word-a-day building a better vocabulary one day at a time

Word-A-Day

Building a Better Vocabulary One Day At A Time

INDUSTRIOUS

ADJECTIVE

1. Diligent and hard-working. EX: The industrious students kept working on their essays until they knew they were perfect. OR Having been poor his entire life, the industrious young man started his own business so he could make his own money.

INNATE

ADJECTIVE

1. Inborn; natural. EX: She didn’t even have to think about keeping her room clean – she had an innate capacity for organization.

LACKADAISICAL

ADJECTIVE

1. Lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy. EX: Lackadaisical defenses left both Michigan and Michigan State losers in their bids to win bowl games last weekend.

EUPHORIA

NOUN

1. A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness. EX: Every time he goes out for a long run, Jacob gets an intense feeling of euphoria, no doubt caused by the rush of endorphins produced by the body during exercise.

FRENETIC

ADJECTIVE

1. Fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way. EX: The energetic girl could not stop moving – she had a frenetic pace of activity.

GARNER

VERB

1. To gather or collect something, especially information or approval. EX: The police struggled to garner sufficient evidence to make an arrest in the case of the missing holiday lawn ornaments.

GREGARIOUS

ADJECTIVE

1. A person who is fond of company; sociable; larger than life: EX: He was a popular and gregarious man.

IMPECCABLE

ADJECTIVE

1. (of behavior, performance, or appearance) in accordance with the highest standards of propriety; faultless. EX: She is a woman of impeccable character.

INCORRIGIBLE

ADJECTIVE

1. (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed: EX: He is an incorrigible flirt.

APATHY

noun

lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting . Ex. Students who don’t like to go to school generally have a sense of apathy about it.

ARBITRARY

adj

subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion. Ex: The winners were chosen in an arbitrary way: every third entry pulled was determined a winner.

beleaguer

verb

to surround or beset, as with troubles. Ex.: After the Amanda’s boyfriend broke up with her and she failed her math test, she felt beleaguered with bad luck.

bolster

verb

to add to, support, or uphold. Ex. To bolster her confidence, Amanda started hanging out with positive people who helped her feel good about herself.