Dour describes a person, expression or place that is stern, gloomy and unfriendly. To use dour in a sentence, let it modify a face, a manner or a landscape: “The dour landlord answered without looking… Read More »Dour in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Te vs tea vs tee comes down to meaning, because all three sound the same but do different jobs: tea is the drink or the afternoon meal, tee is the golfer’s stand, the letter T… Read More »Te vs Tea vs Tee: Which Spelling Should You Use?
Aggrieved describes someone who feels wronged or unfairly treated and quietly resents it. To use aggrieved in a sentence, name the person and the treatment that caused the hurt: “The aggrieved tenants demanded a refund.”… Read More »Aggrieved in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Arboreal describes an animal or plant that lives in, grows on or is suited to trees. To use arboreal in a sentence, attach it to the creature or feature: “The arboreal frog never touches the… Read More »Arboreal in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
A halo is a ring of light around a figure, an object or a source of brightness. To use halo in a sentence, name the circle and what it surrounds: “A pale halo ringed the… Read More »Halo in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Pine for means to long for someone or something with a quiet, often painful sadness. To use pine for in a sentence, put the person or thing straight after for: She pined for her childhood… Read More »Pine For in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Bipartisan describes support, agreement or action shared by two political parties, usually the two largest ones. To use bipartisan in a sentence, put it before the noun it describes: a bipartisan bill, bipartisan support. The… Read More »Bipartisan in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
With zap vs electrocute, use electrocute when electricity kills or injures a person, and use zap for a mild shock or an informal hit of electricity. The choice turns on severity and register rather than… Read More »Zap vs Electrocute: Which Word to Use and When
The big picture is the whole situation seen as one connected scene rather than a set of separate details. To use the big picture in a sentence, pair it with a verb such as see,… Read More »The Big Picture in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Aspirant means a person who hopes to attain a position, honour or ambition. To use aspirant in a sentence, name the role the person is reaching for, usually with for or to: “The aspirants for… Read More »Aspirant in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Fetish has two senses: an object believed to hold magical power, and an activity or object a person is obsessively devoted to. To use fetish in a sentence, name the object after the word or… Read More »Fetish in a Sentence: Meaning, Forms & Examples
Detente means the easing of hostility between countries or rival groups, a slow thaw rather than a peace treaty. To use detente in a sentence, name the two sides and the cooling of tension: “The… Read More »Detente in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Vitiate means to spoil, weaken or make ineffective, and in law it means to make an agreement or process invalid. To use vitiate in a sentence, name what is damaged and what damages it: “The… Read More »Vitiate in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Chalice means a large, ornate cup, especially one used to hold wine in a religious ceremony. To use chalice in a sentence, let the word carry its ceremony: “The priest raised the chalice above the… Read More »Chalice in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Laze around in a sentence describes relaxing and doing very little, usually in a slow, unhurried way. The phrasal verb is intransitive, so the particle around stays with laze and no direct object follows: “We… Read More »Laze Around in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Compromise in a sentence usually names an agreement in which each side gives up something, though it can also put something at risk. As a noun it names the deal, as in “They reached a… Read More »Compromise in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples