impartial, apparent, morose, absurd, controversial: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 71. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. impartial · adjective/ɪmˈpɑːrʃəl/

   not biased or prejudiced towards any party or side

   The judge was known for her impartial decisions, ensuring fairness in every case she handled.

   Synonyms: unbiased, neutral, objective

   Origin: From Middle French 'impartial', from Latin 'impar' meaning 'not unequal'.

2. apparent · adjective/əˈpɛr.ənt/

   clearly visible or understood; seemingly real or true

   Her disappointment was apparent to everyone in the room during the meeting.

   Synonyms: obvious, clear, evident

   Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'apparent', from Latin 'apparens', present participle of 'apparere' meaning 'to appear'.

3. morose · adjective/məˈroʊs/

   sullen and ill-tempered

   After receiving the bad news, he became quite morose and withdrew from all social interactions.

   Synonyms: gloomy, sullen, melancholy

   Origin: from Latin 'morosus' meaning 'peevish, sullen, or gloomy'

4. absurd · adjective/əbˈsɜrd/

   wildly unreasonable or illogical

   It is absurd to think that he could run a marathon without any training.

   Synonyms: ridiculous, ludicrous, preposterous

   Origin: from Latin 'absurdus', meaning 'out of tune, incongruous, irrational'

5. controversial · adjective/ˌkɒn.trəˈvɝː.ʃəl/

   giving rise to public disagreement or controversy

   The new policy on immigration has sparked a controversial debate among lawmakers and citizens alike.

   Synonyms: debatable, contentious, disputable

   Origin: Early 17th century, from Latin 'controversialis', from 'controversus' meaning 'turned against'