TOEFL Vocabulary — Set 98

Set 98 of TOEFL Vocabulary covers 5 words: imminent, liable, tedious, erudite, fractious. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. imminent · adjective/ˈɪmɪnənt/

   about to happen or occur very soon

   The dark clouds gathered ominously, signaling an imminent storm that would disrupt our picnic plans.

   Synonyms: impending, forthcoming, approaching

   Origin: From Latin 'imminens,' meaning 'overhanging' or 'threatening,' derived from the verb 'imminere,' meaning 'to hang over, to threaten.'

2. liable · adjective/ˈlaɪə.bəl/

   responsible by law or bound by legal obligations

   If the company fails to comply with safety regulations, it could be held liable for any accidents that occur on site.

   Synonyms: responsible, accountable, answerable

   Origin: From Middle French 'liable' meaning 'bound, obligated', from 'lier' meaning 'to bind'.

3. tedious · adjective/ˈtiː.di.əs/

   too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous

   The project turned out to be a tedious process that dragged on for months without any sign of completion.

   Synonyms: boring, monotonous, dreary

   Origin: From Latin 'taediosus', meaning 'tedious, wearisome', derived from 'taedium', meaning 'weariness, boredom'.

4. erudite · adjective/ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt/

   having or showing great knowledge or learning

   The professor is known for his erudite discussions on philosophy, captivating students with his deep insights.

   Synonyms: learned, knowledgeable, scholarly

   Origin: From Latin 'eruditus', meaning 'instructed, learned', from 'erudire', meaning 'to educate, inform'.

5. fractious · adjective/ˈfræk.ʃəs/

   irritable and quarrelsome

   The fractious child refused to follow any instructions, throwing a tantrum at the slightest provocation.

   Synonyms: irritable, quarrelsome, unruly

   Origin: from Middle English 'fractious', from Latin 'fractiosus', meaning 'broken' or 'breaking', from 'frangere' meaning 'to break'