Pronunciation: /kəˈprɪʃəs/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /kəˈprɪʃəs
Synonym: unpredictable, erratic
Opposite: consistent, predictable
Her capricious moods made it hard to predict her reactions
Pronunciation: /ˈkəʊdʒ(ə)nt/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /ˈkəʊdʒ(ə)nt
Synonym: persuasive, compelling
Opposite: weak, unconvincing
The lawyer presented a cogent argument in court
Pronunciation: /daɪˈdæktɪk/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /daɪˈdæktɪk
Synonym: educational, instructive
Opposite: entertaining, non-instructive
The novel had a didactic tone, aiming to impart important life lessons
Pronunciation: /ˌiːkwəˈnɪmɪti/
Part of speech: noun
Formal or informal: formal
Countable or uncountable: uncountable
Stress marks: /ˌiːkwəˈnɪmɪti
Synonym: composure, serenity
Opposite: agitation, panic
She faced the crisis with remarkable equanimity
Pronunciation: /fæˈstɪdɪəs/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /fæˈstɪdɪəs
Synonym: meticulous, precise
Opposite: careless, sloppy
She was fastidious about cleanliness in her home
Pronunciation: /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs
Synonym: unnecessary, unjustified
Opposite: justified, warranted
The gratuitous violence in the movie was unnecessary
Pronunciation: /ˈhɑːbɪndʒər/
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner of something
Formal or informal: formal
Countable or uncountable: countable
Stress marks: /ˈhɑːbɪndʒər
Synonym: precursor, herald
Opposite: follower, successor
The first snowfall is often seen as a harbinger of winter
Pronunciation:/ɪnˈskruːtəb(ə)l/
Part of speech :adjective
Stress marks:/ɪnˈskruːtəb(ə)l
Synonym:mysterious, enigmatic
Opposite:fathomable, transparent
His inscrutable expression gave nothing away
Pronunciation:/məˈtɪkjʊləs/
Part of speech :adjective
Stress marks:/məˈtɪkjʊləs
Synonym:detailed, careful
Opposite:sloppy, careless
She was meticulous in her planning for the event.
Pronunciation:/ˈnɛbjʊləs/
Part of speech :adjective
Formal or informal:both
Stress marks:/ˈnɛbjʊləs
Synonym:vague, ambiguous
Opposite:definite, clear
The plan was still nebulous and lacked clear direction
Pronunciation:/ˈɒstrəsʌɪz/
Part of speech :verb
Irregular spelling and irregular forms:ostracized (past tense)
Transitive or intransitive :transitive
Stress marks:/ˈɒstrəsʌɪz
Synonym:socially exclude, shun
Opposite:include, welcome
She felt ostracized by her former friends after the argument
Pronunciation:/pɪˈdantɪk/
Part of speech :adjective
Stress marks:/pɪˈdantɪk
Synonym:pompous, dogmatic
Opposite:laid-back, relaxed
His pedantic lectures were hard to sit through
Pronunciation:/ˈkwɒnd(ə)ri/
Part of speech :noun
Definition:a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation;dilemma
Formal or informal:both
Stress marks:/ˈkwɒnd(ə)ri
Synonym:dilemma, predicament
Opposite:solution, clarity
She found herself in a quandary over which job offer to accept
Pronunciation:/ˈræŋkə/
Part of speech :noun
Stress marks:/ˈræŋkə
Synonym:bitterness, animosity
Opposite:forgiveness, goodwill
Their rancor towards each other was evident in their heated arguments
Pronunciation:/səˈgeɪʃəs/
Part of speech :adjective
Stress marks:/səˈgeɪʃəs
Synonym:wise, insightful
Opposite:n/a
The sagacious advice from the elder was highly valued
Pronunciation: /təˈneɪʃəs/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /təˈneɪʃəs
Synonym: persistent, determined
Opposite: weak, yielding
Her tenacious grip on the rope helped her climb to the top
Pronunciation: /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs
Synonym: omnipresent, pervasive
Opposite: rare, scarce
The ubiquitous use of smartphones has changed the way we communicate
Pronunciation: /vɛks/
Part of speech: verb
Transitive or intransitive: transitive
Stress marks: /vɛks
Synonym: irritate, bother
Opposite: soothe, calm
The constant noise from the construction site vexed the neighbors
Pronunciation: /ˈwɪstfʊl/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /ˈwɪstfʊl
Synonym: nostalgic, yearning
Opposite: content, satisfied
She looked at the old photographs with a wistful expression
Pronunciation: /ˈzɛlət/
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals
Countable or uncountable: countable
Stress marks: /ˈzɛlət
Synonym: fanatic, extremist
Opposite: moderate, moderate
The zealot’s extreme views alienated many people.
Pronunciation: /ɒˈstɛnsɪb(ə)l/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /ɒˈstɛnsɪb(ə)l
Synonym: apparent, seeming
Opposite: genuine, real
The ostensible reason for his absence was illness, but some suspected other motives.
Pronunciation: /pɪˈdantɪk/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /pɪˈdantɪk
Synonym: nitpicking, meticulous
Opposite: relaxed, casual
His pedantic insistence on correct grammar made him unpopular with his colleagues
Pronunciation: /kwəʊˈtɪdɪən/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /kwəʊˈtɪdɪən
Synonym: daily, routine
Opposite: extraordinary, exceptional
The monotony of her quotidian routine was starting to wear on her.
Pronunciation: /rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt
Synonym: defiant, disobedient
Opposite: compliant, obedient
The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher’s instructions.
Pronunciation: /ˈsaŋɡwɪn/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /ˈsaŋɡwɪn
Synonym: hopeful, confident
Opposite: pessimistic, gloomy
Despite the setbacks, she remained sanguine about the project’s prospects
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛnjʊəs/
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: formal
Stress marks: /ˈtɛnjʊəs
Synonym: flimsy, fragile
Opposite: strong, substantial
The evidence for their theory was tenuous at best
Pronunciation: yoo-BIK-wi-tuhs
Part of speech: adjective
Countable or uncountable: Countable
Transitive or intransitive: Intransitive
Stress marks: yoo-BIK-wi-tuhs
Synonym: omnipresent
Opposite: rare
The company’s logo was ubiquitous, appearing on billboards, commercials, and even clothing
Pronunciation: /ˈvasɪleɪt/
Part of speech: verb
Transitive or intransitive: intransitive
Stress marks: /ˈvasɪleɪt
Synonym: hesitate, waver
Opposite: decide, commit
She vacillated between staying home and going out with her friends
Pronunciation: WIST-fuhl
Part of speech: adjective
Countable or uncountable: Countable
Transitive or intransitive: Intransitive
Stress marks: WIST-fuhl
Synonym: nostalgic
Opposite: content
She looked wistful as she gazed out the window, lost in thought
Pronunciation: ZEL-uhs
Part of speech: adjective
Formal or informal: Both
Countable or uncountable: Countable
Transitive or intransitive: Intransitive
Stress marks: ZEL-uhs
Synonym: fervent
Opposite: apathetic
The zealous young activist dedicated all her time to the cause she believed in