Analogous Words III Flashcards
sleek
slick
glossy
mean having a smooth bright surface or appearance.
sleek suggests a smoothness or brightness resulting from attentive grooming or physical conditioning: a sleek racehorse.
slick suggests extreme smoothness that results in a slippery surface: slipped and fell on the slick floor.
glossy suggests a highly reflective surface: photographs having a glossy finish.
easy facile simple light effortless smooth
mean not demanding effort or involving difficulty.
easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks: an easy college course.
facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness: facile answers to complex questions.
simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent: a simple problem in arithmetic.
light stresses freedom from what is burdensome: a light teaching load.
effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness: moving with effortless grace.
smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles: a smooth ride.
trick ruse stratagem maneuver artifice wile feint
mean an indirect means to gain an end.
trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end: the tricks of the trade.
ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression: the ruses of smugglers.
stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy: the stratagem-filled game.
maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty: last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy.
artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention: the clever artifices of the stage.
wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements: used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself.
feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one’s real intent: a feint toward the enemy’s left flank..
mercy charity clemency grace leniency
mean a disposition to show kindness or compassion.
mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it: threw himself on the mercy of the court.
charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others: show a little charity for the less fortunate.
clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing: the judge refused to show clemency.
grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions: by the grace of God.
leniency implies lack of severity in punishing: criticized the courts for excessive leniency.
different diverse divergent disparate various
mean unlike in kind or character.
different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness: different foods.
diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast: such diverse interests as dancing and football.
divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation: went on to pursue divergent careers.
disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility: disparate notions of freedom.
various stresses the number of sorts or kinds: tried various methods.
power authority jurisdiction control command sway dominion
mean the right to govern or rule or determine.
power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence: the power to mold public opinion.
authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits: granted the authority to manage her estate.
jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits: the bureau having jurisdiction over parks.
control stresses the power to direct and restrain: you are responsible for the students under your control.
command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience: the army officer in command.
sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence: the empire extended its sway over the region.
dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority: given dominion over all the animals.
power force energy strength might
mean the ability to exert effort.
power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon: the awesome power of flowing water.
force implies the actual effective exercise of power: used enough force to push the door open.
energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work: a worker with boundless energy.
strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack: use weight training to build your strength.
might implies great or overwhelming power or strength: the belief that might makes right.
estimate appraise evaluate value rate assess
mean to judge something with respect to its worth or significance.
estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out: estimated the crowd at two hundred.
appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment: having their house appraised.
evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary: evaluate a student’s work.
value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment: a watercolor valued by the donor at$500.
rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values: a highly rated restaurant.
assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action: officials are trying to assess the damage.
consider
study
contemplate
weigh
mean to think about in order to arrive at a judgment or decision.
consider may suggest giving thought to in order to reach a suitable conclusion, opinion, or decision: refused even to consider my proposal.
study implies sustained purposeful concentration and attention to details and minutiae: study the plan closely.
contemplate stresses focusing one’s thoughts on something but does not imply coming to a conclusion or decision: contemplate the consequences of refusing.
weigh implies attempting to reach the truth or arrive at a decision by balancing conflicting claims or evidence: weigh the pros and cons of the case.
delay retard slow slacken detain
mean to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress.
delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival: bad weather delayed our arrival.
retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping: language barriers retarded their progress.
slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed
slow often suggesting deliberate intention: medication slowed the patient’s heart rate.
slacken an easing up or relaxing of power or effort: on hot days runners slacken their pace.
detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time: unexpected business had detained her.
delay procrastinate lag loiter dawdle dally
mean to move or act slowly so as to fall behind.
delay usually implies a putting off (as a beginning or departure): we cannot delay any longer.
procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy: procrastinates about making decisions.
lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others: lagging behind in technology.
loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time: loitered at several store windows \ children dawdling on their way home from school.
dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary: stop dallying and get to work.
talkative
loquacious
garrulous
voluble
mean given to talk or talking.
talkative may imply a readiness to engage in talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation: a talkative neighbor.
loquacious suggests the power of expressing oneself articulately, fluently, or glibly: a loquacious spokesperson.
garrulous implies prosy, rambling, or tedious loquacity: garrulous traveling companions.
voluble suggests a free, easy, and unending loquacity: a voluble raconteur.
wordy
verbose
prolix
diffuse
mean using more words than necessary to express thought.
