
text	texts, textual	text
theme	themes, thematic, thematically	theme
theory	theoretical, theoretically, theories, theorist, theorists	theory
thereby		thereby
thesis	theses	thesis
topic	topical, topics	topic
trace	traceable, traced, traces, tracing	trace
tradition	non-traditional, traditional, traditionalist, traditionally, traditions	tradition
transfer	transferable, transference, transferred, transferring, transfers	transfer
transform	transformation, transformations, transformed, transforming, transforms	transform
transit	transited, transiting, transition, transitional, transitions, transitory, transits	transit
transmit	transmission, transmissions, transmitted, transmitting, transmits	transmit
transport	transportation, transported, transporter, transporters, transporting, transports	transport
trend	trends	trend
trigger	triggered, triggering, triggers	trigger
ultimate	ultimately	ultimate
undergo	undergoes, undergoing, undergone, underwent	undergo
underlie	underlay, underlies, underlying	underlie
undertake	undertaken, undertakes, undertaking, undertook	undertake
uniform	uniformity, uniformly	uniform
unify	unification, unified, unifies, unifying	unify
unique	uniquely, uniqueness	unique
utilise	utilisation, utilised, utilises, utilising, utiliser, utilisers, utility, utilities	utilise
valid	invalidate, invalidity, validate, validated, validating, validation, validity, validly	valid
vary	invariable, invariably, variability, variable, variables, variably, variance, variant, variants, variation, variations, varied, varies, varying	vary
vehicle	vehicles	vehicle
version	versions	version
via		via
violate	violated, violates, violating, violation, violations	violate
virtual	virtually	virtual
visible	visibility, visibly, invisible, invisibility	visible
vision	visions	vision
visual	visualise, visualised, visualised, visualising, visualisation, visually	visual
volume	volumes, vol	volume
voluntary	voluntarily, volunteer, volunteering, volunteered, volunteers	voluntary
welfare		welfare
whereas		whereas
whereby		whereby
widespread		widespread

 

