doleful, coy, distraught, dormant, drab: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 163. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. doleful · adjective/ˈdoʊlfəl/

   sorrowful or mournful in expression

   Her doleful expression revealed the depth of her sadness after receiving the bad news.

   Synonyms: sorrowful, mournful, melancholy

   Origin: Late Middle English, from 'dole' meaning 'grief' or 'sorrow' + the suffix '-ful' meaning 'full of'

2. coy · adjective/kɔɪ/

   shy or modest in a playful or flirtatious manner

   She gave a coy smile as she played with her hair, enjoying the attention from her admirers.

   Synonyms: shy, modest, demure

   Origin: Middle English 'coi', from Old French 'coi' meaning 'quiet' or 'calm', of uncertain origin.

3. distraught · adjective/dɪsˈtrɔt/

   deeply upset and agitated

   After receiving the news of her father's passing, she was utterly distraught and could hardly speak.

   Synonyms: upset, distressed, agitated

   Origin: Middle English 'distraught', from past participle of 'distray', meaning to distract or confuse; influenced by 'distraught' from the Latin 'distractus', meaning 'torn apart'.

4. dormant · adjective/ˈdɔr.mənt/

   inactive or temporarily inactive

   The volcano has been dormant for centuries, leading scientists to believe it is unlikely to erupt anytime soon.

   Synonyms: inactive, latent, quiescent

   Origin: from Old French 'dormant', from Latin 'dormientem', present participle of 'dormire' meaning 'to sleep'

5. drab · adjective/dræb/

   lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull

   The room was decorated in a drab color scheme that made it feel uninviting and lifeless.

   Synonyms: dull, bland, monotonous

   Origin: Middle English drabbe, meaning 'dirty or dull-colored cloth'; root from Old English drabbe, with a focus on lackluster appearance.