⧠ allude (v) ad- to + ludere to play
to hint at indirectly : Many of the Harry Potter novels allude to events that occurred in previous books.
Form: allusion = an indirect reference
Root family: [ad-] aspire (to strive for a lofty goal), adhere (stick fast (to)), advocate (to provide vocal support for), acquiesce (to comply reluctantly), annul (to declare invalid)
Root family: [lud, lus] collusion (a secret understanding that has a harmful purpose), delude (to make someone believe something that is not true), illusion (something that gives a false impression of reality), ludicrous (foolish and ridiculous) Don’t confuse with: elude (to avoid a pursuer skillfully)
Don’t confuse allusion with illusion (a false idea or perception)
⧠ analogy (n)
a correspondence between two things based on structural similarity : To explain the behavior of a magnetic field, our physics professor used the analogy of a field of wheat.
Forms: analogous = similar in terms of general structure, analog = something that is regarded as structurally similar to another thing
Don’t confuse with: apology (argument for a particular position)
⧠ anecdote (n)
a short amusing or informative story : My grandfather told many funny anecdotes about life on a submarine.
Form: anecdotal = pertaining to or deriving from an anecdote Don’t confuse with: antidote (a medicine taken to counteract a poison)
⧠ anthology (n) anthos flower + logia collection
a published collection of writings : Several of the poems in the anthology were chosen for national awards.
Synonym: chrestomathy (an instructive collection of passages) Don’t confuse with: anthropology (the study of human cultures)
⧠ bombastic (adj)
(pertaining to speech) pompous and blustery, with little meaning : Some cable news shows have replaced reputable journalists with bombastic blowhards.
Form: bombast = pompous, blustery speech Synonyms: pompous, turgid, orotund
⧠ coherent (adj) co- together + haerere to stick
[1] clear, rational and consistent : David could not construct a coherent sentence, so we couldn’t understand his point.
[2] forming a united whole : The several tribes joined to form a coherent fighting force.
Forms: coherence = the quality of being clear and rational; the quality of forming a whole, incoherent = unclear or irrational;
lacking coherence Synonym: cohesive
Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conformist (one who conscientiously complies with the standards of a group, conventional (according to common practice), consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together), confluence (a place at which two things merge)
Root family: [her, hes] adhesive (glue-like substance), cohesive (forming a united whole), inherent (existing as an inseparable attribute), adherent (a faithful believer in a particular practice or philosophy)
Usage: Coherent and cohesive derive from the same roots and are synonyms as long as they are used to mean “forming a whole.” However, coherent is more commonly used to mean “clear, rational and consistent,” whereas cohesive is the preferred
(verbal abuse)
Mnemonic: A fancy word for casual conversation is colloquy (co- together + loqui to talk), so colloquial language is the language you use when talking to friends, but not when giving a formal speech or writing a formal essay.
⧠ derivative (adj) de- down + rivus stream
imitative of someone else’s work and therefore unoriginal : The judges suggested that Daria’s version of the song was too derivative and suggested that she try to make it more original.
Root family: [de-] decadent (excessively self-indulgent), deplore (to express strong disapproval), denounce (declare as bad), detract (reduce the value of something), debase (reduce in value), denigrate (criticize unfairly), deference (submission to the authority of another), condescend (to act superior to someone else)
Root family: [riv] river (a large stream), arrival (coming)
⧠ eclectic (adj) ex- out + legere to choose
deriving from a variety of sources : Ted has very eclectic tastes in music, ranging from country to jazz to reggae.
Root family: [lect] elect (to choose by voting), select (to choose carefully), delectable (very tasty) Don’t confuse with: electric (powered by electricity), ecstatic (extremely happy)
⧠ eloquent (adj) loqui to talk
articulate and well spoken : The jury was clearly persuaded by the attorney’s eloquent summary.
Form: eloquence = fluency in speaking or writing
Root family: [loqu, locu] loquacious (talkative), colloquial (conversational), circumlocutory (inclined to speak evasively), obloquy (verbal abuse)
Don’t confuse with: elegant (graceful and stylish)
Mnemonic: Avoid confusing eloquent and elegant by focusing on the root loqu, meaning “talk.” A dress can be elegant, but it certainly can’t be eloquent because it can’t talk.
⧠ epilogue (n) epi- upon, in addition + logos words
a section at the end of a novel or play that explains the conclusion : The epilogue explained that the protagonist never remarried.
Root family: [epi-] epigram (a pithy saying), epidemic (a widespread disease) Root family: [log] eulogy (a praising speech, usually for a deceased person) Don’t confuse with: monologue (a long speech in a play)
⧠ evocative (adj) e- out + vocare to call
tending to draw out strong feelings, ideas, or sensations : Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s magical novels are as evocative as they are disorienting.
