Category: Word of the Day

Definition: (adjective) Happening every second year.

Synonyms: biyearly.

Usage: They met at the biennial convention and lamented the fact that they would not see each other until the next meeting two years later.

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Definition: (adjective) Tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects.

Synonyms: excursive, rambling, discursive.

Usage: His speech was digressive and rambling, and we soon tired of the pointless tangents.

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Definition: (adjective) Stubbornly resistant to authority or control.

Synonyms: recalcitrant, refractory.

Usage: The young horse was a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness; no one could ride her.

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Definition: (noun) A distinct feature or element in a problem.

Synonyms: aspect.

Usage: He carefully studied every facet of the question before offering his response.

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Definition: (adjective) Marked by courage and determination in the face of difficulties or danger; robust and uninhibited.

Synonyms: plucky.

Usage: Though she lost her arm in a violent shark attack, the gutsy teen refused to abandon her dream of becoming a world-class surfer and soon returned to the water.

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Definition: (noun) Excess in action and immoderate indulgence of bodily appetites, especially in passion or indulgence.

Synonyms: self-indulgence.

Usage: A slouching, moody, drunken sloven, wasted by intemperance and vice, sat on the stoop and lamented his lot in life.

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Definition: (adjective) Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality.

Synonyms: impertinent, pert, saucy.

Usage: Sally’s irreverent gaiety and ease of manner drew people to her and made her immediately likeable.

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Definition: (adjective) Exhibiting a desire or willingness to please.

Synonyms: obliging.

Usage: In her behavior she was respectful and complaisant, even to servility: she attempted to flatter and fawn upon me at first, but I soon checked that.

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Definition: (noun) Relatively small dimension through an object as opposed to its length or width.

Synonyms: thinness, slenderness.

Usage: She marveled at the tenuity of the cotton threads delicately woven together to create a durable fabric.

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Definition: (noun) The act of positioning close together (or side by side).

Synonyms: apposition, collocation.

Usage: The juxtaposition of the skyscraper and the brick townhouse had a curious effect, and from a distance the cozy home looked like a dollhouse.

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