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model of perfection.
"Her fellow students disliked Lavinia because Miss Minchin always pointed her out as a paragon of virtue." |
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one-sided; prejudiced, committed to a party.
"Rather than joining forces to solve our nation's problems, the Democrats and Republicans spend their time on partisan struggles." |
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pertaining to disease.
"As we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must not overlook the psychological elements." |
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scarcity.
"They closed the restaurant because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate." |
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showing off learning; bookish.
"Leavening her decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Judy was not at all the pedantic legal scholar." |
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a strong inclination; liking.
"Dave has a penchant for taking risks; one semester he went steady with three girls, two of whom were stars on the school karate team." |
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severe poverty; stinginess.
"When his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury. He became such a penny-pincher that he turned into a closefisted, penurious miser." |
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something long-lasting.
"These plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years." |
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treacherous; disloyal.
"When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend." |
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superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care or enthusiasm.
"The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors." |
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penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through.
"If your jogging clothes weren't made out of permeable fabric, you'd drown in your own sweat (figuratively speaking). |
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spread throughout.
"Despite airing them for several hours, she could not ride her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothballs that clung to them." |
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calm; not easily disturbed.
"The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies." |
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devoutness, reverence for God.
"Living her life in prayer and good works, Mother Teresa exemplified the true spirit of piety." |
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to pacify; conciliate.
"The store manager tried to placate the angry customer, offering to replace the damaged merchandise or to give back her money." |
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the ability to be molded.
"When clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable." |
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a commonplace statement.
"In giving advice to his son, old Polonius expressed himself only in platitudes; every word out of his mouth was a truism." |
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an excess; overabundance.
"She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings." |
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to fall sharply.
"Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the rise in interest rates." |
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full of pores; like a sieve.
"Dancers like to wear porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of water and air." |
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practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something.
"This coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversational French class." |
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an introductory statement.
"In the Preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth." |
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uncertain; risky.
"Saying the stock was currently overpriced and would be a precarious investment, the broker advised her client against purchasing it." |
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rash; premature; hasty; sudden.
"Though I was angry enough to resign on the spot, I had enough sense to keep myself from quitting a job in such a precipitate fashion." |
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forerunner.
"Though Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics." |
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arrogant; taking liberties.
"It seems presumptuous for one so relatively new to the field to challenge the conclusions of its leading experts." |
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to lie.
Some people believe that to prevaricate in good cause is justifiable and regard the statement as a 'white lie.'" |
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characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled.
"This area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness." |
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uprightness; incorruptibility.
"Everyone took his probity for granted; his defalcations, therefore, shocked us all." |
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doubtful, unsettled, questionable, perplexing.
"Given the way building costs have exceeded estimates for the job, whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic." |
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wasteful; reckless with money.
"Don't be so prodigal spending my money; when you've earned some money, you can waste as much of it as you want!" |
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deep; not superficial; complete.
"Freud's remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor him as a profound thinker. |
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tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; inclined to prevent or forbid.
"Susie wanted to buy a new Volvo but had to settle for a used Dodge because the new car's price was prohibitive." |
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to grow rapidly; spread, multiple.
"Times of economic hardship inevitably encourage countless get-rich-quick schemes to proliferate." |
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natural inclination.
"Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of others." |
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to appease.
"The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods." |
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fitness; correct conduct.
"Miss Manners counsels her readers so that they may behave with propriety in any social situation and not embarrass themselves." |
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ostracize; banish; outlaw.
"Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar." |
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stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic.
"The pungent odor of ripe Limburger cheese appealed to Simone but made Stanley gag. |
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