Forms: evoke = to draw out an idea, emotion, or sensation; to elicit, evocation = the process of bringing a feeling or idea into the conscious mind
Root family: [e-, ex-] extol (to praise highly), extemporaneous (without planning), exuberant (filled with liveliness and energy), elusive (difficult to catch or achieve), exorbitant (excessive)
Synonyms: taciturn, reticent
Mnemonic: Sparta, the martial city-state of ancient Greece, was known for its disciplined warrior culture. Hence, spartan has come to mean “disciplined, austere, or strict.” From the Latin word for Sparta, Laconia, we get laconic, meaning “inclined to use very few words,” because Spartans, unlike the Athenians, who were educated in philosophy, poetry, and oration, were not considered particularly well spoken.
⧠ lament (v)
to mourn or express deep regret : Our friends lamented the loss of our old playground.
Forms: lamentable = regrettable, lamentation = a passionate expression of mourning Synonyms: rue, deplore
⧠ loquacious (adj) loqui to talk
talkative; tending to chatter : Although Anita is well liked, she is a bit too loquacious to be a good listener.
Form: loquacity = the quality of being loquacious Synonyms: garrulous, voluble
Root family: colloquial (conversational), eloquent (well-spoken), circumlocutory (inclined to speak evasively)
⧠ melodrama (n) melos music + drama
sensational drama designed to appeal to the emotions : I prefer realistic crime dramas to melodramas like soap operas.
Form: melodramatic = excessively dramatic Root family: [melo] melodious (tuneful)
⧠ platitude (n)
an overused proverb : My father bored us with his platitudes about hard work and sacrifice.
Synonym: banality, bromide, inanity, cliché
Don’t confuse with: platypus (a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal)
Mnemonic: Imagine a platypus with an attitude spouting inane platitudes like “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!”
⧠ poignant (adj) pungere to prick
emotionally moving; keenly distressing : The climax of the movie was so poignant that virtually the entire audience was reduced to tears.
Form: poignancy = the quality of being emotionally moving Synonyms: moving, affecting, plaintive
Root family: [punc, pung, poign] punctilious (scrupulously attentive to rules), punctual (on time), compunction (sharp feeling of guilt), puncture (to pierce), pungent (sharp tasting or smelling)
Don’t confuse with: pugnacious
Mnemonic: Poignant derive from pungere (to prick) because sharp emotions often elicit a sharp physical sensation, like a poke in the stomach.
⧠ satiric (adj)
employing humor, irony, or ridicule to poke fun at something : The skit was a satiric jab at the gridlocked congress.
Forms: satire = humor, irony, or ridicule used to poke fun at something, satirize = to poke fun at something with satire, satirical = satiric
Don’t confuse satire with satyr (in Greek mythology, a lustful, drunken god with a horse’s ears and tail)
⧠ verbose (adj) verbum word
excessively wordy : Sadly, many academics cannot distinguish intelligent prose from that which is merely verbose.
Synonyms: prolix, discursive
Root family: [val] prevalent (widespread and abundant), valor (bravery) Don’t confuse with: ambiguous (vague; having multiple meanings)
⧠ arbitrary (adj) arbiter judge
based on personal whim, rather than reason : His coworkers resented his imperious and arbitrary decision-making style.
Root family: [arbit] arbitration (the process of submitting a dispute to a judge), arbiter (a judge with absolute power)
Usage: The word arbitrary is sometimes misused as a synonym for random, as in The shells were scattered on the beach in an arbitrary pattern. This is a misuse of the term, because arbitrary derives from arbiter, meaning “judge,” so it should only be used to describe a decision or the result of a decision.
⧠ arbitrate (v) arbiter judge
to serve as a neutral third-party judge in a dispute : My mother arbitrated a resolution to the fight between my sister and me.
Forms: arbitration = the process of resolving a dispute via a neutral third party, arbiter = one who serves as a judge in a dispute Synonyms: adjudicate, mediate
Don’t confuse with: arbitrary (based on whim rather than reason) Mnemonic: Picture a judge arbitrating on an Arby’s tray.
⧠ carping (adj)
constantly finding fault, particularly about trivial matters : April’s constant carping about the movie forced me to walk out of the theater.
Synonyms: caviling, grousing, griping Don’t confuse with: carp (n) (a freshwater fish)
Mnemonic: Imagine an annoying patron at a restaurant carping about the carp she’s been served: It’s too dry! It smells fishy!
⧠ censor (v) censere to assess
to edit out or repress objectionable material : The prisoners’ outgoing letters were being censored by the prison officials.
Form: censorious = severely critical of others Synonyms: expurgate, bowdlerize
Root family: [cens] census (the official tally of a population), censure (to express formal disapproval) Don’t confuse with: censure (to express formal disapproval)
⧠ censure (v) censere to assess
to express formal disapproval of someone’s behavior : The senator was censured for her misconduct, but was permitted to stay in office.
Synonyms: chastise, rebuke, upbraid, reprove, reproach Don’t confuse with: censor (to edit out objectionable material) Usage: See usage note at rebuke in section 3.
⧠ clemency (n) clemens mildness
leniency, particularly in judicial sentencing : The judge showed clemency because the convict showed great remorse for his actions.
