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

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 23. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. exigency · noun/ˈɛɡ.zɪ.dʒən.si/

   a situation requiring immediate action or attention

   The exigency of the fire made everyone leave the building quickly.

   Synonyms: emergency, crisis, urgency

   Origin: from Latin 'exigentia', from exigere 'to demand, require'

2. abrasion · noun/əˈbreɪʒən/

   the process of scraping or wearing away of a surface

   The constant abrasion of the rocks in the river makes them smooth over time.

   Synonyms: scraping, worn, friction

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

3. dissonance · noun/ˈdɪs.ə.nəns/

   a lack of harmony or agreement among elements

   There was a lot of dissonance between the new rules and the old traditions, making it hard for everyone to agree.

   Synonyms: discord, disagreement, clash

   Origin: from the Latin 'dissonantia', meaning 'lack of harmony' or 'discord'

4. sycophant · noun/ˈsɪkəfænt/

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

   The boss surrounded himself with sycophants who only praised his ideas.

   Synonyms: flatterer, fawn, toady

   Origin: The word 'sycophant' comes from the Greek word 'sykophantēs', which means 'informer' or 'accuser'.

5. indigence · noun/ˈɪndɪdʒəns/

   a state of extreme poverty or being indigent

   Many people in the city live in a state of indigence and struggle to find enough food.

   Synonyms: poverty, destitution, want

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