invective [ in-VEK-tiv ]
[noun,adjective]
MEANING:
1. (n.) a derogatory remark or insult, criticism or denunciation
2. (adj.) abusive, insulting or denunciatory
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The Taliban’s invective against India will only succeed in the Hindu hardliners in the Indian political set up being voted to power.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Yahoo! was throwing invective’s right back, mocking Mr Icahn’s ignorance in matters technical.
artifice [ AHR-tuh-fis ]
[noun]
MEANING:
1. wile, stratagem, or a sly trick
2. trickery, cunningness or craftiness
3. ingenuity, skill or inventiveness
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The high school drama was his directional debut, full of artifice and panache.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The world is already full of visual artifice, and we aren’t running the International Photography Contest to add to it.
utilitarian [ yoo-til-i-TAIR-ee-uh’n ]
[noun,adjective]
MEANING:
1. (adj.) useful rather than beautiful
2. (n.) one who practices utilitarianism
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
He was advised to choose utilitarian equipment for the camping trip.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The analyst predicted that there would be two networks in consumer homes, one “utilitarian” network with broadband, for Internet surfing, e-mail and other business applications, and one that connects users’ TVs and media devices and provides media storage and sharing along with related applications.
negate [ ni-GEYT, NEG-eyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb]
MEANING:
1. (tr. v.) to deny the truth or existence of
2. (tr. v.) to cause to be ineffective
3. (tr. v.) to rule out
4. (intr. v.) to bring about negative results or to be negative
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
He lost the debate as he was unable to negate the strong points of his opponent.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
To his credit, Hughes did not blame injuries for the defeat, but he was clearly out-maneuvered by Redknapp, whose obvious strategy of directing most of his team’s attacks through Aaron Lennon was never really negated.
conscientious [ kon-shee-EN-shuh’s ]
[adjective]
MEANING:
1. scrupulous or controlled by the conscience
2. painstaking or thorough
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
He received the employee of the year award because he was conscientious and hardworking.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The guidance was designed to set out doctors’ rights to conscientious objection – not to give specifics on individual treatments.