Understanding Words

aberration	a state or condition markedly different from the norm
abject	of the most contemptible kind
abjure	formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
abnegation	the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief
abrogate	revoke formally
abscond	run away, often taking something or somebody along
abstruse	difficult to understand
accede	yield to another's wish or opinion
accost	approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
accretion	an increase by natural growth or addition
acumen	shrewdness shown by keen insight
adamant	impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
admonish	scold or reprimand; take to task
adumbrate	describe roughly or give the main points or summary of
adverse	in an opposing direction
advocate	a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
affluent	having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
aggrandize	embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of
alacrity	liveliness and eagerness
alias	a name that has been assumed temporarily
ambivalent	uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
amenable	disposed or willing to comply
amorphous	having no definite form or distinct shape
anachronistic	chronologically misplaced
anathema	a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
annex	attach to
antediluvian	of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
antiseptic	thoroughly clean and free of disease-causing organisms
antithesis	exact opposite
apathetic	showing little or no emotion or animation
apocryphal	being of questionable authenticity
approbation	official acceptance or agreement
arbitrary	based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
arboreal	of or relating to or formed by trees
arcane	requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
archetypal	of an original type after which other things are patterned
arrogate	seize and take control without authority
ascetic	someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
aspersion	a disparaging remark
assiduous	marked by care and persistent effort
atrophy	a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
bane	something causing misery or death
bashful	self-consciously timid
beguile	influence by slyness
bereft	sorrowful through loss or deprivation
bilk	cheat somebody out of what is due, especially money
blandishment	flattery intended to persuade
bombastic	ostentatiously lofty in style
cajole	influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
callous	emotionally hardened
calumny	a false accusation of an offense
camaraderie	the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
candor	the quality of being honest and straightforward
capitulate	surrender under agreed conditions
carouse	engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking
carp	any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae
caucus	meet to select a candidate or promote a policy
cavort	play boisterously
circumlocution	an indirect way of expressing something
circumscribe	draw a geometric figure around another figure
circumvent	surround so as to force to give up
clamor	utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
cleave	separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument
cobbler	a person who makes or repairs shoes
cogent	powerfully persuasive
cognizant	having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
commensurate	corresponding in size or degree or extent
complement	something added to embellish or make perfect
compunction	a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
concomitant	following or accompanying as a consequence
conduit	a passage through which water or electric wires can pass
conflagration	a very intense and uncontrolled fire
congruity	the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate
connive	form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
consign	give over to another for care or safekeeping
constituent	one of the individual parts making up a composite entity
construe	make sense of; assign a meaning to
contentious	showing an inclination to disagree
contravene	go against, as of rules and laws
contrite	feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
contusion	an injury in which the skin is not broken
convivial	occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
corpulence	the property of excessive fatness
covet	wish, long, or crave for
cupidity	extreme greed for material wealth
dearth	an insufficient quantity or number
debacle	a sudden and complete disaster
debauch	a wild gathering involving excessive drinking
debunk	expose while ridiculing
defunct	no longer in force or use; inactive
demagogue	a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions
Demure	quiet, modest, reserved
denigrate	attack the good name and reputation of someone
Deride	to ridicule, laugh at with contempt
derivative	a compound obtained from another compound
despot	a cruel and oppressive dictator, a dictator with absolute power
diaphanous	so thin as to transmit light
didactic	instructive, especially excessively
Diligent	showing care in doing one's work
dirge	a song or hymn of mourning as a memorial to a dead person
disaffected	discontented as toward authority
discomfit	cause to lose one's composure
disparate	fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
dispel	cause to separate and go in different directions
disrepute	the state of being held in low esteem
divisive	causing or characterized by disagreement or disunity
dogmatic	pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
dour	showing a brooding ill humor
duplicity	the act of deceiving or acting in bad faith
duress	compulsory force or threat
ebullient	joyously unrestrained
eclectic	selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
edict	a formal or authoritative proclamation
egregious	conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
Elated	full of high-spirited delight
elegy	a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
elicit	call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
Eloquent	expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
Embezzle	to steal money by falsifying records
embezzlement	the fraudulent appropriation of funds or property
emend	make corrections to
emollient	a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin
Empathy	sensitivity to another's feelings as if they were one's own
empirical	derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
emulate	strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
enervate	weaken mentally or morally
enfranchise	grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude
engender	call forth
Enmity	ill will; hatred; hostility
ephemeral	anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
epistolary	written in the form of letters or correspondence
equanimity	steadiness of mind under stress
equivocal	open to two or more interpretations
Erudite	learned or scholarly
espouse	choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.
evanescent	tending to vanish like vapor
evince	give expression to
exacerbate	make worse
execrable	unequivocally detestable
exhort	spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
exigent	demanding immediate attention
expedient	appropriate to a purpose
expiate	make amends for
expunge	remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
expurgate	edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
extant	still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost
extol	praise, glorify, or honor, to praise, revere
extraneous	not belonging to that in which it is contained
Fabricate	to make up, invent
fallacious	containing or based on incorrect reasoning
fatuous	devoid of intelligence
Feral	Savage; wild
fetter	a shackle for the ankles or feet
Flabbergasted	Astounded
flagrant	conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
foil	hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
forbearance	good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
Forsake	to give up, renounce; to leave, abandon
fortuitous	lucky; occurring by happy chance
fractious	easily irritated or annoyed, troublesome
Furtive	secretive; sly
garrulous	full of trivial conversation
Gluttony	excessive eating or drinking
gourmand	a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
grandiloquent	lofty in style
gratuitous	unnecessary and unwarranted, uncalled for; lacking good reason
hapless	unfortunate and deserving pity
Haughty	proud, arrogant
hegemony	the dominance or leadership of one social group over others
heterogenous	consisting of elements that are not of the same kind
Hypocrisy	Pretending to have feelings, beliefs, or virtues that one does not have.
iconoclast	someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions
idiosyncratic	peculiar to the individual
Impeccable	perfect, flawless
