Word Master — Set 80

Set 80 of Word Master covers 5 words: truculent, conjugal, diffident, penurious, clandestine. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. truculent · adjective/ˈtrʌk.jʊ.lənt/

   eager or quick to argue or fight

   The truculent boy always wanted to fight with others on the playground.

   Synonyms: aggressive, combative, belligerent

   Origin: from Latin 'truculentus', meaning 'fierce, savage'

2. conjugal · adjective/ˈkɑn.dʒə.ɡəl/

   related to marriage or the relationship between married partners

   The couple attended a class to improve their conjugal relationship.

   Synonyms: marital, wedded, matrimonial

   Origin: from Latin 'conjugalis', meaning 'pertaining to marriage', from 'conjugare' which means 'to join together'

3. diffident · adjective/ˈdɪfɪdənt/

   lacking confidence in one's own abilities or worth

   She felt diffident about speaking in front of the class because she was afraid they would laugh at her.

   Synonyms: shy, reserved, timid

   Origin: from Latin 'diffidens', meaning 'distrusting' or 'doubting'

4. penurious · adjective/pəˈnjʊrɪəs/

   extremely poor or deficient in resources

   The penurious family struggled to find enough food to eat every day.

   Synonyms: poor, needy, destitute

   Origin: From Latin 'penuriosus', meaning 'wanting' or 'deficient'.

5. clandestine · adjective/klænˈdɛstɪn/

   characterized by secrecy or concealment often for illicit purposes

   The spies had a clandestine meeting to plan their next move.

   Synonyms: secret, hidden, covert

   Origin: Late 17th century from Latin 'clandestinus', from 'clam', meaning 'secretly'.