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If you abridge a book or play, you make it shorter by making cuts to the original.
A situation or condition that is abysmal is extremely bad or of wretched quality.
Someone who is adroit is skillful and clever, especially in thought, behavior, or action.
When something attenuates, it lessens in size or intensity; it becomes thin or weakened.
To augment something is to increase its value or effectiveness by adding something to it.
When you claim that something is banal, you do not like it because you think it is ordinary, dull, commonplace, and boring.
A bravura performance, such as of a highly technical work for the violin, is done with consummate skill.
Something colossal is extremely big, gigantic, or huge.
If someone shows consummate skill at doing something, that person’s skill is very great or almost perfect in every way.
A copious amount of something is a very large amount of it.
A cynosure is an object that serves as the center of attention.
A diminution of something is a reduction in the size, number, or importance of it.
If you say that a person or thing is the epitome of something, you mean that they or it is the best possible example of that thing.
An exiguous amount of something is meager, small, or limited in nature.
If something is formidable, it is impressive in size, power, or skill; therefore, it can make you feel frightened, alarmed, or in awe because it is so powerful or difficult to deal with.
Something frivolous is not worth taking seriously or considering because it is silly or childish.
Something gargantuan is extremely large.
Someone who has had an illustrious professional career is celebrated and outstanding in their given field of expertise.
Something that is imperceptible is either impossible to be perceived by the mind or is very difficult to perceive.
Inconsequential matters are unimportant or are of little to no significance.
The adjective ineffable refers to something that is so impressive and beautiful that you cannot describe it in words.
If something is infallible, it is never wrong and so is incapable of making mistakes.
Something infinitesimal is so extremely small or minute that it is very hard to measure it.
Something insipid is dull, boring, and has no interesting features; for example, insipid food has no taste or little flavor.
Jejune food is lacking in nutrition.
A leviathan is something that is very large, powerful, difficult to control, and rather frightening.
Something that is mediocre is just average or adequate in quality.
Something minuscule is extremely small in size or amount.
A monumental event is very great, impressive, or of considerable historical significance.
Nominal can refer to someone who is in charge in name only, or it can refer to a very small amount of something; both are related by their relative insignificance.
Something nonpareil has no equal because it is much better than all others of its kind or type.
A paragon is an example of a thing or person at its or their very best.
Something that is of paramount importance or significance is chief or supreme in those things.
If you describe something as pedestrian, you think that it is ordinary and not interesting.
A precocious child shows advanced intelligence or skill at an unusually young age.
Something prosaic is dull, boring, and ordinary.
Something is quintessential when it is a perfect example of its type.
A stupendous event or accomplishment is amazing, astonishing, or simply spectacular.
If you are suffering from tedium, you are bored.
A trite remark or idea is so overused that it is no longer interesting or novel.
Something that is trivial is insignificant, commonplace, of little value, or not important.
Something vapid is dull, boring, and/or tiresome.
A virtuoso is someone who is very skillful at something, especially playing a musical instrument.
Something that is voluminous is long, large, or vast in size.
Adj.
prodigious
pruh-DIJ-uhs
Context
Last weekend we went to a gallery opening for a young painter who has taken the art world by storm with her impressive, extraordinary, and prodigious talent. Using her prodigious and amazing technique, coupled with her awe-inspiring knowledge of the old masters, she has created masterful and beautiful works of art. The artist will soon be able to ask and get prodigious or enormous prices for her wonderful work.
Quiz:Try again!
What is an example of something that is prodigious?
An artist who creates sculptures that are impressive and marvelous.
A book that has an unexpected and unpopular conclusion.
A school that only accepts students if they pass a difficult test.
ProDigger The Grave Digger (AKA ProDigger) is a famous prodigious monster truck that was the biggest and meanest of them all.
Examples
The injury had become so painful it was able to accomplish what few major league pitchers could — silence one of the most prodigious bats in the game over the last decade.
—
USA Today
Much more intriguing, this is a true story brimming with striking characters as well as prodigious achievements and blunders, with thought-provoking lessons for today.
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The Christian Science Monitor
Bluesman Taj Mahal, then fresh from the Boston hootenanny scene, was one of the Sons' two singers; roots-guitar god Ry Cooder, still in his teens at the time, was the band’s prodigious lead picker.
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Rolling Stone
This huge 90 million undertaking is a personal best for producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a triumph for Scott and a war film of prodigious power.
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Rolling Stone
Ultimately from a root word meaning “omen;” an “omen” is a “saying forth” of the future, especially of great or impressive future events.
Word Theater
YouTube: Liszt Grand Galop Chromatique Valentina Lisitsa's playing is nothing but prodigious.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
Word Constellation
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Related Words
adroit ·
augment ·
bravura ·
colossal ·
consummate ·
copious ·
cynosure ·
epitome ·
formidable ·
gargantuan ·
illustrious+ ·
ineffable ·
infallible ·
leviathan ·
monumental+ ·
nonpareil ·
paragon ·
paramount+ ·
precocious ·
quintessential ·
stupendous+ ·
virtuoso ·
voluminous+ ·
abridge ·
abysmal ·
attenuate ·
banal ·
diminution ·
exiguous+ ·
frivolous+ ·
imperceptible+ ·
inconsequential+ ·
infinitesimal+ ·
insipid ·
jejune ·
mediocre ·
minuscule ·
nominal+ ·
pedestrian ·
prosaic ·
tedium ·
trite ·
trivial+ ·
vapid ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
prodigy
n
→
a young person who has an extraordinary talent at something
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.
