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to damage the good relationship that two people or groups of people have:

It doesn't make sense to let things that happened in the past drive a wedge between us now.

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a situation in which a lot of people are trying to do or achieve the same thing at the same time

Falling interest rates has led to a stampede to buy property.

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the state of being very important and worth protecting

the sanctity of marriage

I believe in the sanctity of human life.

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the state of being very important and worth protecting

the sanctity of marriage

I believe in the sanctity of human life.

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sway somebody to persuade somebody to believe something or do something

SYNONYM influence

He's easily swayed.

She wasn't swayed by his good looks or his clever talk.

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-believing that your ideas and behaviour are morally better than those of other people:

He's so self-righteous - like he's never done anything wrong in his life.

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taking an opposing stand on quick-blush issues

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taking an opposing stand on quick-blush issues

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​[usually before noun] very enthusiastic about something (often a hobby)

SYNONYM keen

an avid reader/collector

She has taken an avid interest in the project (= she is extremely interested in it).

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To ensure one's safety or success by dealing with every potentially problematic aspect of a situation or activity. A reference to baseball, in which the defensive players must make sure all bases (and baserunners who may occupy them) are accounted for. Primarily heard in US, South Africa.

We have to be sure to cover our bases before the trial begins so that we aren't surprised by anything the prosecution throws our way.

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to pretend to have a particular feeling, problem, etc. :

You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are.
The prosecution claimed that the defendant had feigned the injury.
She responded to his remarks with feigned amusement.

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- someone who supports both sides in a disagreement because they cannot make a decision or do not want to annoy or offend either side

Essentially, these people are fence-sitters, unwilling or incapable of making an important life decision

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- a universal proposition that denies something of all members of a class

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to cause something to be not straight or exact; to twist or distort:

there's no other reason why you would skew towards agnosticism versus
atheism

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- an informal name for the gateway to Heaven according to some Christian denominations.

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many different types of something that are offered:

a smorgasbord of choices
Essentially, agnosticism is spirituality's smorgasbord — and I love it.

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the most non-committal way to commit to a belief system

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the most non-committal way to commit to a belief system

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a temporary change that does not have any special meaning:

The fact is, my entire existence is going to be less than a blip on this universe, and I think it would be pretty arrogant to assume I could ever know with total certainty that there is or isn't a God out there calling the shots. But it doesn't bother me to not know.

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certain; not to be doubted:

Health insurance is an absolute necessity.

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(identify as someone/something) to say that you belong to a particular group or category; to describe yourself as belonging to that group or category

He began identifying as a Christian at the age of 15.

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to invent a plan or solution:

Just give him five minutes and he’ll think up an excuse.

Like I said, being agnostic has brought me more peace than religion ever could. I'm perfectly comfortable not knowing, or even thinking I'm capable of knowing, all the answers to all the endless metaphysical questions we humans think up

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Reject society’s pressure on you to contort this clearly identifiable position into the socially inert term of “agnosticism”. Shed the self-doubt. Drop the intellectual submission based wholly in the fear of societal repercussions.

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a friend group, circle, or clique which is used by a member of said group to help facilitate relations (possibly intimate) with someone outside of the circle in a variety of possible ways

- The use of the label “agnostic” serves as social lubricant to avoid the friction of calling oneself an atheist in polite company.

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​having similar ideas and interests

The club offers an opportunity for like-minded people to get together.

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I don't hold it that view of agnosticism but that's not the agnosticism that I'm talking about

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1. ​a feeling of being outside your own body, especially when you feel that you are watching yourself from a distance

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a person who believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not

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a strong feeling that something/somebody exists or is true; confidence that something/somebody is good or right
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​the fact of being willing to do what somebody wants and to accept their opinions, even if you are not sure that they are right

There was general acquiescence in the UN sanctions.

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(EXIST)

If a quality runs through something, it is in all parts of it:

Melancholy runs through all her stories.

Racism runs right through society.
It is clear that a passionate aversion to dogmatism runs through both his critique of religious oppression and moralism, and his more positive doctrine of philosophical agnosticism.

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Although Russell often seems in his writings to be drawn towards a quasi-atheist position, his own agnosticism is reinforced by his recognition that the word "religion" does not have a very definite meaning.

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having the same degree of logical or mathematical probability
- God's existence and nonexistence are equiprobable for pure agnostics.

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​that you can achieve

attainable goals/objectives/targets

This standard is easily attainable by most students.

