noteworthy, grueling, naive, oblivious, rancid: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 242. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. noteworthy · adjective/ˈnoʊtˌwɜr.ði/

   worthy of attention or notice

   The scientist made a noteworthy contribution to the field of renewable energy with her groundbreaking research.

   Synonyms: significant, remarkable, notable

   Origin: The word 'noteworthy' originates from the combination of 'note', meaning a record or comment, and 'worthy', meaning deserving of attention or respect. The term has been in use since the 14th century.

2. grueling · adjective/ˈɡruː.əl.ɪŋ/

   extremely tiring and demanding

   After a grueling workout, I felt completely exhausted and ready for a long nap.

   Synonyms: exhausting, taxing, draining

   Origin: from the verb 'gruel', which means to suffer or be subjected to hard labor, derived from the late Middle English 'gruellen'.

3. naive · adjective/nɑˈiv/

   lacking experience or sophistication

   Her naive belief that everyone she met would be kind ultimately led to her disappointment.

   Synonyms: innocent, unsophisticated, gullible

   Origin: from French 'naïf', meaning 'natural, naive', derived from Latin 'nativus', meaning 'native'.

4. oblivious · adjective/əˈblɪviəs/

   not aware of or concerned about what is happening around one

   Despite the chaos around her, she remained oblivious to the noise of the traffic outside.

   Synonyms: unaware, ignorant, obliviate

   Origin: from Latin 'obliviosus' meaning 'forgetful', derived from 'oblivisci' meaning 'to forget'

5. rancid · adjective/ˈrænsɪd/

   having a strong, unpleasant smell or taste due to spoilage or oxidation

   The rancid smell of the spoiled butter filled the kitchen, making it unbearable to stay inside.

   Synonyms: spoiled, festering, rotten

   Origin: from Latin 'rancidus', meaning 'to rot, emit a bad smell'