arrant — complete and utter; used to emphasize how bad something is
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: complete and utter; used to emphasize how bad something is
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈærənt/
Example Sentences
- The politician's arrant hypocrisy was exposed when his private messages were leaked.
- It's arrant stupidity to go hiking in a thunderstorm without proper gear.
- My cat showed arrant disdain for the expensive cat bed by sleeping in the cardboard box instead.
arrant
ADJECTIVE[/ˈærənt/]
complete and utter; used to emphasize how bad something is
The arrant thief boldly stole the queen's crown in broad daylight.
His arrant lies become apparent through transparent deception!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'errant' meaning 'wandering' or 'roaming', originally describing knights who traveled in search of adventure. The meaning shifted from 'wandering' to 'straying from the right path' and eventually to 'complete' or 'utter' as an intensifier for negative qualities.
Breakdown
errant (wandering, straying) → arrant (complete, utter) - the spelling change reflects the semantic shift from literal wandering to figurative 'complete deviation from good'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The politician's arrant hypocrisy was exposed when his private messages were leaked.”
“It's arrant stupidity to go hiking in a thunderstorm without proper gear.”
“My cat showed arrant disdain for the expensive cat bed by sleeping in the cardboard box instead.”
“The student's arrant plagiarism was obvious when he submitted a paper about smartphones written in Shakespearean English.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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