imperative, cynical, enigmatic, curb, compelling: meanings and examples

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

1. imperative · adjective/ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/

   extremely important or urgent; needing immediate attention

   It is imperative that you finish your homework before playing outside.

   Synonyms: essential, crucial, urgent

   Origin: from Latin 'imperativus', meaning 'to command'

2. cynical · adjective/ˈsɪnɪkəl/

   distrustful of people's motives and believing they act mainly from self-interest

   He has a cynical view of politicians, thinking they only care about their own power.

   Synonyms: skeptical, distrustful, jaded

   Origin: from Greek 'kynikos' meaning 'dog-like' or 'snarling', later used to refer to the Cynics, a philosophical school that believed in living in virtue in agreement with nature, which led to a more skeptical view of human motives.

3. enigmatic · adjective/ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/

   difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

   The artist's painting had an enigmatic quality that made everyone wonder what it meant.

   Synonyms: mysterious, puzzling, cryptic

   Origin: from the Greek word 'ainigma', meaning 'riddle'

4. curb · noun/kɜrb/

   a physical boundary or limit that restricts or controls something

   The city built a curb along the road to keep cars from driving onto the sidewalk.

   Synonyms: limit

   Origin: Middle English 'curbe', from Old French 'courbe' meaning 'curve'

5. compelling · adjective/kəmˈpɛl.ɪŋ/

   evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerful way

   The movie had a compelling story that kept everyone interested until the end.

   Synonyms: interesting, captivating, fascinating

   Origin: from Latin 'compellere' meaning 'to drive together, to force'