mettlesome, personable, defamatory, oblivious, decorous: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 17. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. mettlesome · adjective/ˈmɛtəlˌsəm/

   showing fortitude and spirit in the face of adversity

   The mettlesome team never gave up, even when the game was tough.

   Synonyms: spirited, courageous, daring

   Origin: Middle English 'mettel', meaning 'spirit' or 'courage'

2. personable · adjective/ˈpɜrsənəbl/

   having a pleasant and friendly manner

   The teacher was very personable, making all the students feel comfortable in class.

   Synonyms: friendly, charming, likable

   Origin: from the Middle French 'personable', from Latin 'personal', meaning 'of a person'

3. defamatory · adjective/dɪˈfæmətɔri/

   damaging someone's reputation through false statements

   The article made a defamatory statement about the famous actor, hurting his reputation.

   Synonyms: slanderous, libelous, damaging

   Origin: From Latin 'defamare', meaning to defame or slander

4. oblivious · adjective/əˈblɪviəs/

   unaware of or unconcerned about what is happening around one

   She was oblivious to the noise around her as she read her book.

   Synonyms: unaware, ignorant, inattentive

   Origin: From Latin 'obliviosus', meaning 'forgetful'.

5. decorous · adjective/ˈdɛkərəs/

   characterized by propriety and dignity in behavior, manners, and appearance

   At the formal dinner, everyone acted in a decorous manner and followed the rules of etiquette.

   Synonyms: proper, decent, respectable

   Origin: from Latin 'decorus', meaning 'becoming, seemly', from 'decorare', to adorn or beautify