perennial, perfidious, pertinent, petulant, piquant: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 180. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. perennial · adjective/pəˈrɛn.i.əl/

   lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time

   The perennial problem of poverty continues to challenge governments around the world.

   Synonyms: everlasting, eternal, enduring

   Origin: From Latin 'perennials', meaning 'through the years', derived from 'per' (through) and 'annus' (year).

2. perfidious · adjective/pərˈfɪd.i.əs/

   deceitful and untrustworthy

   His perfidious actions undermined the trust that his friends had in him.

   Synonyms: treacherous, duplicitous, deceitful

   Origin: from Latin 'perfidus', meaning 'faithless, treacherous', derived from 'per-' (through) and 'fides' (faith)

3. pertinent · adjective/ˈpɜrtɪnənt/

   relevant or applicable to a particular matter

   The lawyer presented all the pertinent evidence during the trial to support her client's case.

   Synonyms: relevant, applicable, related

   Origin: From Middle French 'pertinent', from Latin 'pertinens', from 'pertinere' meaning 'to belong to, relate to'

4. petulant · adjective/ˈpɛdʒələnt/

   childishly sulky or bad-tempered

   The petulant child crossed his arms and pouted when he didn't get his way at the store.

   Synonyms: irritable, moody, sulky

   Origin: The word 'petulant' originates from the Latin 'petulans,' meaning 'immodest, rude, or impudent,' which is derived from 'petere,' meaning 'to seek or assail.'

5. piquant · adjective/ˈpikənt/

   having a pleasantly sharp taste or a stimulating flavor

   The chef created a piquant sauce that added a delightful kick to the grilled chicken.

   Synonyms: tangy, spicy, zesty

   Origin: from the French 'piquant', meaning 'to prick', derived from the Latin 'pungere'.