adequate, pious, biased, intermittent, heterogeneous: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 42. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. adequate · adjective/ˈædɪkwət/

   sufficiently good or satisfactory for a particular purpose

   The team provided an adequate solution to the problem, ensuring all requirements were met.

   Synonyms: sufficient, acceptable, satisfactory

   Origin: from Latin 'adequatus', which means 'equal to' or 'sufficient'

2. pious · adjective/ˈpaɪəs/

   devoutly religious or virtuous

   She was known for her pious devotion to the church, attending services every Sunday without fail.

   Synonyms: devout, reverent, virtuous

   Origin: from Latin 'pius', meaning 'dutiful, religious, or loyal'

3. biased · adjective/ˈbaɪəst/

   favoring one side in a way that is unfair

   The newspaper's biased reporting led to public outrage, as many felt it was not presenting both sides of the story fairly.

   Synonyms: partial, prejudiced, one-sided

   Origin: Derived from the Old French word 'biais', meaning 'slant' or 'oblique'. The term entered English in the late 15th century.

4. intermittent · adjective/ˌɪn.təˈmɪt.ənt/

   occurring at irregular intervals not continuous or steady

   The region experiences intermittent rain, making it difficult to plan outdoor activities.

   Synonyms: occasional, sporadic, periodical

   Origin: from Latin 'intermittens', the present participle of 'intermittere', meaning 'to leave off, to put aside' (inter- 'between' + mittere 'to send')

5. heterogeneous · adjective/ˌhɛtərəˈdʒinəs/

   consisting of different or diverse elements or parts

   The classroom was heterogeneous, filled with students from various cultural backgrounds and learning abilities.

   Synonyms: diverse, varied, assorted

   Origin: From Greek 'heteros' meaning 'other' and 'genos' meaning 'kind' or 'race'.