
Explanation of parody (noun) piece of work imitating another in a satirical manner; poor imitation
Sample of parody The play was a parody of the Prince and Princess's marital difficulties. Ugh! This is a parody of a fashionable dress!
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Explanation of eminence (noun) lofty place; superiority; height; elevated rank
Sample of eminence After toiling in the shadows for years, at last she achieved eminence. The eminence of the institution can be seen in the impact of its research.
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Explanation of charlatan (noun) person who pretends to have knowledge; impostor; fake; quack; fraud
Sample of charlatan The charlatan deceived the townspeople. It was finally discovered that the charlatan sitting on the throne was not the real king.
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Explanation of tycoon (noun) wealthy leader
Sample of tycoon The business tycoon prepared to buy his fifteenth company.
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Explanation of skeptic (noun) doubter
Sample of skeptic Even after seeing evidence that his competitor's new engine worked, the engineer remained a skeptic that it was marketable.
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Explanation of incompetence (noun) failing to meet necessary requirements; lack of ability; inadequacy
Sample of incompetence The alleged incompetence of the construction crew would later become the subject of a class-action suit.
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Explanation of altruism (noun) unselfish devotion to the welfare of others; philanthropy
Sample of altruism After the organization aided the catastrophe victims, it was given an award for altruism. She displayed such altruism by giving up all of her belongings and joining a peace corps in Africa.
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Explanation of mandate (noun) order; charge; authorization; command
Sample of mandate The new manager wrote a mandate declaring that smoking was now prohibited in the office.
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Explanation of duress (noun) imprisonment; the use of threats; pressure; coercion; intimidation
Sample of duress His duress was supposed to last 10-15 years. The policewoman put the man under duress in order to get a confession. The Labor Department inspector needed to establish whether the plant workers had been held under duress.
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Explanation of surmise (noun) guess; assumption; supposition
Sample of surmise Was my surmise correct?
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