The lecture was so soporific that several students struggled to keep their eyes open.
synonyms
sleep-inducingnarcoticsedative
word origin — Late Latin 'soporificus', from 'sopor' meaning 'deep sleep'
soporific, laconic, pragmatic, acerbic, ostensible: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 1. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
soporific · adjective/ˌsɑː.pəˈrɪf.ɪk/
causing or tending to cause sleep
The lecture was so soporific that several students struggled to keep their eyes open.
Synonyms: sleep-inducing, narcotic, sedative
Origin: Late Latin 'soporificus', from 'sopor' meaning 'deep sleep'
laconic · adjective/ləˈkɑnɪk/
using very few words; concise
His laconic reply left everyone in the room curious about what he really meant.
Synonyms: terse, succinct, brief
Origin: The word 'laconic' comes from the Latin 'laconicus' and the Greek 'Lakonikós', which refers to the Laconians or Spartans, known for their concise and often blunt speech.
pragmatic · adjective/præɡˈmætɪk/
dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations
Her pragmatic approach to problem-solving allowed the team to overcome challenges efficiently and effectively.
Synonyms: practical, sensible, realistic
Origin: from Greek 'pragmatikos', meaning 'dealing with things' or 'practical', derived from 'pragma', meaning 'deed' or 'thing done'
acerbic · adjective/əˈsɜr.bɪk/
sharp, harsh, and critical in tone or manner
Her acerbic wit often left colleagues speechless during meetings, as they struggled to respond to her sharp observations.
Synonyms: caustic, biting, cutting
Origin: from Latin 'acerbic-', the stem of 'acerbus', meaning 'harsh, rough, sour'
ostensible · adjective/ɑˈstɛnsəbl/
appearing to be true or apparent but not necessarily so
The ostensible reason for the meeting was to discuss budget cuts, but many suspected there were hidden motives behind it.
Synonyms: apparent, supposed, professed
Origin: From Latin 'ostensibilis', from 'ostendere' meaning 'to show, to display'.