A Power Word Vocabulary List
Contingent/contingency
Dependent on chance.
My scholarship was contingent on my grade point average.
Former/latter
Of two choices: the first and the second
John was given two choices. Pay the fine or go to jail. He couldn’t afford the former so he served the latter.
Preclude
To make impossible in advance.
Mack’s rotator cuff injury precluded a major league career at shortstop.
Theory/reality
Two positions: the possible and the actual.
In theory, Mary could be a doctor. In reality, her science and math grades precluded entry into med school.
Imperative
Necessary or urgent
If you want to write well, it’s imperative to read often and much.
Cognition/cognitive
The process of knowing or thinking
The accounting program did not fit Zach’s cognitive style.
Discern
To perceive or recognize clearly
To be a good art collector you have to discern the difference between the authentic and the fake.
Dissonance
An inharmonious combination of sounds. Any lack of harmony or agreement.
The cognitive dissonance between what Jane said and what she did angered her friends.
Germane
truly relevant or pertinent
Why you were late is not germane to our discussion of your tardiness.
Misconstrue
Misinterpret
Please don’t misconstrue my intentions when I say that I think you have beautiful eyes.
Convey
Transport or carry
My words may not convey my true meaning.
Contrive
To think up or devise
My reasons for quitting are not contrived. They are based on facts.
Extrapolate
To estimate something unknown on the basis of known facts.
A midwife could easily extrapolate her knowledge of birthing to the animal world.
Prohibitive
To prevent or hinder.
The cost of a mink coat is prohibitive to the average wage earner.
Evasion, evasive
Avoiding by deceit or cleverness
Jeremy’s answers were so evasive, I had to conclude he was hiding something.
Complimentary/Complementary
Offering praise or giving something free /or to make complete.
The teacher complimented the student on a good test.
Rachel had to contact the company for her complimentary prize.
After buying the laptop, Jim couldn’t find the complementary charger.
Articulate – jointed, to bend, distinct speech, to express oneself clearly and well
The crane articulates at three joints.
It’s important to articulate all the consonants in a word.
Barack Obama is very articulate.
Chronological
Of or about time.
I described my trip in chronological sequence.
Power Word Challenge Worksheet
Find the right word to complete each sentence…
Extrapolate Theory Preclude Complimentary Cognitive Germane Misconstrue Contingent Dissonance Imperative Convey Complementary Former Contrive Prohibitive Discern Evasive Chronological Latter Reality
I was asked to describe my life in _____________________sequence.
My scholarship was __________________________ on my grade point average.
John was given two choices. Pay the fine or go to jail. He couldn’t afford the __________________so he served the________________________________.
In ______________________, Mary could be a doctor. In______________________ , her science and math grades precluded entry into med school.
Mack’s rotator cuff injury _____________________ a major league career at shortstop.
If you want to write well, it’s ___________________________ to read often and much.
The accounting program did not fit Zach’s _________________________________style.
To be a good art collector you have to ___________________ the difference between the authentic and the fake.
The cognitive________________________ between what Jane said and what she did angered her friends.
Why you were late is not __________________________ to our discussion of your tardiness.
Rachel had to contact the company for her _____________________________ prize.
Please don’t ________________________ my intentions when I say that I think you have beautiful eyes.
My words may not ____________________________ my true meaning.
My reasons for quitting are not _________________________. They are based on facts.
After buying the laptop, Jim couldn’t find the ________________________________charger.
A midwife could easily __________________________ her knowledge of birthing to the animal world.
The cost of a mink coat is ____________________________ to the average wage earner.
Jeremy’s answers were so________________________, I had to conclude he was hiding something.
The coach’s remarks to his players were not very __________________________ after they lost.