Winning Words from the New York Times Learning Network / Vocabulary.com Student Vocab Video Contest

This is a list of vocab words featured in videos made by the winners of a 15-Second Student Vocabulary Video Contest we co-sponsored with The New York Times Learning Network. Check out the videos here!
20 words 1762 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. turncoat
    a disloyal person who betrays or deserts a cause
    They are turncoats, with the ability to suddenly switch from good to bad.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on turncoat here.
  2. serendipity
    good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
    "What good bookshops do well is that they encourage this serendipity, this stumbling onto something that you never thought you would find," Ms Robinson says.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on serendipity here.
  3. prude
    a person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum
    Yet, as Wagner conceived her, she is no prude; she knows the nature of men who cheat, including gods, especially her husband.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on prude here.
  4. onomatopoeia
    using words that imitate the sound they denote
    God knows I can handle a "daiquiri," but when it came to "onomatopoeia," well, thud. Seattle Times (Sep 17, 2012)
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on onomatopoeia here.
  5. bludgeon
    a club used as a weapon
    They bludgeoned him with steel bars, and stabbed him four times.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on bludgeon here.
  6. caricature
    a representation of a person exaggerated for comic effect
    The comedian Tracy Morgan is known for his outlandish sensibilities, caricatured by his character Tracy Jordan on the NBC show 30 Rock. Scientific American (Nov 13, 2013)
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on caricature here.
  7. hallucination
    illusory perception
    Jantijie said last week that he has schizophrenia and experiences hallucinations.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on hallucination here.
  8. bifurcate
    split or divide into two
    "We are going to end up with bifurcated markets with the U.S. and the non-U.S. market."
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on bifurcate here.
  9. sloth
    a slow-moving arboreal mammal of South and Central America
    David wonders where in his house he should put the TV to minimize sloth. Slate (Nov 29, 2013)
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on sloth here.
  10. pacifist
    someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes
    Nonetheless, the Japanese public remains largely pacifist and the self-defense forces face continuing challenges to meet recruiting goals.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on pacifist here.
  11. agglomeration
    the act of collecting in a mass
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on agglomeration here.
  12. hypocritical
    professing feelings or virtues one does not have
    It's pretty hypocritical to accuse Russia of carrots and sticks diplomacy when everyone else is doing the same.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on hypocritical here.
  13. irony
    incongruity between what might be expected and what occurs
    He acknowledges the perceived irony of a shooting victim advocating against gun control. Slate (Dec 12, 2013)
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on irony here.
  14. potable
    suitable for drinking
    These are the keys to life that natural systems provide for free — think breathable air and potable .
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on potable here.
  15. headstrong
    habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
    Lith is bright, well spoken and hardworking but also can be headstrong.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on headstrong here.
  16. paranoia
    a mental disorder characterized by delusions of persecution
    But they also seem reluctant, to the point of paranoia, to question his policies publicly.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on paranoia here.
  17. courier
    a person who carries a message
    He carries your newly bought sacks on his head to a dispatch depot where another group of couriers takes them into the city.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on courier here.
  18. kleptomaniac
    someone with an irrational urge to steal
    I knew a kleptomaniac, who got herself arrested more than once in the great shops of Paris for stealing various articles. Flammarion, Camille
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on kleptomaniac here.
  19. mosaic
    design made of small pieces of colored stone or glass
    Today, the 10 spacious modern suites feature wooden floors, mosaic tile bathrooms and rain shower heads.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on mosaic here.
  20. gory
    covered with blood
    Described as being "for adults and fearless teens aged 13+", the play contains many gory scenes.
    Watch a 15-second prize winning student video on gory here.
Created on Wed Dec 18 14:41:34 EST 2013 (updated Thu Dec 19 09:38:14 EST 2013)

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