1.credible
Pronunciation: \ˈkre-də-bəl\
Origin:
Middle English, from Latin credibilis, from credere
First Known Use: 14th century
Definition:
-
able to be believed : reasonable to trust or believe
-
good enough to be effective
Sample sentence:
We've received credible information about the group's location.
Synonyms and related words:
believable, creditable, likely, plausible, presumptive, probable
Antonyms:
far-fetched, implausible, improbable, incredible, unbelievable, unlikely, unplausible
2.criteria
Pronunciation:\krī-ˈtir-ē-ən also krə-\
Origin:
Greek kritērion, from krinein to judge, decide — more at certain
First Known Use: 1622
Definition:
something that is used as a reason for making a judgment or decision
Sample sentence:
What were the criteria used to choose the winner?
Synonyms and related words:
bar, barometer, benchmark, standard, gold standard, grade, mark, measure, metric, par, touchstone, yardstick
3.dismiss
Pronunciation:\dis-ˈmis\
Origin:
Middle English, modification of Latin dimissus, past participle of dimittere, from dis- + mittere to send
First Known Use: 15th century
Definition:
to decide not to think about or consider (something or someone)
to send (someone) away : to cause or allow (someone) to leave
to officially make (someone) leave a job : to end the employment or service of (someone)
Sample sentence:
I don't think we should dismiss the matter lightly.
Synonyms and related words:
ax (or axe), bounce, can, cashier, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off, send packing, show (one) the door
Antonyms:
employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on
4.envy
Pronunciation:\ˈen-vē\
Origin:
Middle English envie, from Anglo-French, from Latin invidia, from invidus envious, from invidēre to look askance at, envy, from in- + vidēre to see — more at wit
First Known Use: 13th century
Definition:
the feeling of wanting to have what someone else has
someone or something that causes envy
Sample sentence:
Their exotic vacations inspired envy in their friends.
Synonyms and related words:
covetousness, enviousness, green-eyed monster, invidiousness, jealousy, resentment
5.extraterrestrial
Pronunciation:\-tə-ˈres-trē-əl, -ˈres(h)-chəl\
Origin:
First Known Use of EXTRATERRESTRIAL 1950
Definition:
coming from or existing outside the planet Earth
6.galaxy
Pronunciation:\ˈga-lək-sē\
Origin:
Middle English galaxie, galaxias, from Late Latin galaxias, from Greek, from galakt-, gala milk; akin to Latin lac milk
First Known Use: 14th century
Definition:
any one of the very large groups of stars that make up the universe
Synonyms and related words:
light-year, world
7.mainstream
Pronunciation:\ˈmān-ˌstrēm\
Origin:
First Known Use of MAINSTREAM 1599
Definition:
a prevailing current or direction of activity or influence
8.orbit
Pronunciation:\ˈȯr-bət\
Origin:
Middle English, from Medieval Latin orbita, from Latin, rut, track, probably from orbis
First Known Use: 15th century
Definition:
the bony socket of the eye
9. fascinated
Pronunciation:\ˈfa-sə-ˌnāt\
Origin:
Latin fascinatus, past participle of fascinare, from fascinum evil spell
First Known Use: 1598
Definition:
to cause (someone) to be very interested in something or someone
Sample sentence:
Her paintings never fail to fascinate.
Synonyms and related words:
allure, beguile, bewitch, captivate, enchant
10.spacecraft
Pronunciation:\ˈspās-ˌkraft\
Origin:
First Known Use of SPACECRAFT 1930
Definition:
a vehicle that is used for travel in outer space
11.telescope
Pronunciation:\ˈte-lə-ˌskōp\
Origin:
New Latin telescopium, from Greek tēleskopos farseeing, from tēle- tele- + skopos watcher; akin to Greek skopein to look — more at spy
First Known Use: 1648
Definition:
a device shaped like a long tube that you look through in order to see things that are far away
Sample sentence:
The rings of Saturn can be seen through a telescope
Synonyms and related words:
gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith
12.decrease
Pronunciation:\di-ˈkrēs, ˈdē-ˌ\
Origin:
Middle English decreessen, from Anglo-French decrestre, from Latin decrescere, from de- + crescere to grow — more at crescent
First Known Use: 14th century
Definition:
to become smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
to make (something) smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
Sample sentence:
The driver decreased her speed as she approached the curve.
