Advanced Plus — Set 16

Set 16 of Advanced Plus covers 5 words: impediment, serenity, haphazard, avert, denounce. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. impediment · noun/ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/

   a hindrance or obstacle in doing something

   His lack of experience was a big impediment to getting the job.

   Synonyms: hindrance, obstacle, barrier

   Origin: From Latin 'impedimentum', meaning 'a hindrance' or 'obstruction'.

2. serenity · noun/səˈrɛnɪti/

   the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled

   After a long day, she found serenity in her quiet garden.

   Synonyms: calm, peace, tranquility

   Origin: from Latin 'serenitas', meaning 'clearness, calmness'

3. haphazard · adjective/hæpˈhæzɚd/

   lacking any obvious principle of organization

   The books were stacked in a haphazard way on the shelf, making it hard to find anything.

   Synonyms: random, careless, chaotic

   Origin: from the Middle English 'hap' (chance) + 'hazard' (danger, risk)

4. avert · verb/əˈvɜrt/

   to prevent something from happening

   She took action to avert a disaster in the city by organizing a safety drill.

   Synonyms: prevent, avoid, deter

   Origin: Originates from the Latin word 'avertere', meaning 'to turn away'

5. denounce · verb/dɪˈnaʊns/

   to publicly declare something to be wrong or evil

   The teacher decided to denounce cheating during the assembly.

   Synonyms: condemn, criticize, accuse

   Origin: from Old French 'denoncer', from Latin 'denuntiare' meaning 'to announce or to declare'