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VOCABULARYLISTS>TESTPREP
100WordsEveryMiddleSchoolerShouldKnow 100wordsDecember12,2014
ByVocabulary.com(NY)
AmericanHeritageDictionariesnormallyfeatureabout70,000entries.Fromthatmultitude,theeditorshavechosen100wordsthatareneitherobscurenoroutlandishthatcouldgivemiddleschoolersmoreaplombandaptitudeintheirverbalencounters.Ifyou'renotsurewhetherthatissomethingyouneed,studythislist.WordsselectedbytheEditorsoftheAmericanHeritageDictionaries.PublishedbyHoughtonMifflinHarcourtPublishingCompany.
1.adversarysomeonewhooffersopposition
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thestudentsareunitedbysharedsuffering,andbyacommonadversary.NewYorkTimes(Nov10,2014)
2. aplombgreatcoolnessandcomposureunderstrain
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
IwishIhadhandleditwithaplomb.NewYorkTimes(May18,2014)
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3. apprehensiveinfearordreadofpossibleevilorharm
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Virgastillfeelsapprehensivewhenvisitinganunfamiliarzoo.NewYorkTimes(Jul3,2014)
4. aptitudeinherentability
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Iwasrecentlyaskedinaninterview,whatismorevaluedbycompaniesaptitudeorattitude?Forbes(Sep12,2014)
5. attentivetakingheedgivingcloseandthoughtfulattention
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Youmakesuretobeextraattentivetoyourfriend.Time(Oct2,2014)
6. banishbanfromaplaceofresidence,asforpunishment
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Napoleonlosessobigthatheisbanishedtoanisland.NewYorkTimes(Dec5,2014)
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7. barricadeblockoffwithbarricades
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
TheSecretServiceorderednearbystreetsandparkinglotsbarricadedforsecurity.WashingtonTimes(Dec1,2014)
8.
blufffrightensomeonebypretendingtobestrongerthanonereallyis
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Sportingapithhelmet,Nixonobservedthatwhoeveristalkingtheloudestisprettysuretobebluffing.NewYorkTimes(Sep19,2014)
9.
brackishslightlysalty(especiallyfromcontainingamixtureofseawaterandfreshwater)
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Brackishwatercanbeused,butfreshwateriseasierandlesscostly.NewYorkTimes(May14,2014)
10. brandishmoveorswingbackandforth
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
HartbrandishedaFreeHugssignashestoodaloneinfrontofapolicebarricade.MSNBC(Nov30,2014)
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11.
circumferencethesizeofsomethingasgivenbythedistancearoundit
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
That'salmost10timesthecircumferenceoftheEarth,whichisasurprisinglysmall24,859.82miles.BBC(Dec1,2014)
12. commotionconfusedmovement
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Momentslatercamecommotion,followedbyshoutsofStoppushingme!MSNBC(Sep26,2014)
13.
concoctionanyfoodstuffmadebycombiningdifferentingredients
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Therearesomefoodcombosthatblendbeautifullywitheachothertocreatetrulytastyconcoctions.USNews(Sep4,2014)
14. conspicuousobvioustotheeyeormind
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
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Today,thelinkismoreconspicuous:highlightedinblue,itappearsdirectlybeneaththesitesloginform.NewYorkTimes(Oct23,2014)
15. contortionatortuousandtwistedshapeorposition
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Therewastumbling,humanpyramidsandbodiesstretchedintoextraordinarycontortions.BBC(Aug25,2013)
16. counterspeakinresponse
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thesellercanthenaccept,counterorrejecttheoffer.USNews(Dec9,2014)
17. cunningshrewdnessasdemonstratedbybeingskilledindeception
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Moreover,itwasnosecretthatCleopatrahadruthlesscunningandsuperiorintelligence.SterlingBiographies:Cleopatra:Egypt'sLastandGreatestQueen
18.
