Contemn means to treat a person or thing as worthless; it is a formal verb that rarely appears in everyday speech. To use contemn in a sentence, place it before the person or practice being… Read More »Contemn in a Sentence: Meaning, Forms & Examples
Ship off means to send someone or something away, usually to a distant place and often with little ceremony. To use ship off in a sentence, give it an object and a destination: “The shop… Read More »Ship Off in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Drivel is talk or writing that is silly, empty and not worth taking seriously. To use drivel in a sentence, treat it as an uncountable noun: “The speech was pure drivel.” The word is strongly… Read More »Drivel in a Sentence: Meaning and Examples
Artifact is a noun for an object made by human hands, especially one that survives from an earlier culture: a clay cup from a riverbed is a genuine artifact. The same word also names a… Read More »Artifact in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Decollete is an adjective describing a garment cut low at the neck so the collarbones and shoulders are exposed: a decollete gown leaves the throat and shoulders bare. The word comes from fashion writing and… Read More »Decollete in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
On the same page is an idiom meaning in agreement, or sharing the same understanding of a plan or problem. In a sentence it follows be, get or keep and a plural subject: “we are… Read More »On the Same Page in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Run off is a phrasal verb with three jobs: to leave quickly, to drain away, and to print copies fast. Its meaning depends on whether off is a particle or a preposition, so separability changes… Read More »Run Off in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples
Lean toward means to favour one option slightly while staying open to others, and the fixed phrase behaves like a single verb. In a sentence it takes a noun or an -ing form: “I lean… Read More »Lean Toward in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Antagonism is a noun for open hostility between people or groups, whether it shows as rivalry, defiance or quiet resentment. In a sentence, antagonism usually follows a preposition or a possessive: “deep antagonism between the… Read More »Antagonism in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Ease up means to become less intense or to reduce the pressure you put on someone. To use ease up in a sentence, leave it without an object or add on: “The rain eased up… Read More »Ease Up in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Flounder means to struggle clumsily or to be in serious difficulty. To use flounder in a sentence, keep it intransitive: “The young team floundered in the final quarter.” The verb names unsuccessful effort, whether the… Read More »Flounder in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Derogate is a formal verb meaning to take away from the value, importance or authority of something, and it usually appears as derogate from. To use derogate in a sentence, name the weakened thing after… Read More »Derogate in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Consanguinity is a formal noun meaning a blood relationship between people who share a common ancestor. To use consanguinity in a sentence, treat it as the state of being related by descent: “The court examined… Read More »Consanguinity in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Gun for is an informal phrasal verb meaning to pursue someone or something with determination, often in a hostile way. It usually appears in the progressive, as in “The critics are gunning for the new… Read More »Gun For in a Sentence: Meanings, Examples & Practice
Dispassionate is an adjective meaning not influenced by emotion, especially when judging or deciding. It describes a person, tone or analysis that stays calm and fair, as in “a dispassionate review of the evidence.” The… Read More »Dispassionate in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Yike vs yikes comes down to one fact: yikes is the established interjection for surprise, alarm or dismay, while yike is a rare singular form that most editors avoid. Use yikes in speech and writing… Read More »Yike vs Yikes: Which Word Should You Use?