cringe, denigrate, gauge, pertain, bolster: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient set 26. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. cringe · noun/krɪndʒ/

   a feeling of discomfort or embarrassment caused by someone else's actions or behavior

   I felt a strong cringe when I watched my friend make a silly joke in front of everyone.

   Synonyms: discomfort, embarrassment, awkwardness

   Origin: The word 'cringe' comes from Old English 'cringan', meaning 'to bend, yield, or fall'.

2. denigrate · verb/ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡreɪt/

   to criticize unfairly or disparage

   It is not fair to denigrate someone's work just because you do not like them.

   Synonyms: belittle, disparage, criticize

   Origin: from Latin 'denigratus', meaning 'to blacken', from 'de-' (from) and 'niger' (black)

3. gauge · noun/ɡeɪdʒ/

   a measuring instrument or standard used to determine the size, amount, or degree of something

   The teacher used a temperature gauge to check how hot the water was.

   Synonyms: measure, scale, indicator

   Origin: Middle English 'gauge', from Old French 'jauge', of uncertain origin, possibly from a Germanic source.

4. pertain · verb/pərˈteɪn/

   to be relevant or applicable to something

   The rules that pertain to the game are written in the instruction manual.

   Synonyms: relate, concern, apply

   Origin: from Middle English 'pertainen', from Latin 'pertinere', meaning 'to belong to' or 'to relate to'.

5. bolster · verb/ˈboʊlstər/

   to support or strengthen something

   The teacher gave extra help to bolster the students' understanding of math.

   Synonyms: support, strengthen, reinforce

   Origin: Middle English from Old French 'bolster' which comes from the Latin 'bolstare', meaning to support or prop up.