debristheremainsofsomethingthathasbeendestroyedorbrokenup
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EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theblastrattledtheirhomesandsentdebrisflyingontonearbyproperties,theysaid.WashingtonTimes(Dec4,2014)
19. defianceahostilechallenge
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Schoolsstillcouldexpelstudentsforviolatingschoolrulesorlawsandcouldsuspendstudentsforwillfuldefianceofauthoritiesingrades4through12.WashingtonTimes(Sep27,2014)
20. deftskillfulinphysicalmovementsespeciallyofthehands
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Tomakeitworkrequiresadefthand.Forbes(Sep25,2014)
21.
destinationtheplacedesignatedastheend(asofaraceorjourney)
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Airportsgetstackedupwithplanesthatcanttakeofffortheirdestinations.Forbes(Dec9,2014)
22. diminish
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decreaseinsize,extent,orrange
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
ByFridaymorning,mostoftheheavyrainisexpectedtodiminish.LosAngelesTimes(Dec10,2014)
23.
disdainlackofrespectaccompaniedbyafeelingofintensedislike
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
InthevisageofGrumpyCat,itseems,herfansfoundtheperfectholyexpressionofindifferentdisdainforallthings.WashingtonPost
24. dismalcausingdejection
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Itsbeenaprettydismalmonth,asfarasworldeventsgo,butthenewswasntallbadthankstosomeveryentertainingonairmishaps.Time(Aug28,2014)
25.
dispelforcetogoawayusedbothwithconcreteandmetaphoricmeanings
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Formostofus,dispellingthedarknessisassimpleasturningonalight.Time(Oct23,2014)
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26. eavesdroplistenwithoutthespeaker'sknowledge
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theyeavesdroponthenoisesthatotherbirdsmakewhilehidingfoodinordertostealthestashlater,newresearchshows.ScienceMagazine(Nov21,2014)
27. egregiousconspicuouslyandoutrageouslybadorreprehensible
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Prosecutorsquestionedhimaboutkillingsandotheregregioushumanrightsabusesperpetratedbyhisregime.LosAngelesTimes(Oct4,2014)
28.
emberahotfragmentofwoodorcoalthatisleftfromafireandisglowingorsmoldering
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Everyhotspotisanemberthat,ifnotcontained,canbecomeanewfire,Obamasaid.LosAngelesTimes(Dec2,2014)
29. emergecomeoutintoview,asfromconcealment
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theysaythatprogramhashelpedthememergefromtheshadows,makingpossibleaworkpermit,aSocialSecuritynumberandenhancedselfrespect.WashingtonPost
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30. engrossconsumeallofone'sattentionortime
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
IdontknowhowlongIwasreadingIwassoengrossedinthepaperthatIdidnothearanyfootsteps.LongWalktoFreedom
31. exasperationanexasperatedfeelingofannoyance
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Likemanyateenageronhisschoolholidays,Parysisinbed,hismotherexplainswithexasperation.TheGuardian(Aug2,2014)
32. exhilaratefillwithsublimeemotion
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
ToseeYosemiteFallscomingtolifethismorningistrulyexhilarating,ParkSuperintendentDonNeubachersaidinastatement.LosAngelesTimes(Dec3,2014)
33. faltermovehesitatingly,asifabouttogiveway
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EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Therockethasfaltered,butitwontcrash,hesaid.NewYorkTimes(Nov20,2014)
34. foresightseeingaheadknowinginadvanceforeseeing
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Butnobodyhadthewherewithalorforesighttothinkthatdaywouldactuallyhappen.MSNBC(Jul3,2014)
35. fragranceadistinctiveodorthatispleasant
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
After30minutesintheoven,whathitsyoufirstistheenticing,warmfragrancethatfillsyourkitchen.WashingtonPost
36. furtivesecretandslyorsordid
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Whatmuffledwhispersdotheyshare,whatfurtivegamesaretheyplaying?TheGuardian(Dec18,2012)
37. grueling
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characterizedbyefforttothepointofexhaustionespeciallyphysicaleffort
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
AsofDec.19,22studentswillhavemadeitthroughagruelingcurriculumthatrequiresabout700hoursofcomputercode.WashingtonTimes(Dec10,2014)
38. gustovigorousandenthusiasticenjoyment
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theyeachapproachtheirtaskswithgustothatcanonlybeadmired,eveniftheresultscant.WashingtonTimes(Aug21,2014)
39.
