English Files

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗔𝗭𝗔𝗥𝗗
hap·​haz·​ard | \ (ˌ)hap-ˈha-zərd \

𝗔𝗱𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲
Definition (Entry 1 of 2)
: marked by lack of plan, order, or direction

//a haphazard assemblage of furniture
//not … a collection of haphazard schemes, but rather the orderly component parts of a connected and logical whole
— F. D. Roosevelt

𝗡𝗼𝘂𝗻
Definition (Entry 2 of 2)
: CHANCE sense 1
//this little remnant preserved by the haphazard of chance
— Edith Hamilton

//take our principles at haphazard
— John Locke

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀
𝘈𝘥𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦
haphazard adverb
hap​haz​ard​ly adverb
hap​haz​ard​ness noun
hap​haz​ard​ry \ (ˌ)hap-ˈha-zər-drē \ noun

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗺𝘀 & 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗺𝘀
𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘴: Adjective
aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered, slapdash, stray

𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘴: Adjective
methodical (also methodic), nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized

Examples
Adjective
//We were given a haphazard tour of the city.
//considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it's a wonder the cookies came out this good

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗨𝘀𝗲
Adjective
1576, in the meaning defined above

Noun
1569, in the meaning defined above

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗘𝘁𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
Noun and Adjective
HAP entry 1 + hazard

DELUSION

noun
de·​lu·​sion | \ di-ˈlü-zhən , dē- \

Collegiate Definition
1a: something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated

under the delusion that they will finish on schedule

delusions of grandeur

bpsychology : a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary
the delusion that someone was out to hurt him

also : the abnormal state marked by such beliefs

2: the act of tricking or deceiving someone : the state of being deluded
… accused the Bohemian of having practised the most abominable arts of delusion among the younger brethren.
— Walter Scott

Other Words
de​lu​sion​al \ di-ˈlüzh-nəl , dē-, -ˈlü-zhə-nᵊl \
adjective
de​lu​sion​ary \ di-ˈlü-zhə-ˌner-ē , dē- \ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
chimera, conceit, daydream, dream, fancy, fantasy (also phantasy), figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm (also fantasm), pipe dream, unreality, vision

Antonyms
truth, verity

Examples
He has delusions about how much money he can make at that job.

He is living under the delusion that he is incapable of making mistakes.

She is under the delusion that we will finish on time.

As the illness progressed, his delusions took over and he had violent outbursts.

First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology
Middle English, from Late Latin delusion-, delusio, from deludere see DELUDE

©MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY

DENOUNCE

verb
de·​nounce | \ di-ˈnau̇n(t)s , dē- \
de​nounced; de​nounc​ing

Collegiate Definition
transitive ​verb
1: to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil
they denounced him as a bigot
Others might cry or get bent out of shape when their personal tastes are denounced and ridiculed, but not him …
— David Sedaris

2: archaic
a: PROCLAIM
b: to announce threateningly

3: to inform (see INFORM sense intransitive 1) against : ACCUSE
was denounced to the authorities

4: obsolete : PORTEND

5: to announce formally the termination of (something, such as a treaty)
denounced the arrangement with their former ally

Other Words
de​nounce​ment \ di-ˈnau̇n(t)-smənt , dē- \ noun
de​nounc​er noun

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
blame, censure, condemn, criticize, dis [slang] (also diss), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend, slag [chiefly British]

Antonyms
cite, commend, endorse (also indorse)

Examples
The government called on the group to denounce the use of violence.

The film was denounced for the way it portrayed its female characters.

First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French denuncier to proclaim, from Latin denuntiare, from de- + nuntiare to report — more at ANNOUNCE

©MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY