agitate = v. to move something suddenly or violently; to upset someone; to try to arouse political interest
syn. shake; disturb; foment
n. agitation
n. agitator

The fact that she had not arrived by midnight agitated her parents.

He was known as a political agitator.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
confidential = adj. to be said or written for a specific (non-public) audience
syn. secret
v. confide
adv. confidentially
n. confidant

We were told that the information was strictly confidential.

She confided to me that she had always wanted to be a movie star.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
delighted = adj. to be satisfied, very happy
syn. thrilled, elated
adv. delightfully
adj. delightful
n. delight

He was delighted with the results of the experiment.

It was a delightful afternoon.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
discreet = adj. having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech; capable of preserving prudent silence
syn. cautious, prudent; modest, circumspect
adv. discreetly
n. discreetness / discretion

The noun "discretion" also means “the authority to decide something on one’s own".
(The second sentence below is an example of this.)

A good diplomat has to be discreet.

Some people choose to spend their discretionary disposable income on fancy clothes, others go to the movies, and some like to buy beer.

Note: there is another adjective “discrete”, which means “separate” or “distinct”.

Although the peoples of Madagascar share a common language, they maintain their discrete cultural differences. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
documented = adj. proven with written evidence
syn. substantiated, proven
adj. documentary
n. document
n. documentation

He had documented proof that the bank had made an error.

The car's documentation was in order, so the policeman let the driver go.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
gradual = adj. occurring or progressing in degrees, not abrupt
syn. step-by-step
adv. gradually

There has been a gradual deterioration in the quality of student performance over the years.

The service in the hotel has improved gradually, but it’s still not very good.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
influence = v. to have an effect on a person's point of view or behavior; to change the course of events
syn. affect
adj. influential
n. influence

He was unable to influence his friend's decision.

The drought was due to the influence of a warm water current called “el niņo."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
inordinate = adj. a large amount or quantity; more than reasonable
syn. excessive
adv. inordinately

The airlines had to cancel an inordinate number of flights due to the fog.

There was an inordinately large number of whales off the coast.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
instantly = adv. happening immediately; in a short period of time
syn. immediately
adj. instantaneous
n. instant

The computer finished the job instantly.

It happened in an instant.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
intentional = adj. on purpose
syn. deliberate
adv. intentionally
n. intention
n. intent

His omission from the list of invited guests appears to have been intentional.

He said he wanted to change to a more democratic style of government, but his first actions demonstrated clearly that his intent was merely to maintain the status quo.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
intrinsic = adj. belonging to the essential nature of something
syn. inherent, innate, essential, fundamental
adv. intrinsically

A painting has little intrinsic value, but the fame of the artist can make one worth millions of dollars.

A lot if people who are intrinsically intelligent behave like idiots.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
inundate = v. to flood
syn. overflow, overwhelm
n. inundation

The radio stations were inundated with reports of a severe traffic accident.

The foundation experienced an inundation of requests for money.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
involve = v. to contain as a part; to have as a consequence; to make a participant of; to be connected to; to make intricate
syn. imply; include; entangle; complicate
adj. involved
n. involvement

She involved herself in many activities to meet new friends.

His involvement in right-wing activities is well documented.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
nominal = adj. very small; in name but not in fact
syn. moderate, ostensible
adv. nominally

The firm was sold at a nominal price with the idea that the new owner would save it from bankruptcy.

Although the hotel was nominally quite good, an inspection revealed numerous security problems.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
presume = v. to assume to be true (i.e., before having complete information)
syn. assume, take for granted
n. presumption
adj. presumptuous
adv. presumable
adv. presumably

I presume you had a good reason why you got to your interview an hour late.

He soon realized that some of his presumptions about the situation were the result of his prejudice and ignorance of the facts, and were completely incorrect.