habitationtheactofdwellinginorlivingpermanentlyinaplace(saidofbothanimalsandmen)
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Althoughtheareaisnotfitforhumanhabitation,manypoorpeoplewhoworkinthecoalmineslivehere.BBC(Aug13,2013)
40. hastenspeeduptheprogressoffacilitate
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Ratherthanwaitforthatday,hesetouttohastenitsarrival.ScientificAmerican(Sep3,2014)
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41. headwayforwardmovement
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Attimes,youfeellikeyourestrugglingtorunforward,goingthroughthemotionsbutmakingnoheadway,frozeninplace.WashingtonPost
42. ignitecausetostartburningsubjecttofireorgreatheat
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Firefighterssaytheblazestartedwhenstainsoakedragsignitedonthefrontporch.WashingtonTimes(Dec10,2014)
43. illuminatemakefreefromconfusionorambiguitymakeclear
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theproblemisthatforilluminatinganswers,youneedtoasktherightquestions.NewYorkTimes(Dec6,2014)
44. impendingcloseintimeabouttooccur
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
First,hegivestheenemy12daysofwarningaboutimpendingairattacks.WashingtonPost
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45.
imperioushavingorshowingarrogantsuperioritytoanddisdainofthoseoneviewsasunworthy
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Itwasalittlescaryhowquicklyheflippedfromfriendlytoimperious.NewYorkTimes(Sep4,2013)
46. jabbertalkinanoisy,excited,ordeclamatorymanner
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Aparrotjabberedatopitscageandamonkeysquealedandbatteredatitsbronzering,untilitsownerbroughtbananas.Bartlett,PaulAlexander
47.
jargonspecializedtechnicalterminologycharacteristicofaparticularsubject
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Steerclearofjargon,metooclaims,andstatementswithoutsubstance.Forbes(Dec5,2014)
48. jostlemakeone'swaybyjostling,pushing,orshoving
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
InJerusalem,greatreligionshavecrowdedandjostledtheirwaydownthroughmillenniums.LosAngelesTimes(Nov21,2014)
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49. jutextendoutorprojectinspace
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Fromitslongbeakjutsafearsometooth.NewYorkTimes(Nov10,2014)
50. kindlecallforth(emotions,feelings,andresponses)
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
RecentlyinclassIsawthefireofanideaflickerinafirstyearstudentseyesandsotokindleitIcoldcalledhim.Forbes(Sep16,2014)
51. knollasmallnaturalhill
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thehome,setonaquarteracreknoll,hasviewsofthecity,theHollywoodReservoirandtheHollywoodsign.LosAngelesTimes(Aug9,2014)
52. luminoussoftlybrightorradiant
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
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Itwasbrieflyoneofthemostluminousstarsinthegalaxy.NewYorkTimes(Sep3,2014)
53. malleableeasilyinfluenced
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Memoryissomalleableorvolatilethateachtimeweseesomething,thememoryisactuallyinfluencedandrecreated.WashingtonTimes(Oct18,2014)
54. materializecomeintobeingbecomereality
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Bythetimepeoplereachtheir70s,theyrebeginningtolookbackattheplanstheymadeanddreamstheyhadthatnevermaterialized.Time(Nov25,2014)
55.
