sycophant, indigence, exigency, dissonance, abrasion: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient set 68. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. sycophant · noun/ˈsɪkəfænt/

   a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage

   The boss was surrounded by sycophants who always praised his ideas, hoping for a promotion.

   Synonyms: flatterer, yes-man, toady

   Origin: The word 'sycophant' comes from the Greek word 'sykophantes', which means 'informer' or 'accuser'. It originally referred to someone who accused others of wrongdoing for personal gain.

2. indigence · noun/ˈɪndɪdʒəns/

   a state of extreme poverty or lack of basic necessities

   The charity helped people living in indigence by providing food and shelter.

   Synonyms: poverty, destitution, neediness

   Origin: from Latin 'indigentia', meaning 'neediness' or 'lack of'.

3. exigency · noun/ˈɛɡzɪdʒənsi/

   a state of urgent need or demand

   In an exigency, we need to make quick decisions to solve problems.

   Synonyms: necessity, urgency, demand

   Origin: from Latin 'exigentia', meaning 'urgency, need'

4. dissonance · noun/ˈdɪs.ən.əns/

   a lack of harmony or agreement between beliefs, values, or actions

   There was great dissonance between what he said and what he did.

   Synonyms: discord, disagreement, conflict

   Origin: from Latin 'dissonantia', from 'dissonare' meaning 'to sound harshly'

5. abrasion · noun/əˈbreɪʒ.ən/

   the process of scraping or wearing away

   The constant friction between the shoes and the floor caused some abrasion on the surface of the wood.

   Synonyms: scraping, wearing, erosion

   Origin: from Latin 'abrasio', meaning 'a scraping away'