incisive, garrulous, intrepid, nefarious, identical: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 161. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. incisive · adjective/ɪnˈsaɪ.sɪv/

   clear and direct; sharp and able to express ideas perceptively

   Her incisive analysis of the marketing strategy revealed crucial insights that the team had overlooked.

   Synonyms: keen, perceptive, penetrating

   Origin: from Latin 'incisivus', meaning 'cutting in', from 'incidere', meaning 'to cut in'.

2. garrulous · adjective/ˈɡɛr.ə.ləs/

   excessively talkative especially on trivial matters

   At the party, I found myself seated next to a garrulous neighbor who talked nonstop about her cats and gardening tips.

   Synonyms: talkative, loquacious, voluble

   Origin: from Latin 'garrulus', meaning 'talkative', from 'garrire', meaning 'to chatter'

3. intrepid · adjective/ɪnˈtrɛp.ɪd/

   fearless and adventurous

   The intrepid explorer ventured into uncharted territories, risking everything for the thrill of discovery.

   Synonyms: fearless, adventurous, undaunted

   Origin: from Latin 'intrepidus', meaning 'unafraid, undaunted', from 'in-' (not) + 'trepidus' (alarmed, anxious)

4. nefarious · adjective/nəˈfɛr.i.əs/

   wickedly villainous or criminal

   The detective uncovered a nefarious plot that threatened to take down the entire city.

   Synonyms: wicked, villainous, malevolent

   Origin: from Latin 'nefarius', meaning 'wicked, criminal'; derived from 'nefas', meaning 'wrong, crime'

5. identical · adjective/aɪˈdɛnɪkəl/

   exactly alike having no differences

   The twins wore identical outfits for their birthday party, making it hard for everyone to tell them apart.

   Synonyms: same, equal, indistinguishable

   Origin: from Latin 'identicalis', from 'identitas' meaning 'identity'