counterproductive
having the opposite effect from the one intended
Vocabulary directory
Browse original bilingual teaching entries. 15544 entries · Page 106 / 156
crux
the most important or difficult part of a problem
expedite
to make a process happen sooner
fractional
very small or relating to a fraction
freighter
a large ship or aircraft used to carry goods
hiss
to make a long sharp sound like escaping air
incendiary
designed to cause fire or provoke angry reactions
lubricant
a substance that reduces friction between moving parts
masquerade
to pretend to be something else
minion
a low-ranking follower who obeys a powerful person
narcissism
excessive interest in one's own importance
ostrich
a very large flightless bird
overcast
covered with clouds
paragon
a person regarded as a perfect example of a quality
parochial
having a narrow view limited to local interests
somber
dark, serious, and sad
standstill
a state in which all movement or progress stops
unsatisfactory
not good enough for the purpose
acquittal
a court judgment that someone is not guilty
anvil
a heavy iron block on which metal is shaped
belligerent
hostile and ready to fight
boundless
without limits
brooch
a decorative pin worn on clothing
consummate
showing complete skill
decadent
marked by excessive luxury and self-indulgence
decoy
something used to distract or lure a target
depraved
morally corrupt and cruel
detectable
able to be discovered or measured
forfeiture
the loss of property or rights as a penalty
fruitless
producing no useful result
headway
progress toward a goal
idyllic
peaceful and beautiful in a simple way
insatiable
impossible to satisfy
mannered
behaving or speaking in an artificial way
merciless
showing no pity
mortuary
a place where dead bodies are kept before burial
muffled
made quieter or less distinct
obtuse
slow to understand or unwilling to notice the obvious
particulate
consisting of tiny separate particles
polygon
a flat shape with three or more straight sides
responsiveness
the speed or willingness to react
sedition
speech or action encouraging resistance to lawful authority
shoddy
carelessly made and of poor quality
sleazy
dishonest or morally unpleasant
smirk
to smile in a self-satisfied or unkind way
snuggle
to settle close to someone or something for warmth or comfort
stalemate
a situation in which neither side can make progress
supremely
to a very great degree
trove
a valuable collection of things
unpack
to remove things from a case or explain an idea in detail
urbanization
the growth of towns and cities
yolk
the yellow central part of an egg
assent
agreement or approval
blot
a dark mark or stain
bode
to suggest what is likely to happen
byproduct
something produced in addition to the intended product
consequential
important because of its effects
deviant
differing from accepted standards or patterns
discography
a complete list of recordings by a musician
evocative
bringing strong images or memories to mind
hallowed
deeply respected or regarded as sacred
hydrate
to supply water to the body or another substance
insurmountable
too great to overcome
magnetism
the force by which magnets attract or repel
mariner
a sailor, especially one with long experience
organically
in a natural, gradual, or chemical-free way
rancher
a person who owns or runs a large animal farm
scaffold
a temporary platform used by workers at a building site
scavenger
an animal that feeds on dead or discarded matter
scion
a young descendant of a prominent family
servitude
a state of being forced to work for others
sufficiency
an amount adequate for a purpose
tasteless
having little flavor or showing poor judgment
tiff
a brief minor argument
ulcer
an open sore on the skin or inside the body
unjustified
not supported by a good reason
wraith
a ghostlike figure
agnostic
a person who is unsure whether a god exists
axiom
a statement accepted as self-evidently true
belated
coming later than expected or appropriate
decode
to work out the meaning of a coded message
dieter
a person who is trying to lose weight through food choices
dissonance
a lack of agreement or harmony
duress
threats or pressure that force someone to act
dyslexia
a learning difficulty affecting reading and spelling
earthy
simple, direct, and connected to nature
embezzlement
the theft of money entrusted to someone's care
fanatical
showing extreme and unreasonable devotion
incandescent
giving off light because of heat
infallible
incapable of making mistakes
juggle
to keep several tasks moving at once
pied
having two or more colors in patches
sift
to separate fine particles from coarse ones, or examine carefully
soot
black powder produced by burning
spectacularly
in a strikingly impressive or dramatic way
suture
a stitch used to close a wound
wobble
to move unsteadily from side to side
aggressor
a person or state that starts a fight or attack
amethyst
a purple precious stone
berserk
wildly out of control with anger