Meaning: The illegal action of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Usury is often condemned in many cultures.

Category: Finance › Lending

Synonyms: extortionate lending

Meaning: In the uterus.

Part of speech: adverb

Example: The baby developed utero.

Category: Medicine › Obstetrics

Meaning: Designed to be useful rather than attractive.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The utilitarian design of the building is practical.

Category: Philosophy › Ethics

Synonyms:

• practical
• functional

Antonyms:

• aesthetic
• ornamental

Meaning: A philosophy that advocates for the greatest good for the greatest number.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Utilitarianism is often discussed in ethics classes.

Category: Philosophy › Ethics

Synonyms: greatest happiness principle

Meaning: An imagined perfect society.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Many authors have written about utopia.

Category: Philosophy › Society

Synonyms:

• paradise
• ideal world

Antonyms:

• dystopia
• nightmare

Meaning: Of the greatest degree or extent.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: He showed his uttermost dedication to the project.

Category: General › Degree

Synonyms:

• extreme
• maximum

Antonyms:

• least
• minimum

Meaning: Abbreviation for the Ulster Unionist Party.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The UUP is a political party in Northern Ireland.

Category: Politics › Political Parties

Synonyms: political party

Meaning: Relating to the uvula.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The uvular reflex can affect speech.

Category: Anatomy › Human Body

Meaning: Relating to a wife.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: His uxorial duties included supporting his spouse.

Category: Sociology › Marriage

Synonyms:

• spousal
• marital

Meaning: The act of killing one's wife.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Uxoricide is a serious crime.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms: wife murder

Meaning: A type of submachine gun.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The Uzi is known for its compact size.

Category: Military › Weapons

Synonyms: submachine gun

Meaning: Those who have been defeated in a conflict or competition.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The vanquished were taken prisoner after the battle.

Category: Politics › Conflict

Synonyms:

• defeated
• losers

Antonyms:

• victors
• winners

Meaning: The essential organs necessary for life.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The doctor checked the vitals of the patient.

Category: Medicine › Anatomy

Synonyms:

• organs
• essentials

Meaning: The U.S. government-funded international radio and television service.

Part of speech: phrase

Example: The Voice of America broadcasts news in multiple languages.

Category: Media

Meaning: A military organization composed of volunteers.

Part of speech: phrase

Example: He joined the Volunteer Reserve Forces to serve his country.

Category: Military

Meaning: the Latin version of the Bible

Part of speech: noun

Example: The Vulgate is an important historical text.

Category: Religion › Scripture

Synonyms: Latin Bible

Meaning: the state of being empty or lacking content

Part of speech: noun

Example: The vacuity of his argument was evident.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• emptiness
• void

Antonyms: fullness

Meaning: a space within a cell that contains fluid

Part of speech: noun

Example: The plant cell has a large vacuole.

Category: Science › Biology

Meaning: a space entirely devoid of matter

Part of speech: noun

Example: In space, there is a vacuum.

Category: Science › Physics

Synonyms:

• void
• emptiness

Meaning: a handbook or guide

Part of speech: noun

Example: He carries a vade mecum for quick reference.

Category: Education

Synonyms:

• manual
• guide

Meaning: the muscular tube leading from the external genitals to the uterus

Part of speech: noun

Example: The vagina is part of the female reproductive system.

Category: Medicine › Anatomy

Meaning: the state of wandering without a permanent home

Part of speech: noun

Example: Vagrancy is often associated with homelessness.

Category: Society

Synonyms:

• wandering
• drifting

Meaning: a person who has no home and wanders

Part of speech: noun

Example: The vagrant slept on the park bench.

Category: Society

Synonyms:

• homeless person
• drifter

Meaning: excessively proud of oneself

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Her vainglorious attitude was off-putting.

Category: Psychology

Synonyms:

• boastful
• arrogant

Antonyms: humble

Meaning: the act of saying farewell

Part of speech: noun

Example: His valediction was heartfelt.

Category: Language

Synonyms:

• farewell
• goodbye

Meaning: serving as a farewell

Part of speech: adjective

Example: He gave a valedictory speech at graduation.

Category: Education

Synonyms:

• farewell
• goodbye

Meaning: the combining capacity of an element

Part of speech: noun

Example: Oxygen has a valency of two.

Category: Science › Chemistry

Synonyms: valence

Meaning: in Norse mythology, a hall of the slain

Part of speech: noun

Example: Warriors hoped to reach Valhalla after death.

Category: Mythology

Synonyms: heaven

Meaning: the quality of being logically or factually sound

Part of speech: noun

Example: The validity of the research was questioned.

Category: Logic

Synonyms:

• soundness
• legitimacy

Meaning: in Norse mythology, a female figure who chooses those who may die or live in battles

Part of speech: noun

Example: The Valkyrie guided the fallen warriors.

Category: Mythology

Meaning: not influenced by personal beliefs or opinions

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The research aims to be value-free.

Category: Science › Research

Synonyms:

• objective
• neutral

Meaning: containing personal beliefs or opinions

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The article was value-laden.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• biased
• subjective

Meaning: a person who assesses the value of something

Part of speech: noun

Example: The valuer determined the price of the house.

Category: Business › Finance

Synonyms:

• appraiser
• assessor

Meaning: a bat that feeds on the blood of animals

Part of speech: noun

Example: The vampire bat is known for its feeding habits.

Category: Nature › Animals

Meaning: the practice of feeding on the blood of others

Part of speech: noun

Example: Vampirism is often depicted in folklore.

Category: Mythology

Synonyms: bloodsucking

Meaning: a chemical element used in steel production

Part of speech: noun

Example: Vanadium is important for making strong steel.

Category: Science › Chemistry

Meaning: The quality of being subject to change.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The variability in temperature can affect plant growth.

Category: Science › Statistics

Synonyms:

• changeability
• fluctuation

Antonyms:

• stability
• consistency

Meaning: The difference between values in a set.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The variance in scores showed how much students differed.

Category: Science › Statistics

Synonyms:

• difference
• discrepancy

Meaning: The narrowing of blood vessels.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Vasoconstriction can increase blood pressure.

Category: Medicine › Cardiology

Synonyms:

• narrowing
• constriction

Meaning: The widening of blood vessels.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Vasodilation helps to lower blood pressure.

Category: Medicine › Cardiology

Synonyms:

• widening
• expansion