Synonyms and related words:
abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale
Antonyms:
aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate,
13.account
Pronunciation:\ə-ˈkau̇nt\
Origin:
Middle English acounte, accompte, from Anglo-French acunte, from acunter
First Known Use: 14th century
Definition:
a record of money that has been paid and money that has been received
accounts
records of income and expenses
an arrangement in which a bank keeps a record of the money that a person puts in and takes out of the bank
Sample sentence:
We opened new accounts at a bank last week.
Synonyms and related words:
chronicle, chronology, commentary
Antonyms:
uselessness, worthlessness
14.fabric
Pronunciation:\ˈfa-brik\
Origin:
Middle French fabrique, from Latin fabrica workshop, structure
First Known Use: 15th century
Definition:
woven or knitted material
the basic structure of something
Synonyms and related words:
cloth, textile
15.fundamental
Pronunciation:\ˌfən-də-ˈmen-təl\
Origin:
First Known Use of FUNDAMENTAL
15th century
Definition:
forming or relating to the most important part of something
of or relating to the basic structure or function of something
Sample sentence:
There's a fundamental difference between these two political parties.
Synonyms and related words:
abecedarian, basal, basic, beginning, elemental
Antonyms:
Advanced
16.literary
Pronunciation:\ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē\
Origin:
First Known Use of LITERARY 1605
Definition:
of or relating to literature
used in literature
having a lot of knowledge about literature : known for reading or writing books
Sample sentence:
Mystery fiction is only one of many literary forms.
Synonyms and related words:
erudite, learned, bookish
Antonyms:
colloquial, nonliterary, unbookish
17.overestimate
Pronunciation:/ˌəʊ.vəˈres.tɪ.meɪt/
Definition:
to think that something is or will be greater, more extreme, or more important than it really is
Sample sentence:
The benefits of nuclear technology, she said, had been grossly overestimated.
18.planetarium
Pronunciation:\ˌpla-nə-ˈter-ē-əm\
Origin:
First Known Use of PLANETARIUM 1734
Definition:
a building or room in which images of stars, planets, etc., are shown on a high, curved ceiling
19.probe
Pronunciation:\ˈprōb\
Origin:
Medieval Latin proba examination, from Latin probare
First Known Use: 1580
Definition:
a careful examination or investigation of something
a thin, long instrument that is used especially for examining parts of the body
Sample sentence:
The FBI probe did not produce any new evidence.
Synonyms and related words:
delving, disquisition, examen, examination
20.prompt
Pronunciation:\ˈpräm(p)t\
Origin:
Middle English, from Medieval Latin promptare, from Latin promptus prompt
First Known Use: 14th century
Definition:
to cause (someone) to do something
to be the cause of (something)
to say (something that encourages a person to talk)
Sample sentence:
Pride prompted his angry response.
Synonyms and related words:
beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause
21.shortcut
Pronunciation:\ˈshȯrt-ˌkət also -ˈkət\
Origin:
First Known Use of SHORTCUT 1637
Definition:
a shorter, quicker, or easier way to get to a place
a quicker or easier way to do something
Sample sentence:
Let's take the shortcut through the woods.
22.skepticism
Pronunciation:\ˈskep-tə-ˌsi-zəm\
Origin:
First Known Use of SKEPTICISM 1646
Definition:
an attitude of doubting the truth of something (such as a claim or statement)
Sample sentence:
It's good to maintain a healthy skepticism about fad diets.
Synonyms and related words:
distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation
Antonyms:
assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence
23.worthy
Pronunciation:\ˈwər-thē\
Origin:
First Known Use of WORTHY 13th century
Definition:
good and deserving respect, praise, or attention
having enough good qualities to be considered important, useful, etc.
Sample sentence:
I consider him a worthy opponent.
Synonyms and related words:
deserving, good, meritorious
Antonyms:
no-good, undeserving, valueless, worthless
24.vast
Pronunciation:\ˈvast\
Origin:
Latin vastus; akin to Old High German wuosti empty, desolate, Old Irish fás
First Known Use: 1585
Definition:
very great in size, amount, or extent
Sample sentence:
The policy is supported by the vast majority of citizens.
a vast expanse of land
Synonyms and related words:
astronomical (also astronomic), Brobdingnagian, bumper, colossal
Antonyms:
bantam, bitty, diminutive, infinitesimal, Lilliputian
25.civilization
Pronunciation:\ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən\
Origin:
First Known Use of CIVILIZATION 1772
Definition:
-
the condition that exists when people have developed effective ways of organizing a society and care about art, science, etc.
-
a particular well-organized and developed society
-
all the societies of the world
Sample sentence:
We are studying ancient Greek civilization.
a book about life on the planet after wars have destroyed civilization
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