charlatan, circumlocution, clamor, cohesion, collusion: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 74. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. charlatan · noun/ˈʃɑrlətən/

   a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skills

   The self-proclaimed guru turned out to be nothing more than a charlatan, exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit.

   Synonyms: fraud, impostor, quack

   Origin: The word 'charlatan' comes from the Italian 'ciarlatano', which means 'a babbler' or 'a quack'. It is derived from 'ciarlare', meaning 'to chatter' or 'to prattle'.

2. circumlocution · noun/ˌsɝː.kəmˌloʊˈkuː.ʃən/

   the use of unnecessarily large or indirect words to express an idea

   The politician's speech was filled with circumlocution, making it difficult for anyone to understand his true stance on the issues.

   Synonyms: verbosity, circumlocutory, wordiness

   Origin: from Latin 'circumlocutio', meaning 'a speaking around'

3. clamor · noun/ˈklæmɚ/

   a loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting

   The clamor of the crowd grew louder as the concert began, with fans screaming and cheering in excitement.

   Synonyms: uproar, din, racket

   Origin: derived from the Latin word 'clamor' meaning 'shout or cry'

4. cohesion · noun/koʊˈhiːʒən/

   the action or fact of forming a united whole

   The cohesion of the team was evident in their seamless collaboration during the project.

   Synonyms: unity, bond, solidarity

   Origin: from Latin 'cohaesio', from 'cohaerere' meaning 'to stick together'

5. collusion · noun/kəˈluːʒən/

   secret cooperation between parties for a deceitful or fraudulent purpose

   The investigation revealed collusion between the two companies to manipulate market prices, undermining fair competition.

   Synonyms: conspiracy, complicity

   Origin: from Latin 'collusio', meaning 'a playing together', from 'com-' (together) + 'ludere' (to play)