Words
Sound Files
10 matching synonym questions
Etymology: [glibberig (Dutch), "slippery"]
able to talk easily and fluently without being sincere or profound
Mr. Thackeray may not be a glib public speaker but he is a profound thinker.
Synonyms: smooth, facile, garrulous, voluble
Antonyms: silent, curt, reticent
Etymology: [prevaricari (Latin), "to walk crookedly"; from prae, "before" + varicare, "to straddle"]
to evade the truth by quibbling or misrepresentation
The witness on the stand tried to wiggle out of an uncomfortable admission by prevaricating instead of giving a direct answer to the question.
Synonyms: equivocate, beat around the bush
NOTE: In Roman times the prevaricator was a prosecuting attorney who presented his case in court so halfheartedly that the defendant was acquitted. By derivation, the Roman prevaricator was one who straddled, — that is, had one foot on each side of the case. Thus, in modern use, one is said to prevaricate when one equivocates, or says "yes" and "no" with the intention to deceive or to avoid telling the truth.
Etymology: [eminere (Latin), "to stand out"]
distinguished; of high rank
The problems of maintained civilization are not to be solved by a transfer of responsibility from citizenship to government, and no eminent page in history was ever drafted by the standards of mediocrity. — Warren G. Harding
Synonyms: prominent, distinguished, notable, illustrious
Antonyms: obscure
NOTE 1: Eminent domain is the power that a government possesses by which it can appropriate property for public use.
NOTE 2: His Eminence is the title for a Cardinal.
NOTE 3: Do not confuse imminent, meaning "impending" or "threatening," with eminent.
Etymology: [relegate (Latin), "to send away," "to banish"; from re, "back" + legare, "to send as an ambassador"]
1. to remove to a less prominent or desirable position
In view of the clamorous opposition, the bill was relegated to the legislative committee for indefinite postponement.
2. to assign to a particular class or group
Critics have relegated Marco Polo's tales to fiction rather than to history.
Synonyms: banish, transfer, consign, delegate
Etymology: [From the phrase "to be at one, " the idea being that a person who atones for their guilt or misdeed is made at peace or made "whole" in conscience.]
to make amends for an offense
"In order to atone for our sins and errors in Vietnam, we should take the initiative in bringing a halt to this tragic war." — Martin Luther King Jr.
Synonyms: expiate (noun form: expiation), repent (noun form: repentance)
Etymology: [(e) (Latin), "out" + latus, past participle of ferre, "to bear"]
to exalt or raise the spirits
"I was elated, ecstatic and extremely surprised that we were successful." — Neil Armstrong
Synonyms: gladden, cheer, rejoice, exhilarate
Antonyms: depress, deject, dishearten, sadden
Etymology: [husbonda (Anglo-Saxon), master of a household; peasant]
(a) agriculture
Many hand tools used in husbandry are being displaced by power-driven machines.
(b) thrift; wise management of domestic affairs
Only by husbandry could the peasant manage to subsist and raise his family properly.
Synonyms: economy, frugality
Antonyms: lavishness, prodigality
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
Etymology: [centum (Latin), "hundred" + annus, "year"]
a period of 100 years; a hundredth anniversary; pertaining to such a period
The firm where Katherine's father works is celebrating its centennial this year.
NOTE: Similar forms exist for other periods of time.
tercentenary — 300 years; a 300th anniversary or its celebration
sesquicentennial — a 150th anniversary or its celebration
bicentennial — every 200 years; a 200th anniversary or its celebration
Etymology: [aroma (Greek and Latin), "odor"]
a pleasant smell or fragrance
The smell of freshly cut grass is my favorite summertime aroma.
Synonyms: scent, odor, perfume, fragrance
NOTE: The words smell and odor may suggest something either pleasant or unpleasant. Scent is lighter than either smell or odor. Aroma usually refers to a strong, spicy smell like that of coffee.
Etymology: [dilettare (Italian), "to delight"; from delectare (Latin), "to delight"]
one who dabbles in the fine arts or in a branch of knowledge for amusement only and without serious or concentrated study
His income was now so large that he felt he could afford to become an expert in his hobbies and be a dilettante in his business.
Synonyms: amateur, dabbler, layman, tyro
Antonyms: expert, professional, connoisseur
NOTE 1: The plural of dilettante is dilettanti or dilettantes.
NOTE 2: Please review the following general distinction between amateur and dilettante: "An amateur chooses his art or sport for love of it, and, though not ranked as a professional, he may be expert and accomplished. The dilettante shares the amateur's love for his chosen field, but not his application; hence, he is a dabbler, one who toys with a subject, a mere trifler."
NOTE 3: Dilettante is also used as an adjective.