Spring Vocabulary #2 April 2, 2012

Assuage (uh swayj) Definition Ease or lessen; satisfy; soothe Sentence Use After the long and bitter fight for control of the company, the new CEO felt that it was important to assuage the angry feelings of all the parties involved. The dying soldier’s pain was assuaged by the painkiller that the nurse gave him. Source: Barron’s Part of Speech Verb

Assuage (uh swayj) Picture this: as Sue aged Source: Barron’s

Obliterate (uh blit uh rayt) Definition Destroy completely Sentence Use Rising sea levels threaten to obliterate many of the island nations of the world. The meteor was obliterated when it collided with the Moon. Source: Barron’s Part of Speech Verb

Obliterate (uh blit uh rayt) Picture this: Ob letter Eight Source: Barron’s

Ambiguous (am big yoo us) Definition Unclear or doubtful in meaning Sentence Use When writing an essay, try to avoid making ambiguous statements. The language used in advertising is often deliberately ambiguous. Source: Barron’s Part of Speech Adjective

Ambiguous (am big yoo us) Picture this: am big you us Source: Barron’s

Morose (muh rohs) Definition Ill-humored; sullen Sentence Use Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Ruth refused to become morose; instead, she resolved to live the rest of her life to the fullest. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates believed that a person shouldn’t become morose, even when facing his or her own death. Source: Barron’s Part of Speech Adjective

Morose (muh rohs) Picture this: More rose Source: Barron’s

Mitigate (mit ih gayt) Definition Moderate; appease Sentence Use The government provided food subsidies to mitigate the effects of the depression on the poor. Most medicines that can be bought over-the-counter only mitigate the effects of an ailment, they don’t cure the ailment itself. Source: Barron’s Part of Speech Verb

Mitigate (mit ih gayt) Picture this: mitt a gate Source: Barron’s