meandertomoveorcausetomoveinasinuous,spiral,orcircularcourse
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Insteadofstraightpathsandnoisythrongs,thenewparkwillhavemeanderingwalkwaysandquietplacesforpicnickingnestledingentlysloping"lawnvalleys."ChicagoTribune(Jul26,2014)
56. meticulous
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markedbyextremecareintreatmentofdetails
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
It'sasixpagesceneandverymeticulous,stepbystep.LosAngelesTimes(Aug24,2014)
57. misgivinguneasinessaboutthefitnessofanaction
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Quiteafewsaidtheyhadcomedespitethemisgivingsofparentswhowantedthemtofocusonstudying.NewYorkTimes(Sep26,2014)
58. momentumanimpellingforceorstrength
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Mitchellbelievedthatasongsmomentumshouldalwayspushupward,ascendingliketheslopeofamountainintotheunknown.WashingtonPost
59. monotonoussoundedorspokeninatoneunvaryinginpitch
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Unfortunately,theirmonotonousverbiageremindsmeofCharlieBrownsteacherinthePeanutsTVshows.WashingtonPost
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60. multitudealargeindefinitenumber
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theysurroundyouintheirmultitudeshundreds,maybethousandsofthem,swoopingandstingingandinjectingvenomintoyourflesh.BBC(Oct9,2014)
61. mustergatherorbringtogether
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Fanschantedandholleredandenrichedthearenawithasmuchlifeastheycouldpossiblymuster.NewYorkTimes(Dec10,2014)
62. narratenarrateorgiveadetailedaccountof
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Standingamidbagsofgarbage,hestartssorting,tearingopenplasticbagsandnarratinghisfinds.LosAngelesTimes(Oct15,2014)
63. obscurenotclearlyunderstoodorexpressed
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thebookcontainslittleplot,anabundanceofobscurepoetryandtheuntimelydeathofthreeprotagonists.
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LosAngelesTimes(Dec5,2014)
64.
ominousthreateningorforeshadowingevilortragicdevelopments
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
EvilforcesaroundtheworldwanttoharmAmericanseveryday,anominousvoiceoverstates.Time(Oct7,2014)
65. outlandishconspicuouslyorgrosslyunconventionalorunusual
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Noteverythingintheshowisoutlandishsomeeventsarealltoorealistic.NewYorkTimes(Nov16,2014)
66. persistentstubbornlyunyielding
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Itsays,together,ifwefaceobstaclesandcounterthenegativewithapersistentpositive,wemightjustchangetheworld.SeattleTimes(Dec1,2014)
67.
pertinenthavingpreciseorlogicalrelevancetothematterathand
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
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Youwriteaboutthingsthatfeelpertinentandurgenttoyou,andthatvariesdependingonwhatstageoflifeyouaregoingthrough.MSNBC(Jul11,2014)
68. plenteousaffordinganabundantsupply
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
"Theharvesttrulyisplenteous,butthelabourersarefew."Wilson,J.M.(JamesMaurice)
69. potentialexistinginpossibility
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Whatpotentialglobalthreatshouldpolicymakerspaymoreattentionto?USNews(Dec11,2014)
70. precipiceaverysteepcliff
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
"Everyminuteofeveryday,wewereontheprecipiceoffailure,whichisanexcitingplacetobe,"Marshsays.LosAngelesTimes(Nov25,2014)
71. pristinecompletelyfreefromdirtorcontamination
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EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Backatthejail,SnowWhiteisgettingunderAnna'sskinabitshakingheroncepristineviewoftheprincess.LosAngelesTimes(Dec8,2014)
72. quellovercomeorallay
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
TheWhiteHousehastriedtoquellanxietiesaboutthedangerofEbolaspreadingintheUnitedStates.WashingtonPost
73. recluseonewholivesinsolitude
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Longbeforehisdaysastheworldsmostfamousrecluse,HowardHughesflewplanesfastandfar.NewYorkTimes(Jul14,2014)
74. recuperaterestoretogoodhealthorstrength
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Sleepisthetimewhenyourbodyrecuperatesandrebuildsfromthedaysstress.USNews(Jun24,2014)
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75. replenishfillsomethingthathadpreviouslybeenemptied
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theybringindredgedsandtoreplenishthebeach.WashingtonPost
76. repugnantoffensivetothemind
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thetruthisthatweneedonlylookatrecenthumanhistorytofindreal,live,utterlyrepugnantevil.Salon(Sep4,2014)
77. restitutionasumofmoneypaidincompensationforlossorinjury
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Whilerestitutionispaidtothevictim,criminalfinesandfelonyassessmentsarepaidtoacrimevictimsfund.WashingtonTimes(Nov21,2014)
78. sabotagedestroypropertyorhindernormaloperations
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Wewantatleastadistrictthatwontsabotagethedreamsofitsyouths.LosAngelesTimes(Nov21,2014)
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79. scarcityasmallandinadequateamount
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Wateritsscarcity,qualityandtheregulationsaffectingitisbecominganewcorporateheadache.Economist(Nov6,2014)
80. scurrytomoveaboutorproceedhurriedly
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Everwonderhowcockroachesscurryaroundinthedarkwhileyoufumbletoswitchonthekitchenlight?ScienceMagazine(Dec3,2014)
81. serenitytheabsenceofmentalstressoranxiety
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thesurroundingwatersandbeautifulpoolsthatsurroundthehotelcreatearealsenseofcalmandluxuriousserenity.Forbes(Jul25,2014)
82. sociablefriendlyandpleasant
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Runningwithothersisreallysociableandgreatfun.
