credulous, exhaustive, solar, orwellian, squalid: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 109. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. credulous · adjective/ˈkrɛdʒələs/

   willing to believe or trust too readily especially without proper evidence

   Many credulous individuals fall for scams that promise quick riches without any real evidence.

   Synonyms: gullible, naive, trusting

   Origin: Late Middle English, from Latin 'credulus' meaning 'believing,' from 'credere' meaning 'to believe.'

2. exhaustive · adjective/ɪɡˈzɔstɪv/

   thorough and complete in scope or coverage

   The research team conducted an exhaustive review of the literature to ensure they covered all relevant studies.

   Synonyms: comprehensive, thorough, detailed

   Origin: The word 'exhaustive' comes from the Latin 'exhaurire', meaning 'to draw out, to empty,' which is made up of the prefix 'ex-' meaning 'out' and 'haurire' meaning 'to draw or take'.

3. solar · adjective/ˈsoʊlər/

   relating to or derived from the sun

   The solar panels on the roof convert sunlight into electricity.

   Synonyms: sunny, diurnal, sunlight-related

   Origin: from Latin 'solar'is, from 'sol' meaning 'sun'

4. orwellian · adjective/ɔrˈwɛl.jən/

   characteristic of a society governed by oppressive control, surveillance, and manipulation of truth

   The government's constant surveillance of its citizens created an Orwellian atmosphere where privacy was a distant memory.

   Synonyms: dystopian, totalitarian, repressive

   Origin: The term 'Orwellian' derives from the name of the British writer George Orwell, particularly reflecting the themes of his works such as '1984' and 'Animal Farm', which explore oppressive societal control and the manipulation of truth.

5. squalid · adjective/ˈskwɑː.lɪd/

   extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect

   The children lived in squalid conditions, surrounded by garbage and filth that had accumulated over the years.

   Synonyms: filthy, wretched, miserable

   Origin: from Latin 'squalidus', meaning 'rough, filthy', from 'squalere' meaning 'to be dirty, to be rough'