hindrance(HIN drins) n.1. the act of preventing; 2. obstacle; impediment;
obstruction
- Hindranceof the bill’s coming to a vote was the intended purpose of the
senator’s filibuster. - A Jersey Barrier is a deliberate hindranceto keep traffic moving in opposite
directions from crashing into one another. - Being a woman was a considerable hindranceto Jennifer’s attempt to join
the men’s baseball team.
[Syn. obstacle]
hostility(hahs TIL i tee) n.1. a feeling of antagonism, ill will, unfriendliness,
etc.; enmity; 2. hostile acts; an expression of enmity or ill will - A general feeling of hostilitytoward Japan permeated America after the
attack on Pearl Harbor. - Hostilitybetween members of rival gangs has made it difficult to live in
some parts of certain U.S. cities. - Hostilityof the people toward the regime was the ultimate cause of the
storming of the Bastille that began the French Revolution.
[Syn. enmity]
humanity(yoo MAN i tee) n.1. human nature; the act or quality of being of
the species Homo sapien;2. (pl.) human qualities, especially the desirable ones; 3.
kindness, caring, mercy, sympathy, etc.; 4. mankind; people; 5. (pl.) the branches of
learning dealing with social sciences - All humanityis confined to the surface of the earth.
- Studying the humanitiesusually results in a Bachelor of Arts degree.
- In times of stress or hardship, it falls on all of us to display our humanityto
one another. - A natural disaster on any part of this planet impacts all humanity.
[humanities pl.]
humorous(YOO mer uhs) adj.funny; amusing; comical; showing humor - If one did not take a humorousview of life’s happenings, he or she would
be doomed to constant tears. - Being humorousfor a living is a difficult task that very few people manage
to accomplish. - Sebastian, who is two years old, thinks that rolling the sleeping dog off the
sofa is humorous.
[Syn. witty, droll, funny]
hypocrite(HIP uh krit) n.someone who pretends to be pious, virtuous, etc.
without really being so; one who feigns being what he or she is not; a fake; pre-
tender; sham - Although Lloyd makes a big show of his piety at church on Sundays, he is
really a hypocritebecause he drinks, cusses, and chases loose women the
rest of the week. - Used-car salespersons have a well-deserved reputation for being hypocrites,
guaranteeing you the world until you’ve signed the contract, then not tak-
ing your phone calls.
[hypocritical adj., hypocritically adv.]
G – H: SAT Words 125