Synonyms: mercy, compassion
Root family: [clemen] inclement (stormy)
⧠ cynic (n)
one who believes that humans are essentially selfish : Warren was such a cynic that he mistrusted every word of praise from his teachers.
Forms: cynical = distrustful of the goodwill of others, cynicism = belief that everyone is essentially selfish Don’t confuse with: skeptic (one who doubts)
⧠ demeaning (adj)
causing a loss of respect or dignity : The student protest did not elevate the debate, but instead reduced it to a demeaning travesty of intellectual discourse.
Synonyms: degrading, abject
Don’t confuse with: demeanor (general bearing or behavior)
⧠ denounce (v) de- down + nuntiare declare
publicly declare as bad or evil : She was denounced for making a racist slur.
Forms: denunciation = the act of denouncing Synonyms: censure, revile, malign
Root family: [de-] decadent (excessively self-indulgent), derivative (imitative of someone else’s work), deplore (to express strong disapproval), detract (reduce the value of something), debase (reduce in value), denigrate (criticize unfairly), deference (submission to the authority of another), condescend (to act superior to someone else)
Root family: [nunc, nounc] renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), announce (make a formal declaration), enunciate (state clearly), pronounce (sound a word in a particular way)
Don’t confuse with: renounce (to disavow)
⧠ depraved (adj)
immoral or wicked : The murderer showed depraved indifference to human life.
Form: depravity = moral corruption
Synonyms: corrupt, degenerate, debased, nefarious, iniquitous
Don’t confuse with: deprived (denied of the benefit of something, particularly basic amenities and cultural advantages)
⧠ derision (n)
mockery; contemptuous ridicule : The derision Phil received in the locker room scarred him for life.
Forms: derisive = filled with derision, deride = express contempt for; ridicule Synonyms: scorn, disdain, contempt, disparagement
Usage: See usage note at disdain in this section.
⧠ disdain (n) dis- not + dignus worthy
feeling that something or someone is unworthy : I could feel only disdain for Glen’s self-serving apology.
Synonyms: scorn, contempt, derision, disparagement
Root family: [dis-] disconcerting (unsettling), discredit (harm the reputation of something or someone), discernment (the ability to make fine distinctions), dispassionate (not influenced by strong emotions), disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely), disperse (to spread or scatter), disputatious (argu- mentative), dispel (to drive away; to eliminate), diffident (lacking in self-confidence), diffuse (spread over a wide area)
Root family: [dign] dignify (to make worthy), indignant (angry about unjust treatment), deign (to do something that one con- siders beneath one’s dignity)
Usage: Disdain, contempt, derision, disparagement, and denigration are similar, but offer different shades of meaning.
Disdain includes a feeling of social superiority; contempt includes a particularly acute disgust; derision suggests not just a contemptuous feeling but also an outright verbal attack; disparagement suggests a long-term campaign to bring someone or
⧠ extol (v) ex- out + tol ring out
to praise enthusiastically : She extolled the technical beauty of Chopin’s etudes.
Synonyms: acclaim, exalt, eulogize
Don’t confuse with: exhort (to strongly encourage someone to do something)
⧠ futile (adj) futilis leaky (< fundere to pour)
doomed to fail; pointless : All attempts to defeat me are futile!
Form: futility = pointlessness
Root family: [fus, fund, found] confuse (to cause to become perplexed), confound (to fail to distinguish different elements), diffuse (spread over a wide area), fusion (the process of joining two things into a single entity), profuse (abundant), transfusion (a transfer, usually of blood, from one person or animal to another), refuse (to reject)
Don’t confuse with: utile (advantageous)
⧠ inane (adj)
silly, stupid : I find most reality shows to be an inane waste of time.
Forms: inanity = a silly act, inaneness = the quality of being inane Synonyms: fatuous, asinine, vapid, puerile
Don’t confuse with: insane (mentally ill)
⧠ irreverent (adj) ir- not + re- (intensive) + vereri to respect
showing no respect for things that are ordinarily given respect : The comedy troupe performed an irreverent sketch that thoroughly insulted the Vice President.
Form: reverent = very respectful Synonyms: impudent, flippant, insolent
Root family: [ir-, in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), innocuous (harmless), ineffable (inexpressible in words), inscrutable (beyond understanding), impassive (unemotional), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Root family: [rever] reverend (a title for a member of the clergy), reverential (highly respectful) Don’t confuse with: irrelevant (not appropriate to the matter at hand)
⧠ mundane (adj) mundus world
dull and uninteresting : She wanted to escape her mundane existence.
Synonyms: humdrum, monotonous, prosaic
⧠ punitive (adj) punire to punish
intended to punish : The court imposed punitive damages to discourage such reckless behavior in the future.
Form: impunity = exemption from punishment Synonyms: retributive, disciplinary
Root family: [puni, peni] punish (to impose a penalty for an offense), penitence (remorse for an offense), penitentiary (prison),