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BBC(Apr10,2014)
83. sombergraveorevengloomyincharacter
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
ItwasalsothedaybeforeoneofthemostsomberofAmericananniversaries:PearlHarborwasbombed73yearsagoSunday.WashingtonPost
84. specimenanexampleregardedastypicalofitsclass
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theresearchersdetecteditinolderstarfishsamples,museumspecimensfromasearlyas1942.Reuters(Nov17,2014)
85. staminaenduringstrengthandenergy
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
A6yearoldmightnotwanttowalkthemileintoPetra,butteenagershaveenoughphysicalandintellectualstaminatoappreciategoingtotheseplaces.NewYorkTimes(Dec5,2014)
86. subsidewearoffordiedown
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EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thevirushasahistoryofsubsiding,thenflaringupagain.WashingtonPost
87. swaggeraproudstiffpompousgait
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
TheGiantshadarrivedherewiththeswaggerofateamthathadwontwoofthelastfourWorldSeriestitles.NewYorkTimes(Oct3,2014)
88. swarmmoveinlargenumbers
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
InSwarmmode,therobotsinsteadfollowoneanother,likechildrenchasingasoccerball.NewYorkTimes(Dec1,2014)
89. tacticaplanforattainingaparticulargoal
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Technologyhasbeenusedasacrimefightingtactic,butnotasatooltodeterminewhathappensduringapoliceaction.NewYorkTimes(Dec4,2014)
90. terse
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briefandtothepointeffectivelycutshort
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
ItsarequesttowhichDipperresponds,withterseeloquence,Weird.NewYorkTimes(Nov21,2014)
91. translucentallowinglighttopassthroughdiffusely
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Itcomesinseveralcolors,includingattractivetranslucentones.WashingtonTimes(Jul30,2014)
92. uncannysurpassingtheordinaryornormal
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
TheDarkSkyApptellsyoutheweatherwhereyouarewithanuncannyaccuracy.Forbes(Jun26,2014)
93. unsightlyunpleasanttolookat
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Butthatsjustaquibble,anunsightlypimpleonwhatisagreaterproblem.TheGuardian(Oct14,2014)
94. versatile
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abletomovefreelyinalldirections
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Eggsareamongthemostversatilefoodsandtheproteinschangewhenyouheatthem,beatthemormixthemwithotheringredients.USNews(Dec10,2014)
95.
vigilantcarefullyobservantorattentiveonthelookoutforpossibledanger
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Becausetherearesomanyscammersoutthere,banksarevigilantaboutverifyingthatyouarewhoyousayyouare.WashingtonPost
96. vulnerablecapableofbeingwoundedorhurt
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Second,oldercellsaremorevulnerabletothisdamageorlessabletorepairthemselves.ScientificAmerican(Dec9,2014)
97. waftbedrivenorcarriedalong,asbytheair
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Thebirdswerechirping,andawarmbreezewaftedthroughthescreens.WashingtonPost
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98. waverpauseorholdbackinuncertaintyorunwillingness
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Heistoughasnails,neverwavers,speaksthetruthandstaysfocused.NewYorkTimes(Oct13,2014)
99. weatherfaceandwithstandwithcourage
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Youevengetsubjectedtoridicule,andyouhavetoweatherthatstorm.LosAngelesTimes(Dec10,2014)
100.
zealafeelingofstrongeagerness(usuallyinfavorofapersonorcause)
EXAMPLESENTENCE:
Theenthusiasmhascaughtonamonghisregulars,whocomeoften,lingerandtalkaboutpumpkinswiththezealofconverts.WashingtonPost