OPPOSITE unattainable
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one of the principles or beliefs that a theory or larger set of beliefs is based on

one of the basic/central tenets of Christianity

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Intellectual integrity is the discipline of striving to be thorough and honest to learn the truth or to reach the best decision possible in a given situation. A person with intellectual integrity has a driving desire to follow reasons and evidence courageously wherever they may lead. Individuals who strongly manifest intellectual integrity value objectivity, evidence-based decision making, and the courageous, fair-minded, and complete pursuit of the best possible knowledge in any given situation

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​forming your own ideas and opinions rather than accepting those of other people, especially in religious teaching

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​to cause somebody to learn and remember ideas, moral principles, etc., especially by repeating them often

inculcate something (in/into somebody) to inculcate a sense of responsibility in somebody

inculcate somebody with something to inculcate somebody with a sense of responsibility

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1. ​abstain (from something) to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against something

Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained.

2. ​abstain (from something) to decide not to do or have something, especially something you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong

to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs

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-PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE: evidence that has the power to influence or persuade someone to believe in its truth

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a person’s connection with a political party, religion, etc.

He was arrested because of his political affiliation.

religious affiliation

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the practice of showing respect for God or a god, by saying prayers, singing with others, etc.; a ceremony for this

an act/a place of worship

morning/evening worship (= a church service in the morning/evening)

The tradition of ancestor worship stretches back thousands of years.

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an article about somebody’s life and achievements, that is printed in a newspaper soon after they have died

an obituary column/notice

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the middle part of something

SYNONYM middle

in the midst of something Such beauty was unexpected in the midst of the city.

The house is set in the midst of large gardens.

from the midst of something She appeared from the midst of the crowd.

In the midst of the evils

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​the feeling of having lost all hope

She uttered a cry of despair.

A deep sense of despair overwhelmed him.

in despair He gave up the struggle in despair.

One harsh word would send her into the depths of despair.

Eventually, driven to despair, he threw himself under a train.

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the state of being in hell; the act of sending somebody to hell

eternal damnation

'else risk damnation in despair'

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a very deep wide space or hole that seems to have no bottom

Ahead of them was a gaping abyss.

They took a long look into the abyss before deciding whether to jump.

(figurative) an abyss of ignorance/despair/loneliness

(figurative) The country is stepping back from the edge of an abyss.

teetering on the edge of the abyss of total political wipeout

To stare into the abyss

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akin to something similar to something

What he felt was more akin to pity than love.

She was wearing something akin to a pineapple on her head.

This game is closely akin to hockey.

One only believes in what one has a nature akin to

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​the feeling of not being able to believe something

He stared at me in disbelief.

To enjoy the movie you have to suspend your disbelief (= pretend to believe something, even if it seems very unlikely).

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​tantamount to something having the same bad effect as something else

If he resigned it would be tantamount to admitting that he was guilty.

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She was almost 90, but still very robust.

He seems to be in robust (good) health.

A robust belief

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(saying) you have to deal with the bad effects or results of something that you originally started

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​[intransitive, transitive] to bet money

SYNONYM bet

wager on something She always wagered on an outsider.

wager something (on something) to wager £50 on a horse

wager something/somebody that… I had wagered a great deal of money that I would beat him.

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to make a coin turn around and around on its edge so that someone can guess that side will land facing upwards:
-  At the far end of this infinite distance [death] a coin is being spun that will come down heads [God] or tails [no God].

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the fact of being morally bad; behaviour that is morally bad

He blames his problems on the world's wickedness.

The wickedness of his deception took my breath away.

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an event that may or may not happen; the fact that events are not certain

SYNONYM possibility

We must consider all possible contingencies.

to make contingency plans (= plans for what to do if a particular event happens or does not happen)

a contingency fund (= to pay for something that might happen in the future)

The contingency of life is part of the human condition.

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complete and not mixed with anything else

SYNONYM utter

The concert was sheer delight.

sheer luck/chance/coincidence/joy/bliss/determination

I only agreed out of sheer desperation.

sheer terror/panic/exhaustion/hell

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to never do something because you think it is wrong:

I swear a lot, but even I draw the line at say ing certain words.

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(cop to something) to admit to something embarrassing or something you have done wrong

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interesting information

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to abide in (a place); hence, to depend on.

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​too great or beautiful to describe in words

ineffable joy

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(comparative direr, superlative direst)
​[usually before noun] (formal) very serious

1. They were living in dire poverty.

2. dire warnings/threats

3. Such action may have dire consequences.

4. We're in dire need of your help.

5. The firm is in dire straits (= in a very difficult situation) and may go bankrupt.

Hazleton objects to what is known as Pascal’s wager, the notion that believing in God is the better bet because the consequence of not believing is so dire.

​- (British English, informal) very bad

The acting was dire.

The weather was absolutely dire.

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interesting information

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- Neither scholarly nor definitive, “Agnostic” fills a void for those who sense a need unfilled by our utilitarian, consumer-driven culture.

collocations

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a large empty space

Below him was nothing but a black void.

She sat staring into the void, emptying her mind of all thoughts.

collocations

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​the quality of being full of energy, excitement and happiness

We can excuse his behaviour as youthful exuberance.

Nothing will curb her natural exuberance.