wordy may also imply loquaciousness or garrulity: a wordy speech.
verbose suggests a resulting dullness, obscurity, or lack of incisiveness or precision: the verbose position papers.
prolix suggests unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details: habitually transformed brief anecdotes into prolix sagas.
diffuse stresses lack of compactness and pointedness of style: diffuse memoirs that are so many shaggy-dog stories.
tendency trend drift tenor current
mean movement in a particular direction.
tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force: a general tendency toward inflation.
trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course: the long-term trend of the stock market is upward.
drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces: the drift of the population away from large cities / or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse: got the drift of her argument.
tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course: the tenor of the times.
current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course: an encounter that changed the current of my life.
serious grave solemn sedate staid sober earnest
mean not light or frivolous.
serious implies a concern for what really matters: a serious play about social injustice.
grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude: read the proclamation in a grave voice.
solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity: a sad and solemn occasion.
sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness: remained sedate amid the commotion.
staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint: a quiet and staid community.
sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity: a sober look at the state of our schools.
earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose: an earnest reformer.
explain expound explicate elucidate interpret
mean to make something clear or understandable.
explain implies a making plain or intelligible what is not immediately obvious or entirely known: explain the rules.
expound implies a careful often elaborate explanation: expounding a scientific theory.
explicate adds the idea of a developed or detailed analysis: explicate a poem.
elucidate stresses the throwing of light upon as by offering details or motives previously unclear or only implicit: elucidate an obscure passage.
interpret adds to explain the need for imagination or sympathy or special knowledge in dealing with something: interpreting a work of art.
assert declare affirm protest avow
mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection.
assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence: asserted that modern music is just noise.
declare stresses open or public statement: declared her support for the candidate.
affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith: affirmed the existence of an afterlife.
protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt: protested that he really had been misquoted.
avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared: avowed that all investors would be repaid in full
ominous
portentous
fateful
mean having a menacing or threatening aspect.
ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster: ominous rumblings from the volcano.
portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity: an eerie and portentous stillness.
fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance: the fateful conference that led to war.
free release liberate emancipate manumit
mean to set loose from restraint or constraint.
free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses: freed the animals from their cages.
release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation: released his anger on a punching bag.
liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty: liberated their country from the tyrant.
emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination: labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery.
manumit implies emancipation from slavery: the document manumitted the slaves.
free
independent
sovereign
autonomous
mean not subject to the rule or control of another.
free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one’s own decisions: you’re free to do as you like.
independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies: the colony’s struggle to become independent.
sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing’s own domain or sphere: separate and sovereign armed services.
autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government: in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous.
command order bid enjoin direct instruct charge
mean to issue orders.
command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality.
command stresses official exercise of authority: a general commanding troops.
order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise: ordered his employees about like slaves.
bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants): she bade him be seated.
enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude: a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet.
direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality: directed her assistant to hold all calls / the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark.
charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility: charged by the President with a secret mission.
estrange
alienate
disaffect
mean to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty.
estrange implies the development of indifference or hostility with consequent separation or divorcement: his estranged wife.
alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest: managed to alienate all his coworkers.
disaffect refers especially to those from whom loyalty is expected and stresses the effects (as rebellion or discontent) of alienation without actual separation: troops disaffected by hunger.
frustrate thwart foil baffle balk
mean to check or defeat another’s plan or block achievement of a goal.
frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent: frustrated attempts at government reform.
thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing: the army thwarted his attempt at a coup.
foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort: foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her.
baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling: baffled by the maze of rules and regulations.
balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances: officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime.
irritate exasperate nettle provoke rile peeve
mean to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance.
irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage: constant nagging that irritated me greatly.
exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience: his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions.
nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging: your pompous attitude nettled several people.
provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action: remarks made solely to provoke her.
rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation: the new work schedules riled the employees.
peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation: a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie.
fragile frangible brittle crisp friable
mean breaking easily.
fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling: a fragile antique chair.
frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy: frangible stone used for paving.
brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness: brittle bones.
crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods: crisp lettuce.
friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized: friable soil.
chaste
pure
modest
decent
mean free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious.
chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows: they maintained chaste relations.
pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one’s impulses and actions: the pure of heart.
modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity: preferred more modest swimsuits / decent people didn’t go to such movies.
answer response reply rejoinder retort
mean something spoken, written, or done in return.
answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need: had answers to all their questions.
response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus: a response to the call for recruits.
reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised: a point-by-point reply to the accusation.
rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection: a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument.
retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack: she made a cutting retort to her critics.
silent taciturn reticent reserved secretive
mean showing restraint in speaking.
silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed: the strong, silent type.
taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability: taciturn villagers.
reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one’s own affairs: was reticent about his plans.
reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange: greetings were brief, formal, and reserved.
secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal: the secretive research and development division.
wit humor irony sarcasm satire repartee
mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement.
wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous: a playful wit.
humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness: a sense of humor.
irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed: the irony of the title.
sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound: given to heartless sarcasm.
satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature: a satire on the Congress.
repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily: a dinner guest noted for repartee.
equanimity
composure
sangfroid
mean evenness of mind under stress.
equanimity suggests a habit of mind that is only rarely disturbed under great strain: accepted her troubles with equanimity.
composure implies the controlling of emotional or mental agitation by an effort of will or as a matter of habit: maintaining his composure even under hostile questioning.
sangfroid implies great coolness and steadiness under strain: handled the situation with professional sangfroid.
anger ire rage fury indignation wrath
mean an intense emotional state induced by displeasure.
anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity: tried to hide his anger.
ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling: cheeks flushed with ire.
rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion: shook with rage. / could not contain his fury.
indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful: a comment that caused general indignation.
wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge: I feared her wrath if I was discovered.
fear dread fright alarm panic terror trepidation
mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger.
fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage: fear of the unknown.
dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety: faced the meeting with dread.
fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear: fright at being awakened suddenly.
alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger: view the situation with alarm.
panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity: the news caused widespread panic.
terror implies the most extreme degree of fear: immobilized with terror.
trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation: raised the subject with trepidation.
wrong
oppress
persecute
aggrieve
mean to injure unjustly or outrageously.
wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves: a penal system that had wronged him.
oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform: a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant.
persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering: a child persecuted by constant criticism.
aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights: a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups.
pacify appease placate mollify propitiate conciliate
mean to ease the anger or disturbance of.
pacify suggests a soothing or calming: pacified by a sincere apology.
appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions: appease their territorial ambitions.
placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill: a move to placate local opposition.
mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger: a speech that mollified the demonstrators.
propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being: propitiated his parents by dressing up.
conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences: conciliating the belligerent nations.
think conceive imagine fancy realize envisage envision
mean to form an idea of.
think implies the entrance of an idea into one’s mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection: I just thought of a good joke.
conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design: conceived of a new marketing approach.
imagine stresses a visualization: imagine you’re at the beach.
fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires: fancied himself a super athlete.
realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined: realized the enormity of the task ahead.
envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed: envisaged a totally computerized operation. / envisioned a cure for the disease.
think cogitate reflect reason speculate deliberate
mean to use one’s powers of conception, judgment, or inference.
think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions: teaches students how to think.
cogitate implies deep or intent thinking: cogitated on the mysteries of nature.
reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind: reflecting on fifty years of married life.
reason stresses consecutive logical thinking: able to reason brilliantly in debate.
speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic: speculated on the fate of the lost explorers.
deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision: the jury deliberated for five hours.
haste hurry speed expedition dispatch
mean quickness in movement or action.
haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness: marry in haste.
hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion: in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush.
speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action: exercises to increase your reading speed.
expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters: the case came to trial with expedition. / paid bills with dispatch.
motive impulse incentive inducement spur goad
mean a stimulus to action.
motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act: a motive for the crime.
impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution: buying on impulse.
incentive applies to an external influence (as an expected reward) inciting to action: a bonus was offered as an incentive.
inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another: offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe.
spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor: fear was a spur to action.
goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one’s will or desire: thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency.
distress
suffering
misery
agony
mean the state of being in great trouble.
distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress: the hurricane put everyone in great distress.
suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress: the suffering of famine victims.
misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss: the homeless live with misery every day.
agony suggests pain too intense to be borne: in agony over the death of their child.
attempt try endeavor essay strive
mean to make an effort to accomplish an end.
attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort: will attempt to photograph the rare bird.
try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something: tried to determine which was the better procedure.
endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty: endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains.
essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting: will essay a dramatic role for the first time.
strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort: continues to strive for peace.
