deter, abhor, ruminate, mitigate, deteriorate: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient set 4. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. deter · verb/dɪˈtɜr/

   to discourage someone from taking an action

   The strong fence will deter animals from coming into the garden.

   Synonyms: prevent, discourage, dissuade

   Origin: from Latin 'deterrere', meaning 'to frighten away, deter'

2. abhor · verb/əbˈhɔr/

   to regard with disgust and hatred

   I abhor violence because it hurts people and causes pain.

   Synonyms: loathe, detest, despise

   Origin: from Latin 'abhorrēre', meaning 'to shudder at'

3. ruminate · verb/ˈruː.mɪ.neɪt/

   to think deeply about something

   After school, I often ruminate on what I learned in class.

   Synonyms: ponder, contemplate, reflect

   Origin: From Latin 'ruminari', meaning 'to chew over', from 'rumen' meaning 'throat'

4. mitigate · verb/ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/

   to make less severe, serious, or painful

   The doctor gave me some medicine to mitigate the pain in my back.

   Synonyms: alleviate, lessen, reduce

   Origin: from Latin 'mitigare', meaning 'to soften' or 'to make mild'

5. deteriorate · verb/dɪˈtɪriəreɪt/

   to become progressively worse

   If we do not take care of the old house, it will deteriorate quickly.

   Synonyms: worsen, decline, degrade

   Origin: from Latin 'deteriorare', meaning 'to make worse'