Dilemma Dilemma comes from the Greek phrase di (two) + lemma (a premise / proposition) Dilemma means difficult choice, problem, predicament, quandary etc. The doctor’s dilemma was whether he should tell the patient the truth. Her dilemma was whether she should marry her boss or not. You are in a dilemma when you have to …
To discriminate is to demonstrate bias or show disfavor toward somebody. The company was accused of discriminating against female employees. (= The company was accused of demonstrating bias against female employees.) Discriminate can also mean differentiate. Can you discriminate between good and bad poetry? Spelling tip Discriminate has three i’s in it. Discrimination (noun) Discrimination …
Hinder (verb) To hinder is to delay, slow down, hamper or retard. Heavy snow hindered the progress of vehicles. You must develop good eating habits if you do not want health problems to hinder your career growth. Lack of nutrition hinders the mental and physical development of millions of poor children. Hindrance (noun) Hindrance can …
Hesitate (verb) To hesitate is to stop or pause briefly. The driver hesitated for a moment at the intersection and then turned right. People hesitate to do something when they are unsure of the outcome. He hesitated to pay the bill. (= He was reluctant to pay the bill.) Hesitant (adjective) Hesitant can mean reluctant, …
Abysmal (uh BIZ mul) (Adjective) An abyss is a bottomless pit. Abysmal means hopeless or wretched. Abysmal despair is despair so deep that no hope seems possible. The company’s financial problem is abysmal; they haven’t even paid their employees for months. The opposition alleged that the nation’s debt crisis was abysmal. Abysmal can mean ‘very …
Abstract (AB strakt) (Adjective) Abstract means theoretical or impersonal. When you like something in the abstract, you like the idea of it. I liked oysters in the abstract, but when I actually ate one, I became nauseated. Abstract speculations are hard-to-understand speculations. Synonyms of abstract Theoretical, recondite, abstruse Antonyms of abstract Concrete, practical Abstruse (ab …
Abstinent (AB stuh nunt) When you are abstinent, you stop doing something voluntarily. This could be a harmful habit like smoking. A smoker enjoys smoking, but it is bad for him so his doctor may advise him to abstain from smoking. Martin used to be a chain smoker, but now he is abstinent. (He does …
