Adjective
Ephemeral
IPA /ɪˈfɛmərəl/
Lasting for a very short time; fleeting or momentary.
See example sentence: Ephemeral
The rainbow above the rooftops was ephemeral; it faded within minutes.
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Adjective
Abstruse
IPA /əbˈstruːs/
Difficult to understand; obscure or overly complex in meaning.
See example sentence: Abstruse
The professor's lectures were so abstruse that half the class stopped attending.
Adjective
Disconsolate
IPA /dɪsˈkɒnsələt/
Without comfort; deeply unhappy or unable to be consoled.
See example sentence: Disconsolate
After the sudden loss of her dog, she sat disconsolate in her empty apartment.
Adjective
Quixotic
IPA /kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/
Exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical—especially in pursuit of noble but unreachable goals.
See example sentence: Quixotic
His quixotic dream of world peace made him a symbol of hope—and naivety.
Adjective
Pernickety
IPA /pəˈnɪkɪti/
Fussy or overly concerned with minor details; difficult to please.
See example sentence: Pernickety
The editor was so pernickety that every comma had to be perfectly placed.
Adjective
Mendacious
IPA /mɛnˈdeɪʃəs/
Not telling the truth; habitually dishonest or lying.
See example sentence: Mendacious
The politician’s mendacious claims were exposed by multiple fact-checkers.
Adjective
Lugubrious
IPA /ləˈɡuːbriəs/
Looking or sounding sad, dismal, or gloomy—often in an exaggerated or theatrical way.
See example sentence: Lugubrious
He gave a lugubrious sigh after losing the game, as if the world had ended.
Adjective
Obdurate
IPA /ˈɒbdjʊrət/
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action; emotionally unmoved or hard-hearted.
See example sentence: Obdurate
Despite repeated pleas for mercy, the judge remained obdurate in delivering a harsh sentence.
Noun
Alacrity
IPA /əˈlækrəti/
Brisk and cheerful readiness; eager willingness to do something.
See example sentence: Alacrity
She accepted the invitation to speak at the event with surprising alacrity.
Noun
Cacophony
IPA /kəˈkɒfəni/
A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds; an unpleasant or chaotic noise.
See example sentence: Cacophony
The cacophony of honking cars and shouting vendors filled the busy market street.
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