furtive, profound, oblivious, cohesive, derogatory: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 112. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. furtive · adjective/ˈfɜrtɪv/

   attempting to avoid notice or attention usually because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble

   She cast a furtive glance at her phone, worried that her boss would see her checking messages during the meeting.

   Synonyms: stealthy, sly, secretive

   Origin: from Latin 'furtivus', meaning 'theft' or 'stolen', from 'furtus', the past participle of 'furari', meaning 'to steal'

2. profound · adjective/prəˈfaʊnd/

   having deep meaning or significance

   The teacher's profound insights into human behavior inspired all the students in the class.

   Synonyms: deep, intense, meaningful

   Origin: from Latin 'profundus', meaning 'deep, bottomless'

3. oblivious · adjective/əˈblɪviəs/

   not aware of or concerned about what is happening around oneself

   She was completely oblivious to the stares of everyone in the room as she danced enthusiastically.

   Synonyms: unaware, ignorant, heedless

   Origin: derived from the Latin 'obliviosus', from 'oblivio' meaning 'forgetfulness' or 'forgetting'

4. cohesive · adjective/koʊˈhiːsɪv/

   tending to unify or stick together

   The team developed a cohesive strategy that allowed them to work together more effectively towards their common goals.

   Synonyms: unifying, connected

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

5. derogatory · adjective/dɪˈrɑɡəˌtɔri/

   showing a critical or disrespectful attitude

   The manager addressed the team's concerns, but he unfortunately used some derogatory language that undermined their trust.

   Synonyms: insulting, disparaging, pejorative

   Origin: from Latin 'derogatorius', from 'derogare' meaning to refrain from, to take away, to detract.