ephemeral[ɛˈfɛ.mə.ɹəl]
lasting for a very short time
ExamplesFame can be ephemeral.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
contrast[ˈkɒntɹɑːst]
a clear difference
ExamplesA sharp contrast.
Word tagsnouns
serendipity[ˌsɛɹ.ənˈdɪp.ɪ.ti]
the occurrence of happy events by chance
ExamplesA moment of serendipity.
Word tagsnounsacademic
perfunctory[pəˈfʌŋk.t(ə)ɹɪ]
done with minimal effort
ExamplesA perfunctory nod.
Word tagsadjectives
scope[skəʊp]
the range of a subject
ExamplesBeyond the scope.
Word tagsnounsacademic
obfuscate[ˈɒbfəskeɪt]
to deliberately make something unclear
ExamplesJargon can obfuscate meaning.
Word tagsverbsacademic
sanguine[ˈsæŋ.ɡwɪn]
optimistic in a difficult situation
ExamplesShe stayed sanguine.
Word tagsadjectives
juxtapose[ˈd͡ʒʌk.stə.pəʊz]
to place close together for contrast
ExamplesThe film juxtaposes past and present.
Word tagsverbsacademic
capacity[kəˈpæsɪti]
the ability to hold or do
ExamplesA large capacity.
Word tagsnouns
quintessential[ˌkwɪntɪˈsɛnʃəl]
representing the most perfect example
ExamplesThe quintessential summer day.
Word tagsadjectives
equivocate[ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt]
to use ambiguous language to conceal the truth
ExamplesStop equivocating and answer.
Word tagsverbs
ambivalent[æmˈbɪv.ə.lənt]
having mixed feelings
ExamplesAmbivalent about it.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
ineffable[ɪˈnɛf.ə.bəl]
too great to be expressed in words
ExamplesAn ineffable sense of awe.
Word tagsadjectives
pellucid[pɪˈl(j)uːsɪd]
transparently clear in meaning
ExamplesA pellucid explanation.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
ostensible[ɒˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl]
stated but perhaps not true
ExamplesThe ostensible reason.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
meticulous[mɪˈtɪkjɪlɪs]
very careful and precise
ExamplesA meticulous plan.
Word tagsadjectives
tenuous[ˈtɛn.ju.əs]
weak; very thin or slight
ExamplesA tenuous link.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
inexorable[ɪnˈɛksɔɹəbəl]
impossible to stop or prevent
ExamplesThe inexorable march of time.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
candid[ˈkæn.dɪd]
honest and direct
ExamplesA candid remark.
Word tagsadjectives
esoteric[ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk]
understood by only a few
ExamplesAn esoteric theory.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
laconic[ləˈkɒnɪk]
using very few words
ExamplesA laconic reply.
Word tagsadjectives
prosaic[pɹəʊˈzeɪ.ɪk]
dull and ordinary
ExamplesA prosaic style.
Word tagsadjectives
prudent[ˈpɹuː.dənt]
acting with care for the future
ExamplesA prudent choice.
Word tagsadjectives
nebulous[ˈnɛbjʊləs]
vague; not clearly defined
ExamplesA nebulous plan.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
cogent[ˈkəʊd͡ʒn̩t]
clear, logical and convincing
ExamplesA cogent argument.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
susceptible[səˈsɛptɪbl̩]
likely to be affected
ExamplesSusceptible to harm.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
recondite[ˈɹɛk(ə)nˌdaɪt]
little known; obscure
ExamplesA recondite subject.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
sagacious[səˈɡeɪʃəs]
showing keen judgement; wise
ExamplesA sagacious leader.
Word tagsadjectives
redundant[ɹɪˈdʌn.dənt]
not needed; extra
ExamplesA redundant clause.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
perspicacious[ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs]
having sharp insight
ExamplesA perspicacious critic.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
inchoate[ɪnˈkəʊət]
just begun; not fully formed
ExamplesAn inchoate idea.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic
truculent[ˈtɹʌk.jʊ.lənt]
eager to argue or fight
ExamplesA truculent tone.
Word tagsadjectives
intricate[ˈɪn.tɹɪ.kət]
very detailed and complex
ExamplesAn intricate design.
Word tagsadjectives
mendacious[mɛnˈdeɪʃəs]
not telling the truth
ExamplesA mendacious account.
Word tagsadjectives
obdurate[ˈɒbdʒʊɹɪt]
stubbornly refusing to change
ExamplesAn obdurate refusal.
Word tagsadjectives
concise[kənˈsaɪs]
short and clear
ExamplesA concise summary.
Word tagsadjectives
fastidious[fæsˈtɪdi.əs]
very attentive to detail
ExamplesA fastidious editor.
Word tagsadjectives
ephemeron
something short-lived
ExamplesA mere ephemeron.
Word tagsnounsacademic
solipsism[ˈsɒlɪpsɪzəm]
the view that only the self exists
ExamplesA hint of solipsism.
Word tagsnounsacademic
eloquent[ˈɛl.əˌkwənt]
fluent and persuasive
ExamplesAn eloquent speech.
Word tagsadjectives
verisimilitude[vɛɹɪsɪˈmɪlɪtjuːd]
the appearance of being true
ExamplesThe film's verisimilitude.
Word tagsnounsacademic
perspicuity[ˌpəːspɪˈkjuːɪti]
clarity of expression
ExamplesAdmired for its perspicuity.
Word tagsnounsacademic
scrupulous[ˈskɹuː.pjə.ləs]
careful to do what is right
ExamplesScrupulous honesty.
Word tagsadjectives
equanimity[ˌɛkwəˈnɪmɪti]
calmness under stress
ExamplesShe faced it with equanimity.
Word tagsnouns
obstreperous[əbˈstɹɛp.əɹ.əs]
noisy and hard to control
ExamplesAn obstreperous crowd.
Word tagsadjectives
pusillanimous[ˌpjuːsɪlˈænɪməs]
showing a lack of courage
ExamplesA pusillanimous retreat.
Word tagsadjectives
tenacious[təˈneɪʃəs]
holding firmly; persistent
ExamplesA tenacious effort.
Word tagsadjectives
grandiloquent[ɡɹænˈdɪl.ə.kwənt]
using pompous, lofty language
ExamplesA grandiloquent speech.
Word tagsadjectives
perfunctorily[pəɹˈfʌŋkt(ə)ɹɪli]
in a hasty, careless way
ExamplesHe nodded perfunctorily.
Word tagsadverbs
astute[əsˈtjuːt]
showing sharp judgement
ExamplesAn astute investor.
Word tagsadjectives
inveterate[ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt]
firmly fixed by long habit
ExamplesAn inveterate reader.
Word tagsadjectives
sui generis[ˌs(j)uː.aɪ ˈd͡ʒɛn.ə.ɹɪs]
unique; of its own kind
ExamplesA sui generis case.
Word tagsadjectivesacademic