1.
DISMISS
1. DISMISS
to reject
v. <dis-MIS>
Amy dismissed John's attempt to get back together.
Word Alert: Someone dismissive tends to dismiss everything.
2.
INNOVATIVE
2. INNOVATIVE
new and creative
adj. <IN-uh-vay-tiv>
The innovative design of this camera will revolutionize the way
people take pictures.
Synonyms: novel (58)
Word Alert: To innovate is to be innovative. An innovation is an
innovative creation.
3.
SKEPTICAL
adj. <SKEP-ti-kuhl>
3. SKEPTICAL
doubting, questioning, not believing
John said that he is over Amy, but Bob is skeptical of the claim.
Synonyms: incredulous (144)
Word Alert: A skeptic is a skeptical person. Skepticism is the state of
being skeptical.
4.
PROFOUND
4. PROFOUND
deep; far-reaching
adj. <pruh-FOUND>
What you do now will have a profound impact on your future.
Word Alert: Profundity is the state of being profound.
5.
ANECDOTE
n. <AN-ik-doht>
5. ANECDOTE
a short account of an interesting or humorous
incident
Arthur lightened his speech by including some amusing
anecdotes about his trip to Greece.
6.
UNDERMINE
6. UNDERMINE
to weaken
v. <un-dcr-MINE>
John is still in love with Amy and will do everything he can to
undermine her relationship with Scott.
7.
OBJECTIVE
adj. <ub-JECK-tiv>
7. OBJECTIVE
not influenced by emotions, unbiased
Rather than making assumptions and jumping to conclusions, the
doctor launched an objective study to determine whether the drug
was effective.
Synonyms: dispassionate (79), impartial (401)
Word Alert: As a noun, objective means a goal.
8.
ADVOCATE
v. <AD-vuh-kate>
8. ADVOCATE
to speak in favor of, promote
All SAT teachers advocate learning vocabulary because it is the
easiest way to improve one's Reading score.
Synonyms: espouse (459)
Word Alert: An advocate is a person who advocates. Advocacy is the act
or advocating.
9.
NOSTALGIA
n. <no-STAL-juh>
9. NOSTALGIA
a bittersweet longing for the past
Whenever John looks at old pictures of Amy, he cannot help but
feel nostalgia for the time they spent together.
Synonyms: wistfulness [wistful (188)]
Word Alert: If you are nostalgic, you arc experiencing nostalgia.
10.
INDIFFERENT
adj. <in-DIF-er-cnt>
10. INDIFFERENT
having no preference
Marge is indifferent about her college choice; she doesn't care
where she winds up going.
Synonyms: apathetic (38), nonchalant (161)
Word Alert: This word does NOT mean not different.
11.
RESENT
v.
11. RESENT
to feel angry and bitter about
<ri-ZENT>
I resent your remarks, jerk!
12. COMPROMISE
v.
<KOM-pruh-mize>
12. COMPROMISE
to expose to danger or suspicion*;
to mutually settle differences
The governor's past use of drugs compromised his credibility.
13. CYNICAL
adj. <SIN-ili-cul>
13. CYNICAL
believing that people are motivated by
selfishness; pessimistic
Bob is so cynical he doesn't even trust his own mother's motives.
Word Alert: A cynic is a cynical person who is full of cynicism
14. AESTHETIC
14. AESTHETIC
concerning beauty
adj. <css-THEH-tik>
This beautiful new car has great aesthetic value, but it doesn't run
very well.
Word Alert: An aesthete is a person who is very concerned with
aesthetic things.
Word Alert: Don't confuse this with ascetic (312).
15. AMBIVALENT
adj. <am-BIV-uh-lent>
15. AMBIVALENT
having opposing feelings; uncertain
Gary is ambivalent about going to Harvard: it is a good school,
but he wants to stay in the South.
16.
EVOKE
16. EVOKE
to summon or call forth
v. <ih-VOHK>
Seeing Amy again evoked such painful memories that John
began to weep.
17. DIMINISH
17. DIMINISH
to lessen or make smaller
v. <di-MIN-ish>
My happiness about winning the class election was diminished
when I realized how much more work I'd have to do now.
Synonyms: abate (299)
Word Alert: Something diminutive is very small.
18. CONTEMPT
n. <kuhn-TEMPT>
18. CONTEMPT
a lack of respect and intense dislike
John felt nothing but contempt for Scott since he stole Amy
away from him.
Bad Blood
contempt (18), disdain (19), scorn (61), antagonistic (136),
animosity (357), abhor (403),rancor(410), acrimony (467)
Word Alert: Someone contemptuous is full of contempt.
Something contemptible is worthy of contempt.
19. DISDAIN
19. DISDAIN
intense dislike
n. <dis-DAYN>
Because of his disdain for Scott, John refuses to speak to him
anymore.
Bad Blood
contempt (18), disdain (19), scorn (61), antagonistic (136),
animosity (357), abhor (403), rancor (410), acrimony (467)
Word Alert: Disdain can also be a verb meaning to dislike intensely.
20. PRAGMATIC
adj. <prag-MAT-ik>
20. PRAGMATIC
practical
Holding weekly meetings in Bermuda might be fun, but it would
not be a pragmatic strategy, Scott.