lofty, puissant, sanctimonious, tenacious, cavalier: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 112. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. lofty · adjective/ˈlɔfti/

   of great height or noble in spirit

   The scientist had lofty ambitions to discover a cure for cancer, inspiring many in the community.

   Synonyms: tall, elevated, noble

   Origin: Middle English, from Old Norse 'lopt', meaning 'air' or 'sky'

2. puissant · adjective/ˈpju.ɪ.sənt/

   having great power or influence

   The king was known for his puissant authority, which commanded respect from all his subjects.

   Synonyms: powerful, mighty, potent

   Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'puissant', from Latin 'potentem', meaning 'powerful'

3. sanctimonious · adjective/ˌsæŋk.təˈmoʊ.ni.əs/

   making a show of being morally superior to other people

   His sanctimonious attitude during the meeting made it difficult for others to express their opinions freely.

   Synonyms: self-righteous, hypocritical, smug

   Origin: The word 'sanctimonious' comes from the Latin 'sanctimonia,' which means 'holiness' and is derived from 'sanctus' meaning 'holy.' The term began to be used in the 17th century to describe a feigned or exaggerated holiness.

4. tenacious · adjective/təˈneɪʃəs/

   holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm grip

   Her tenacious grip on the trophy showed how much she had trained for this moment.

   Synonyms: persistent, determined, resolute

   Origin: from Latin 'tenax', meaning 'holding fast'

5. cavalier · adjective/ˌkæv.əˈlɪr/

   showing a lack of concern or seriousness

   His cavalier attitude towards the project made it clear that he didn't take it seriously.

   Synonyms: peremptory, dismissive, nonchalant

   Origin: from French 'cavalier', derived from Latin 'caballarius' meaning horseman or knight