SKIP TO CONTENT

100 Words Apprehensive - Diminish

American Heritage Dictionaries normally feature about 70,000 entries. From that multitude, the editors have chosen 100 words that are neither obscure nor outlandish that could give middle schoolers more aplomb and aptitude in their verbal encounters. If you're not sure whether that is something you need, study this list.Words selected by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionaries. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
22 words 289 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Full list of words from this list:

  1. adversary
    someone who offers opposition
    The students are united by shared suffering, and by a common adversary.
  2. aplomb
    great coolness and composure under strain
    I wish I had handled it with aplomb.
  3. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
    Virga still feels apprehensive when visiting an unfamiliar zoo.
  4. aptitude
    inherent ability
    I was recently asked in an interview, what is more valued by companies – aptitude or attitude?
  5. attentive
    taking heed
    You make sure to be extra attentive to your friend.
  6. banish
    send away from a place of residence, as for punishment
    Napoleon loses so big that he is banished to an island.
  7. barricade
    block off with barriers
    The Secret Service ordered nearby streets and parking lots barricaded for security.
  8. bluff
    deceive someone about your strength or intentions
    Sporting a pith helmet, Nixon observed that “whoever is talking the loudest is pretty sure to be bluffing.”
  9. brackish
    slightly salty
    Brackish water can be used, but freshwater is easier and less costly.
  10. brandish
    move or swing back and forth
    Hart brandished a “Free Hugs” sign as he stood alone in front of a police barricade.
  11. circumference
    the size of something as given by the distance around it
    That's almost 10 times the circumference of the Earth, which is a surprisingly small 24,859.82 miles.
  12. commotion
    confused movement
    Moments later came commotion, followed by shouts of “Stop pushing me!”
  13. concoction
    any foodstuff made by combining different ingredients
    There are some food combos that blend beautifully with each other to create truly tasty concoctions.
  14. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
    Today, the link is more conspicuous: highlighted in blue, it appears directly beneath the site’s login form.
  15. contortion
    a tortuous and twisted shape or position
    There was tumbling, human pyramids and bodies stretched into extraordinary contortions.
  16. counter
    speak in response
    The seller can then accept, counter or reject the offer.
  17. cunning
    shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
    Moreover, it was no secret that Cleopatra had ruthless cunning and superior intelligence.
  18. debris
    the remains of something that has been destroyed
    The blast rattled their homes and sent debris flying onto nearby properties, they said.
  19. defiance
    a hostile challenge
    Schools still could expel students for violating school rules or laws and could suspend students for willful defiance of authorities in grades 4 through 12.
  20. deft
    skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
    To make it work requires a deft hand.
  21. destination
    the place designated as the end, as of a race or journey
    Airports get stacked up with planes that can’t take off for their destinations.
  22. diminish
    decrease in size, extent, or range
    By Friday morning, most of the heavy rain is expected to diminish.
Created on Fri Sep 14 09:38:12 EDT 2018

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.