Definition
Alleviate
to reduce or ease
The government introduced new policies to alleviate poverty in rural areas.
Albeit
although
The product was well-designed, albeit too expensive for most consumers.
Ostensibly
apparently, but possibly not truly
He was ostensibly working on the project, but made little progress.
Inscrutable
difficult to understand or interpret
Her expression was inscrutable; no one knew what she was thinking.
Quandary
a state of uncertainty or confusion
She was in a quandary over which university to choose.
Ubiquitous
present everywhere
Wireless internet has become ubiquitous in developed nations.
Appalling
shocking in a negative way
The appalling conditions in the factory sparked global outrage.
Inevitable
certain to happen
With such rapid development, change is inevitable.
Meticulous
extremely careful and precise
The scientist kept meticulous notes throughout the experiment.
Rancor
long-lasting bitterness or resentment
There was clear rancor between the two former colleagues.
Juxtapose
to place side by side for contrast
The film juxtaposes scenes of war and peace to deepen the emotional impact.
Cumulative
increasing gradually by addition
The cumulative effects of pollution can no longer be ignored.
Cogent
convincing and well-reasoned
The lawyer presented a cogent case that swayed the jury.
Nebulous
vague or unclear
The idea was still too nebulous to present to investors.
Sagacious
wise and insightful
Her sagacious leadership led the company to success.
Salient
most noticeable or important
She highlighted the salient points during the presentation.
Erudite
having or showing great knowledge
The article was written in an erudite tone that impressed scholars.
Fastidious
very attentive to detail
He’s fastidious about keeping his workspace spotless.
Ostracize
to exclude someone from a group
The player was ostracized after violating team rules.
Tenacious
persistent and determined
His tenacious attitude helped him overcome many obstacles.
Notwithstanding
in spite of
Notwithstanding the criticism, the project was completed successfully.
Ambivalent
having mixed or conflicting feelings
She felt ambivalent about moving abroad—excited but nervous.
Harbinger
a sign or warning of what’s to come
The sudden drop in sales was a harbinger of economic trouble.
Pedantic
overly concerned with minor details
His pedantic corrections irritated everyone during the meeting.
Vex
to annoy or worry
The constant delays began to vex the entire team.