The politician's fulsome praise of the wealthy donor raised eyebrows among the audience, who suspected ulterior motives.
synonyms
excessiveinsincereingratiating
word origin — Originating from Middle English 'fulsom', derived from 'ful' (meaning 'full') and 'som' (meaning 'some'), indicating something that is too full or overabundant, particularly in a negative sense.
GRE Vocabulary — Set 141
Set 141 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: fulsome, intangible, platitudinous, improvident, unremitting. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
fulsome · adjective/ˈfʊl.səm/
excessively insincere or ingratiating
The politician's fulsome praise of the wealthy donor raised eyebrows among the audience, who suspected ulterior motives.
Synonyms: excessive, insincere, ingratiating
Origin: Originating from Middle English 'fulsom', derived from 'ful' (meaning 'full') and 'som' (meaning 'some'), indicating something that is too full or overabundant, particularly in a negative sense.
intangible · adjective/ɪnˈtæn.dʒə.bəl/
unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence
The company's brand reputation is built on intangible assets that cannot be measured in financial terms.
Synonyms: immaterial, incorporeal, impalpable
Origin: from Latin 'intangibilis', which combines 'in-' (not) + 'tangere' (to touch)
platitudinous · adjective/ˌplæt.ɪˈtuː.dɪ.nəs/
lacking in originality or freshness; trite or banal
His speech was filled with platitudinous phrases that failed to inspire the audience.
Synonyms: trite, banal, uninspired
Origin: The word 'platitudinous' originates from 'platitude,' which comes from the French word 'platitude,' meaning 'flatness' or 'levelness,' derived from 'plat' meaning 'flat.' The term evolved in the 19th century to refer to remarks that are flat or dull.
improvident · adjective/ɪmˈprɑvɪdənt/
not showing foresight or care for the future
His improvident spending habits left him in debt after just a few months of his new job.
Synonyms: reckless, imprudent, thoughtless
Origin: From the Latin 'improvident-,' meaning 'not foreseeing,' from 'in-' (not) + 'provident-' (foreseeing)
unremitting · adjective/ʌn.rɪˈmɪt.ɪŋ/
not giving or reducing intensity or strength
Despite the challenges ahead, her unremitting determination propelled her towards her goals.
Synonyms: ceaseless, relentless, constant
Origin: from Latin 'unremittens', combining 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'remittens' meaning 'relaxing'