English Language : Writing To Argue Vocabulary

ir·ri·tat·ing

adjective

1. Causing annoyance, impatience, or mild anger
   • - an irritating child
2. Causing irritation to a body part
   • - the substance may be irritating to eyes and skin

of·fen·sive

adjective 

1. Causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry
   • - the allegations made are deeply offensive to us
   • - offensive language

noun

1. An organized and forceful campaign to achieve something, typically a political or social end

• - the need to launch an offensive against crime

out·ra·geous

adjective 

1. Shockingly bad or excessive
   • - an outrageous act of bribery
2. Wildly exaggerated or improbable
   • - the outrageous claims made by the previous administration
3. Very bold, unusual, and startling
   • - her outrageous leotards and **** routines

ap·pall·ing

adjective

1. Awful; terrible
   • - his conduct was appalling

an·noy·ing

adjective 

1. Causing irritation or annoyance
   • - annoying habits
   • - unsolicited calls are annoying

un·ac·cept·a·ble

adjective

1. Not satisfactory or allowable
   • - unacceptable behavior

in·fringe·ment

noun

1. The action of breaking the terms of a law, agreement, etc.; violation
   • - copyright infringement
   • - an infringement of the rules
2. The action of limiting or undermining something
   • - the infringement of the right to privacy
   • - this bill is an infringement of our civil liberties

un·re·li·a·ble

adjective

1. Not able to be relied upon
   • - he's lazy and unreliable
   • - unreliable information

ben·e·fi·cial

adjective

1. Favorable or advantageous; resulting in good
   • - the beneficial effect on the economy
   • - discoveries beneficial to mankind

re·spon·si·bil·i·ty

noun

1. The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone
   • - women bear children and take responsibility for child care
2. The state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something
   • - the group has claimed responsibility for a string of murders
3. The opportunity or ability to act independently and make decisions without authorization
   • - we would expect individuals lower down the organization to take on more responsibility
4. A thing that one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation
   • - he will take over the responsibilities of overseas director
5. A moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of
   • - individuals have a responsibility to control personal behavior

gov·ern·ment

noun

1. The governing body of a nation, state, or community
   • - an agency of the federal government
   • - government controls
2. The system by which a nation, state, or community is governed
   • - a secular, pluralistic, democratic government
3. The action or manner of controlling or regulating a nation, organization, or people
   • - rules for the government of the infirmary

en·vi·ron·ment

noun

1. The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
2. The setting or conditions in which a particular activity is carried on
   • - a good learning environment
3. The overall structure within which a user, computer, or program operates
   • - a desktop development environment
4. The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, esp. as affected by human activity

so·ci·e·ty

noun

1. The aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community
   • - drugs, crime, and other dangers to society
2. The community of people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations
   • - the high incidence of violence in American society
   • - modern industrial societies
3. A specified section of such a community
   • - no one in polite society uttered the word
4. The aggregate of people who are fashionable, wealthy, and influential, regarded as forming a distinct group in a community
   • - a society wedding

min·is·ter

noun

1. A member of the clergy, esp. in Protestant churches
2. (in certain countries) A head of a government department

• - Britain's defense minister.
•  

verb

1. Attend to the needs of (someone)
   • - her doctor was busy ministering to the injured
2. Provide (something necessary or helpful)
   • - the story was able to minister true consolation

coun·cil

noun

1. An advisory, deliberative, or legislative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly
   • - an official human rights council
2. A body of people elected to manage the affairs of a city, county, or other municipal district
3. An ecclesiastical assembly
4. An assembly or meeting for consultation or advice
   • - that evening, she held a family council

coun·ci·llor

noun

1. A member of a council

ad·van·tage

noun

1. A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position
   • - companies with a computerized database are at an advantage
   • - she had an advantage over her mother's generation
2. The opportunity to gain something; benefit or profit
   • - you could learn something to your advantage
   • - he saw some advantage in the proposal
3. A favorable or desirable circumstance or feature; a benefit
   • - the village's proximity to the town is an advantage

