Definition: disillusion (verb)

• To disillusion someone is to make them aware of the truth.
• To disillusion someone is to entertain them.
• To disillusion someone is to inspire them.
• To disillusion someone is to confuse them.

Answer explanation

Example: As a young politician, Dane believed he could stop the corruption that ran through the county government, but he was quickly disillusioned by the extent of the illegal activity.

Word Forms: disillusionment, disillusive, disillusionize, disillusionist

Definition: disingenuous (adj)

• Completely honest and straightforward.
• Open and transparent in communication.
• Genuine and heartfelt in intentions.
• Not sincere or honest; deceitful.

Answer explanation

Example: Denise's disingenuous apology was just an attempt to get out of her punishment; she was not truly sorry for going to the concert without permission.  

Word Forms: disingenuously, disingenuousness, disingenuity

Antonym Forms: ingenuous, ingenuously, ingenuousness

Related Words: genuine

Definition: disparage (vb)

• To belittle or speak negatively about someone or something.
• To analyze or evaluate someone or something.
• To praise or compliment someone or something.
• To ignore or overlook someone or something.

Answer explanation

Example: My mom's feelings were hurt when I disparaged her cooking skills.

Word Forms: disparagement, disparaging (adj.), disparagingly, disparager

Definition: disparate (adj)

• Similar in nature; easily comparable.
• Identical in kind; allowing direct comparison.
• Different in kind; not allowing comparison.
• Uniform in type; indistinguishable from one another.

Answer explanation

Example: The mixture of three disparate styles—jazz, rock, and country—created a unique sound and a diverse audience.

Word Forms: disparately, disparateness

Related Words: disparity

Definition: dispute (vb)

• to accept without question
• to ignore the truth
• to support the claim
• to question the truth of

Answer explanation

Example: The church disputes the theory of evolution, instead citing religious sources of creation.  

Word Forms: dispute (n.), disputable, disputeless, disputant, disputation, disputer

Antonym Forms: indisputable, indisputably

Definition: dogmatic (adj)

• characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles

• Relating to a specific breed of dog
• Characterized by flexibility and open-mindedness
• Expressing opinions in a humble and respectful manner

Answer explanation

Example: The dogmatic scientist continued to publish his theory, despite the fact that it was unproven.

Word Forms: dogmatically, dogmaticalness, dogmatize, dogmatism, dogmatist

Related Words: dogma

Definition: dubious (adj)

• clear and obvious
• certain or definite
• doubtful or questionable
• reliable and trustworthy

Answer explanation

Example: The candidate's dubious past came back to haunt her in the election.  

Word Forms: dubiously, dubiousness, dubitable

Antonym Forms: indubious, indubiously

Related Words: doubt

Definition: eccentric (adj)

• conventional and standard
• unconventional or slightly strange
• predictable and common
• ordinary and typical

Answer explanation

Example: The eccentric woman often wore an angel halo and ballet tutu to the grocery store.

Word Forms: eccentric (n.), eccentricity, eccentrical, eccentrically

Definition: elicit (vb)

• to ignore or dismiss a question
• to confuse or mislead someone
• to draw out or bring forth a response or information
• to suppress or withhold a response

Answer explanation

Example: The woman elicits sympathy from her audience by telling the story of her difficult childhood.

Word Forms: elicitation, elicitor

Related Words: solicit

Note: elicit is often confused with illicit, which means illegal

Definition: eloquent (adj)

• fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing
• confused and unclear in speaking
• lacking any form of expression
• monotonous and dull in writing

Answer explanation

Example: The minister's eloquent sermon stirred the members of the church.

Word Forms: eloquently, eloquence