grotesque (adjective)
Pronunciation: groh-tesk
What does it mean?: unnaturally odd or ugly
How do you use it?: Buzz and Woody were horrified by Sid’s creation of a doll’s head on spider-like legs and other grotesque combinations of toy parts.
Posts tagged words
Funky Word Friday – cryptic
cryptic (adjective)
Pronunciation: KRIP-tik
What does it mean?:
1. meant to be puzzling or mysterious
2. serving to conceal
How do you use it?: There were cryptic symbols throughout the ancient book and I had no idea how to interpret them.
Funky Word Friday – skulduggery
skulduggery (noun)
Pronunciation: skul-dug-gery
What does it mean?: sneaky or dishonest behaviour
How do you use it?: Count Olaf is always up to skulduggery.
Funky Word Friday – bamboozle
bamboozle (verb)
Pronunciation: bam-boo-zuhl
What does it mean?:
1.to deceive or get the better of (someone) by trickery, flattery, or the like; hoodwink
2.to perplex; mystify.
How do you use it?: I was bamboozled by how easily my little brother managed to find my secret stash of chocolate.
Funky Word Friday – smother
smother (verb)
Pronunciation: smuth-er
What does it mean?:
- to be overcome through lack of air
- to overcome by depriving of air or exposing to smoke or fumes
- to prevent the development or actions of; to cover up; to cover thickly
How do you use it?: I got myself a huge bowl of ice cream and smothered it with chocolate sauce and sprinkles.
Funky Word Friday – shimmer
shimmer (verb)
Pronunciation: shim-ar
What does it mean?: to shine with a wavering light.
How do you use it?: The water shimmered as the sun’s rays bounced off the lake.
Funky Word Friday – petrify
petrify (verb)
Pronunciation: pe-tra-fi
What does it mean?:
- to convert into stone or a stony substance by the penetration of water and the depositing of minerals which were dissolved in the water.
- to make lifeless or inactive.
- to paralyze with fear, amazement, or awe.
How do you use it?: I was petrified as the huge slobbering dog ran towards me with its teeth barred.
Funky Word Friday – dazzle
dazzle (verb)
Pronunciation: daz-el
What does it mean?:
1. to overpower with light
2. to impress greatly or confuse with brilliance
How do you use it?: We were dazzled as the fireworks suddenly exploded in the sky.
Funky Word Friday – vamoose
vamoose (verb)
Pronunciation: vuh-mooss
What does it mean?: to depart quickly
How do you use it?: If we want to get to the movie on time, we’d better vamoose.
Funky Word Friday – tantalize
tantalize (verb)
Pronunciation: tan-tah-lyze
What does it mean?: to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach.
How do you use it?: The photo of the latest football boots in the Rebel Sport catalogue tantalized Matt, but they were just too expensive for him to afford.
Funky Word Friday – majestic
majestic (adjective)
Pronunciation: muh-jes-tik
What does it mean?: being stately and dignified or noble
How do you use it?: Aslan looked majestic as he stood on the rock looking out over Narnia.
Funky Word Friday – odyssey
odyssey – noun
Pronunciation: 0-duh-see
What does it mean?: a long wandering or series of travels
How do you use it?: Frodo had to complete a great odyssey to destroy the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings.
Funky Word Friday – nemesis
nemesis (noun)
Pronunciation: nem-uh-sis
What does it mean?:
1 a : one that punishes or avenges
b : a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent
2 a : an act or instance of just punishment
b : a source of harm or ruin
How do you use it?: Spiderman’s nemesis, The Green Goblin, came flying through the air straight at him.
Funky Word Friday
spoof (verb)
Pronunciation: SP-OO-F
What does it mean?: to make good-natured fun of
How do you use it?: The book Nightlight is a spoof of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight.
Word of the Day – spectacular
spectacular (adjective)
Pronunciation: spek-tak-ya-lar
What does it mean?:
- of, relating to, or being a spectacle
- exciting to see
How do you use it?: The All Whites scored a spectacular goal to take them into the lead.
Word of the Day – lurch
lurch (noun)
Pronunciation: LERTCH
: a sudden swaying or tipping movement; also : a staggering gait
How do you use it?: During the parade, the huge and menacing dragon balloon moved toward us with a lurch, and we quickly jumped back out of its way.
Word of the Day – acrid
acrid (adjective)
Pronunciation: ACK-rid
1 : biting or bitter in taste or odor
2 : bitterly irritating to the feelings
How do you use it?: “You will never escape my trap,” said the Baron, blowing his acrid cigarette smoke in my face.
Word of the Day – response
response (verb)
Pronunciation: rih/SPONCE
1 : an act or instance of replying : answer
2 : words said or sung by the people or choir in a religious service
3 : a reaction of a living thing to a stimulus
How do you use it?: “He considered fainting. He deemed it the only reasonable response to the situation in which he found himself, …” (Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux)
Word of the Day – snoop
snoop (verb)
Pronunciation: SNOOP
How do you use it?: Even though she knew her birthday present was hidden there, Josie resisted the urge to snoop in her parents’ bedroom closet.
Word of the Day – snug
snug (adjective)
Pronunciation: SNUG
How do you use it?: In Winter I like to wrap myself up in my snug mink blanket and read my book, while I listen to the rain on the roof.