impecunious	not having enough money to pay for necessities
Impertinent	insolent; rude
impetuous	characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
impinge	infringe upon
Implacable	incapable of being appeased or mitigated
Impudent	casually rude, insolent
impute	attribute or credit to
inane	devoid of intelligence
inchoate	only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
Incisive	clear and sharp in analysis or expression
incontrovertible	impossible to deny or disprove
incumbent	necessary as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
Indolent	lazy
Inept	not suitable or capable, unqualified
inexorable	impossible to prevent, resist, or stop
Infamy	notoriety, extreme ill repute
Inhibit	restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent
inimical	not friendly
injunction	a judicial remedy to prohibit a party from doing something
Innate	natural, inborn, inherent; built-in
inoculate	inject or treat with the germ of a disease to render immune
Insatiable	not capable of being fully satisfied
insidious	working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
instigate	provoke or stir up
Insular	separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off
insurgent	in opposition to a civil authority or government
interlocutor	a person who takes part in a conversation
intimation	a slight suggestion or vague understanding
intransigent	impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
Intrepid	brave in the face of danger
inure	cause to accept or become hardened to
invective	abusive language used to express blame or censure
inveterate	habitual, stubbornly established by habit
irreverence	a mental attitude showing lack of due respect
Jubilant	extremely joyful
knell	the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death
laconic	brief and to the point
largesse	liberality in bestowing gifts
legerdemain	an illusory feat
libertarian	an advocate of freedom of thought and speech
licentious	lacking moral discipline
linchpin	a central cohesive source of support and stability
Lithe	Flexible, graceful.
litigant	a party to a lawsuit
Lurid	shocking; sensational
maelstrom	a powerful circular current of water
maudlin	effusively or insincerely emotional
maverick	someone who exhibits independence in thought and action, nonconformist person
mawkish	effusively or insincerely emotional
maxim	a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits, common saying expressing a principle of conduct
mendacious	given to lying
Meticulous	extremely careful about details
modicum	a small or moderate or token amount of something
morass	a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
mores	the conventions embodying the fundamental values of a group
Morose	gloomy or sullen
multifarious	having many aspects
munificent	very generous
Myriad	a very large number
nadir	the lowest point of anything
negligent	characterized by undue lack of attention or concern
neophyte	any new participant in some activity
noisome	offensively malodorous
Nominal	insignificant, trifling
Novice	one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience
noxious	injurious to physical or mental health
Nuance	a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression
obdurate	stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
obfuscate	make obscure or unclear
Oblivious	lacking consciousness or awareness of something
Obsequitous	obeying/performing a service for someone in an overly attentive manner
obstreperous	noisily and stubbornly defiant
Obtuse	lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
officious	intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
onerous	burdensome or difficult to endure
ostensible	appearing as such but not necessarily so
ostracism	the act of excluding someone from society by general consent
palliate	lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
panacea	hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases, an answer to all problems
paradigm	a standard or typical example
pariah	a person who is rejected from society or home
Parody	humorous or ridiculous imitation
partisan	a fervent and even militant proponent of something
paucity	an insufficient quantity or number
pejorative	expressing disapproval
pellucid	transparently clear; easily understandable
penchant	a strong liking, a tendency, partiality, or preference
penurious	excessively unwilling to spend
pernicious	exceedingly harmful
pert	characterized by a lightly saucy or impudent quality
pertinacious	stubbornly unyielding
Perusal	a careful examination, review
philanthropic	of or relating to charitable giving
phlegmatic	showing little emotion
pithy	concise and full of meaning
platitude	a trite or obvious remark
plaudit	enthusiastic approval
plenitude	a full supply
plethora	extreme excess, overabundance
portent	a sign of something about to happen
potentate	a ruler who is unconstrained by law
preclude	make impossible, especially beforehand
predilection	a predisposition in favor of something, or preferred way of doing something
preponderance	exceeding in heaviness; having greater weight
presage	a foreboding about what is about to happen
probity	complete and confirmed integrity
proclivity	a natural inclination
profligate	unrestrained by convention or morality
promulgate	state or announce
proscribe	command against
protean	taking on different forms
prurient	characterized by lust
puerile	displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
pugnacious	ready and able to resort to force or violence
pulchritude	physical beauty, especially of a woman
punctilious	marked by precise accordance with details
quaint	charmingly attractively old-fashioned
quandary	state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options
quixotic	not sensible about practical matters
Rash	hasty, incautious
recalcitrant	stubbornly resistant to authority or control
redoubtable	inspiring fear
Refurbish	to brighten, freshen or polish; to restore or improve
relegate	assign to a lower position
remiss	failing in what duty requires
reprieve	postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal
reprobate	a person without moral scruples
Repudiate	to reject, decline
requisition	an authoritative demand
rescind	cancel officially
rife	excessively abundant or plentiful
Salient	significant; conspicuous; standing out from the rest
sanctimonious	excessively or hypocritically pious
sanguine	confidently optimistic and cheerful
scurrilous	expressing offensive reproach
semaphore	an apparatus for visual signaling
serendipity	good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
sobriety	the state of being unaffected or not intoxicated by alcohol
solicitous	full of anxiety and concern
solipsism	the philosophical theory that the self is all that exists
spurious	plausible but false
staid	characterized by dignity and propriety, sedate, serious, self-restrained
stolid	having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
subjugate	make subservient; force to submit or subdue
Superfluous	exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
surfeit	indulge (one's appetite) to satiety
surreptitious	marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
swarthy	naturally having skin of a dark color
Sycophant	one who sucks up to others
Taciturn	Inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation
tangential	of superficial relevance if any
tirade	a speech of violent denunciation
toady	a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
tome	a large and scholarly book
torpid	in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
travesty	a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
trenchant	having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought
trite	repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
truculent	defiantly aggressive, ready to fight; cruel
turpitude	a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
ubiquitous	being present everywhere at once
umbrage	a feeling of anger caused by being offended, resentment, offense
upbraid	express criticism towards
utilitarian	having a useful function
Venerable	respected because of age, distinguished
veracity	unwillingness to tell lies
vestige	an indication that something has been present
Vex	to confuse or annoy
vicissitude	a variation in circumstances or fortune
vilify	spread negative information about
virtuoso	someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
vitriolic	harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone
vituperate	spread negative information about
vociferous	conspicuously and offensively loud boisterous
wanton	a lewd or immoral person, undisciplined, lewd, lustful
wily	marked by skill in deception
winsome	charming in a childlike or naive way
yoke	join with stable gear, as two draft animals
Zenith	the point of culmination; peak
zephyr	a slight wind

