contrary, bent, benign, economical, casual: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 229. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. contrary · adjective/ˈkɑːntreri/

   opposite in nature, direction, or meaning

   Her views on the topic were contrary to popular belief, challenging the existing narrative.

   Synonyms: opposite, opposing, antithetical

   Origin: Late Middle English: from Latin 'contrarius' meaning 'opposed, opposite'.

2. bent · adjective/bɛnt/

   having a curved shape or not straight

   The old tree had a bent trunk that twisted toward the ground.

   Synonyms: curved, twisted, crooked

   Origin: Middle English 'bent' meaning 'to cause to curve or bend', from Old Norse 'bent' meaning 'bent, curved'.

3. benign · adjective/bɪˈnaɪn/

   having a kindly disposition showing gentle and harmless qualities

   The teacher's benign demeanor made all the students feel comfortable asking questions in class.

   Synonyms: kind, gentle, harmless

   Origin: from Latin 'benignus', meaning 'kind' or 'well-born'

4. economical · adjective/ˌiː.kəˈnɑː.mɪ.kəl/

   using the least amount of resources necessary

   Using public transport is an economical choice for daily commuting, as it saves both money and energy.

   Synonyms: frugal, efficient, thrifty

   Origin: from the Greek 'oikonomikos', meaning 'good management', derived from 'oikos' (house) and 'nomos' (law, management)

5. casual · adjective/ˈkæʒ.u.əl/

   occurring by chance or without intention

   Their casual encounter at the coffee shop turned into a deep friendship that neither of them anticipated.

   Synonyms: accidental, random, unintentional

   Origin: from Latin 'casualis', meaning 'occurring by chance'.