daunting, prophecy, deficit, subtle, blatant: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Advanced Plus set 3. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. daunting · adjective/ˈdɔːn.tɪŋ/

   seeming difficult or frightening to deal with

   Climbing the mountain seemed like a daunting task for the beginners.

   Synonyms: intimidating, challenging, frightening

   Origin: from the verb 'daunt', derived from Middle French 'daunter' which means to tame or subdue

2. prophecy · noun/ˈprɑːfəsi/

   a prediction or statement about future events often based on divine inspiration

   The prophecy said that a hero would come to save the village from danger.

   Synonyms: prediction, foretelling

   Origin: from Old French 'prophécie', from Latin 'prophetia', from Greek 'propheteia' meaning 'to speak for' or 'to declare'.

3. deficit · noun/dɛfɪsɪt/

   a shortage or lack of something, especially an amount that is less than what is required

   The school has a budget deficit, which means it does not have enough money to pay for all the supplies it needs.

   Synonyms: shortage, deficiency, lack

   Origin: from Latin 'deficere', meaning 'to fail' or 'to fall short'

4. subtle · adjective/ˈsʌtəl/

   delicate and understated, not obvious or easily noticeable

   The perfume had a subtle citrus scent that was noticeable only at close range.

   Synonyms: fine, slight, understated

   Origin: from Latin 'subtilis', meaning 'fine, delicate'

5. blatant · adjective/ˈbleɪ.tənt/

   very obvious, often in an offensive or unacceptable way

   His blatant lie surprised everyone in the room.

   Synonyms: obvious, flagrant

   Origin: from Latin 'blatans', meaning 'barking, loud' or 'blaring', derived from 'blaterare', meaning 'to chatter or babble'