 

 

Incorrect Use of Words

 

meme	an element of a culture or system of behaviour passed from one individual to another by imitation or other non-genetic means.
meme	an image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, often with slight variations.
Paradigm	(para dime) a model of something, or a very clear and typical example of something
Literally	‘Literally’ means, “in a literal sense”, or “what I’m saying is not imagined, but truly happened as I’m saying it.
Incorrect use	“I literally died laughing,” or “He was so embarrassed his cheeks literally burned up,” are not correct.
Ironic	If something is ironic it's unexpected, often in an amusing way
Incorrect use	While irony is often understood to mean a coincidence or strange turn of events, that in itself doesn’t cover its full meaning.   While the concept of irony is extremely multi-layered, at its most simple it’s a way to use words to express the opposite of their literal meaning. There’s also dramatic irony, situational irony, historical irony and others. so no one will think badly of you if you don’t use the word at all!
Irregardless	(instead of regardless) Irregardless is a nonstandard synonym for regardless, which means “without concern as to advice, warning, or hardship,” or “heedless.” Its nonstandard status is due to the double negative construction of the prefix ir- with the suffix -less. ... The bottom line is that irregardless is indeed a word, albeit a clunky one.   But despite what you might think, ‘irregardless’ isn’t a synonym! Because of it’s double negative (the prefix -ir means “not” and suffix -less means “without”) it means “not without regard”, which is actually the opposite of what its users intend.
Incorrect use	While ‘irregardless’ appears in dictionaries, it’s listed as a nonstandard word. This means that although it technically exists, it shouldn’t be thrown about by people who’d like to learn and use English well.
regardless	You might have heard people use ‘irregardless’ when they mean to say ‘regardless’. ‘Regardless’ means “without regard” or “despite something” (“He maxed out his credit card regardless of the consequences,”) and is perfectly acceptable.
Colonel	Tthis word (meaning a rank of officer in the army), you might think it’s pronounced co-lo-nel. And who could blame you? It’s not so simple, however, as it’s pronounced kernel (like a corn kernel!).
Lieutenant	In British English, the word is pronounced lefttenant (left tenant), whereas in the United States, you’ll hear loo-tenant. Both are correct its just the saying of it that confuses.
Nonplussed	In reality, ‘nonplussed’ means “bewildered” or “at a loss of what to think”.
Incorrect use	Feeling a bit nonplussed after our brief trip through linguistic history? It’s certainly possible. A sneaky prefix is the culprit. Because the prefix -non means “not”, some people misuse ‘nonplussed’ as ‘unfazed’ or ‘uninterested’. Unfortunately, the word is so often used in both ways that, at least in written English, it’s often difficult to understand which meaning the writer intended.
Disinterested	Not influenced by considerations of personal advantage.   Someone who is disinterested is not biased and doesn’t take sides, whereas an uninterested person is not interested in something in the first place.
Uninterested	Imagine you’re in court. What kind of judge would you like on your case? A disinterested or uninterested judge? I hope you chose the former! While an uninterested judge would be yawning and flicking through their phone, a disinterested judge would be far more likely to hear all sides of your case and rule objectively.
Enormity	Means the great or extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as bad or morally wrong.   ‘Enormity’ usually means ‘extreme evil’ of the toe-curling, medieval history or ruthless dictator kind.
Incorrect use	‘Enormity’ is so close to ‘enormous’ that they must be synonyms. Right? Wrong! Therefore, the exceptionally commonly used expression “the enormity of the situation…” is incorrect. (Unless, in fact, you’re actually talking about an act of evil. Which we hope you aren’t!)
Unabashed	Means not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed. The negative version, unabashed, on the other hand, is used today and means “not embarrassed”.So next time you’re practicing your English, speak with unabashed enthusiasm!
Abash	What’s that prefix doing on an unfamiliar word like “abash”? Well, while “abash” does exist (it means to embarrass or perplex), it hasn’t been widely used for centuries.
Vocabulary Explained	https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/191545
Difficult Words	https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/language/10-most-difficult-words-in-english/

 

 

Thesaurus of words