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merry

adjective/ˈmɛri/

definition

full of cheerfulness and joy

example

The children sang a merry tune as they decorated the Christmas tree.

synonyms
cheerfuljoyfulhappy
word origin — Middle English 'merie', from Old English 'myrge', meaning 'pleasant, agreeable; merry, joyful'.

merry, indirect, bogus, liberal, progressive: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 203. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. merry · adjective/ˈmɛri/

    full of cheerfulness and joy

    The children sang a merry tune as they decorated the Christmas tree.

    Synonyms: cheerful, joyful, happy

    Origin: Middle English 'merie', from Old English 'myrge', meaning 'pleasant, agreeable; merry, joyful'.

  2. indirect · adjective/ˌɪn.dɪˈrɛkt/

    not direct or straight; occurring in a roundabout way

    She gave an indirect response to my question, leaving me unsure of her true feelings.

    Synonyms: circuitous, roundabout, oblique

    Origin: from Latin 'indirectus' meaning 'not straight, not direct'

  3. bogus · adjective/ˈboʊɡəs/

    not genuine or true; false or counterfeit

    The investigator quickly discovered that the company's financial statements were bogus and manipulated to mislead investors.

    Synonyms: fake, fraudulent, spurious

    Origin: The word 'bogus' is believed to have originated in the early 19th century in the United States, possibly derived from a slang term referring to a type of counterfeit money or from a machine used to make fake coins.

  4. liberal · adjective/ˈlɪb.ər.əl/

    favoring individual rights and freedoms, open to change and new ideas

    The liberal policies implemented by the government aim to enhance individual rights and promote equality among all citizens.

    Synonyms: progressive, open-minded, tolerant

    Origin: from Latin 'liberalis' meaning 'belonging to a free person', from 'liber' meaning 'free'

  5. progressive · adjective/prəˈɡrɛsɪv/

    characterized by progress or advancement towards better conditions or systems

    The city implemented progressive reforms aimed at improving public transportation and reducing traffic congestion.

    Synonyms: advancing, forward-looking, reformist

    Origin: from Latin 'progressivus', from 'progredi' meaning 'to go forward'