a feeling of uncertainty and lack of understanding
example
There was some confusion about the time of the meeting, so half the team arrived late.
synonyms
distractiondisorientation
word origin — Middle English: from Latin confusio(n-), from the verb confundere ‘mingle together’ (see confuse)
Intermediate — Set 86
Set 86 of Intermediate covers 5 words: confusion, destruction, dependence, duration, reduction. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
confusion · noun/kənˈfjuʒ(ə)n/
a feeling of uncertainty and lack of understanding
There was some confusion about the time of the meeting, so half the team arrived late.
Synonyms: distraction, disorientation
Origin: Middle English: from Latin confusio(n-), from the verb confundere ‘mingle together’ (see confuse)
destruction · noun/dəˈstrəkʃ(ə)n/
serious damage that ruins something completely
The destruction of the rainforest has forced many animals to leave the area.
Synonyms: devastation, damage, harm
Origin: Middle English: from Latin destructio(n-), from the verb destruere (see destroy)
dependence · noun/dəˈpɛnd(ə)ns/
needing someone or something for support or help
Some women have complete financial dependence on their husbands and this can cause a loss of basic freedoms.
Synonyms: reliance, subjection
Origin: late Middle English (in the sense ‘hanging down or something that hangs down’): from Old French dependance, from the verb dependre (see depend)
duration · noun/dʊrˈeɪʃ(ə)n/
the length of time that something continues
The success rate in treatments of many serious illnesses often depend on their duration and seriousness.
Synonyms: period, span, time
Origin: late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin duratio(n-), from durare ‘to last’, from durus ‘hard’
reduction · noun/rəˈdəkʃ(ə)n/
a change that makes something smaller in size or amount
The reduction in fuel prices for the first time in two years has made motorists happy.
Synonyms: decline, decrease, cutback
Origin: late Middle English (denoting the action of bringing back): from Old French, or from Latin reductio(n-), from reducere ‘bring back, restore’ (see reduce). The sense development was broadly similar to that of reduce; sense 1 dates from the late 17th century