kun-VIV-ee-uhl
(adjective) Cheerful and friendly; fond of socializing.
The host’s convivial energy made everyone feel welcome.
Fun Fact
“Convivial” comes from Latin roots meaning “to live together”—and it originally referred to shared meals. Think long dinners, clinking glasses, and group laughter. It’s still used for parties and gatherings where the atmosphere feels warm and festive.
kun-VIV-ee-uhl
(adjective) Cheerful and friendly; fond of socializing.
The host’s convivial energy made everyone feel welcome.
Fun Fact
“Convivial” comes from Latin roots meaning “to live together”—and it originally referred to shared meals. Think long dinners, clinking glasses, and group laughter. It’s still used for parties and gatherings where the atmosphere feels warm and festive.
ah-STEN-suh-buhl
(adjective) Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so.
His ostensible reason for quitting was stress, but rumors pointed to deeper issues.
Fun Fact
The word ostensible is often used in social commentary and psychology, especially when discussing the gap between appearance and reality. In interpersonal relationships, people may offer ostensible reasons for actions—like ending a friendship or quitting a job—when deeper motives remain unspoken. The tension between what seems true and what actually is makes ostensible a powerful tool for manipulation, misdirection, and mystery.
muh-RASS
(noun) A complicated or confusing situation; literally, a swamp.
They found themselves in a legal morass with no clear way forward.
Fun Fact
Originally a term for a literal bog, “morass” now often describes bureaucratic, emotional, or political messes. It’s a favorite of journalists covering gridlocked governments or corporate chaos.
IN-dih-jent
(adjective) Lacking money or basic necessities; impoverished.
The foundation provides aid to indigent families during the winter.
Fun Fact
“Indigent” shows up often in legal systems—like “indigent defense,” where courts provide attorneys to those who can’t afford one. The word is more formal than “poor,” often appearing in policy and grant language.
dis-rih-PYOOT
(noun) The state of having a bad reputation.
The scandal threw the company into disrepute almost overnight.
Fun Fact
Disrepute is often used in legal, corporate, or academic contexts—anywhere reputation really matters. Unlike scandal or shame, disrepute doesn’t always result from wrongdoing; sometimes it’s a result of association or even rumor.
kruh-DOO-lih-tee
(noun) A tendency to believe things too easily or readily.
Scammers often rely on the credulity of their victims to succeed.
Fun Fact
While “credulity” might sound like a compliment, it’s rarely used that way. It often appears in critiques of conspiracy theories or scams, highlighting the fine line between open-mindedness and gullibility.