dis·ad·van·tage

noun

1. An unfavorable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness
   • - a major disadvantage is the limited nature of the data
   • - the impact of poverty and disadvantage on children

pro·pos·al

noun

1. A plan or suggestion, esp. a formal or written one, put forward for consideration or discussion by others
   • - a set of proposals for a major new high-speed rail link
2. The action of putting forward such a plan or suggestion
   • - the proposal of flexible work hours
3. An offer of marriage

be·lief

noun

1. An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists
   • - his belief in the value of hard work
   • - a belief that solitude nourishes creativity
2. Something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction
   • - contrary to popular belief, Aramaic is a living language
   • - we're prepared to fight for our beliefs
3. A religious conviction
   • - Christian beliefs
   • - I'm afraid to say belief has gone
   • - local beliefs and customs
4. Trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something
   • - a belief in democratic politics
   • - I've still got belief in myself

be·lieve

verb

1. Accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of
   • - the superintendent believed Lancaster's story
   • - Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead
2. Accept the statement of (someone) as true
   • - he didn't believe her or didn't want to know
3. Have faith, esp. religious faith
   • - there are those on the fringes of the Church who do not really believe
4. Feel sure that (someone) is capable of a particular action
   • - I wouldn't have believed it of Lois—what an extraordinary woman!
5. Hold (something) as an opinion; think or suppose
   • - I believe we've already met

o·pin·ion

noun

1. A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge
   • - I'm writing to voice my opinion on an issue of great importance
   • - that, in my opinion, is dead right
2. The beliefs or views of a large number or majority of people about a particular thing
   • - the changing climate of opinion
3. An estimation of the quality or worth of someone or something
   • - I had a higher opinion of myself than I deserved
4. A formal statement of advice by an expert on a professional matter
   • - seeking a second opinion from a specialist

sub·jec·tive

adjective

1. Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions
   • - his views are highly subjective
   • - there is always the danger of making a subjective judgment
2. Dependent on the mind or on an individual's perception for its existence
3. Of, relating to, or denoting a case of nouns and pronouns used for the subject of a sentence

chal·leng·ing

adjective

1. Testing one's abilities; demanding
   • - challenging and rewarding employment
2. Inviting competition; provocative
   • - there was a challenging glint in his eyes

di·vide

verb

1. Separate or be separated into parts
   • - consumer magazines can be divided into a number of different categories
   • - the cell clusters began to divide rapidly
2. Separate (something) into portions and distribute a share to each of a number of people
   • - Jack divided up the rest of the cash
   • - the property was divided among his heirs

v·iew·p·oint

noun

1. A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge
   • - I'm writing to voice my viewpoint on an issue of great importance
   • - try and look at it from my viewpoint.

prej·u·diced

adjective

1. Having or showing a dislike or distrust that is derived from prejudice; bigoted
   • - people are prejudiced against us
   • - prejudiced views

in·i·ti·a·tive

noun

1. The ability to assess and initiate things independently
   • - use your initiative, imagination, and common sense
2. The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do
   • - we have lost the initiative and allowed our opponents to dictate the subject
3. An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach to something
   • - a new initiative against car crime

ar·gu·ment

noun

1. An exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one
   • - I've had an argument with my father
   • - heated arguments over public spending
   • - there was some argument about the decision
2. A reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong
   • - there is a strong argument for submitting a formal appeal
   • - he rejected the argument that keeping the facility would be costly

mor·al

adjective

1. Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character
   • - the moral dimensions of medical intervention
   • - a moral judgment
2. Concerned with or adhering to the code of interpersonal behavior that is considered right or acceptable in a particular society
   • - an individual's ambitions may get out of step with the general moral code
3. Holding or manifesting high principles for proper conduct
   • - he is a caring, efficient, moral man

de·bate

noun  

1. A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward
2. An argument about a particular subject, esp. one in which many people are involved
   • - the national debate on abortion
   • - there has been much debate about prices