In the most general sense, to use something is to employ it for some purpose, the way one might use a fork to eat spaghetti. However, when it is people rather than forks being used, this familiar verb takes a sinister turn. Here we find the synonym exploit. To exploit someone or a group of people is to take advantage of them in an unfair or unethical way. More often than not, exploit implies selfishness and mistreatment—often with a singular focus on profit. However, in highly competitive fields, such as sports and business, exploit may be used in a way that suggests cleverness in making full use of something, such as a competitor's weakness or potential market opportunities.

The adverbs very and eminently both indicate that an action is performed or a relation exists to a high degree. But the adverb eminently, close in meaning to notably, often connotes prominence and esteem. Consider the adjective eminent: a person who is eminent is high in rank or distinguished, as an eminent diplomat. An eminent quality is one that is conspicuous or noteworthy, as in eminent fairness. An eminent feature is one that is protruding or projecting, as eminent rock formations. The common theme of prominence, or standing out, carries over to the adverb eminently. Those who are eminently qualified exhibit a degree of qualifications that set them apart.

The verbs enjoy and relish are close in meaning, but relish has far more flavor. To relish something is to enjoy it with marked appreciation or keen delight. Consider the noun relish, a condiment that one adds to a dish to impart flavor and—we hope—enhance enjoyment. The idea of savoring a special taste or flavor carries over to the verb, even when the tastes and flavors are figurative rather than literal. When someone relishes an experience, for instance, they are making a point to appreciate the distinctive aspects (flavors) of that particular encounter or activity.

When something is unique, it is one of a kind. When something is one of a kind because it is truly better than the rest, it is nonpareil. The adjective nonpareil means "having no equal; peerless," and it suggests exceptional quality or skill. A nonpareil singer, for instance, is one so proficient, they stand alone in their class. Nonpareil can also be used as a noun to refer to a person or thing having no equal, and, in the plural, to those colorful sprinkles that top various kinds of sweet treats, making them just a little better than the rest.

The noun influence refers to a type of unofficial power to direct the actions or thoughts of others; it typically implies deference to one's character, ability, or station. The noun leverage also refers to a type of power, but power of a less mysterious nature, usually derived from an advantage. A company that has the advantage of being the only commercial enterprise in a town might have considerable leverage, or power, in its union negotiations. Leverage comes from the word lever, a rigid bar used to move an object by applied force at a certain point. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the word leverage commonly appears in discussion of politics and business.

Something that is easy is by definition not hard or difficult. When an activity or goal can be carried out or achieved with little difficulty or effort, it may be called facile. A facile victory, for instance, is a victory won handily with minimal exertion. Similarly, someone who is facile with words expresses themself with ease. While these senses of facile connote skillfulness, facile sometimes sports an air of superficiality: facile answers are overly simplistic or trite responses to difficult questions; facile assumptions are things taken for granted that really shouldn't be; and facile arguments are shallow lines of reasoning—all things formed or arrived at a little too easily.

When we understand something, we perceive the meaning of it. When we fathom something, the perception goes a little deeper. To fathom something is to penetrate to the truth of it, or plumb its depths. The word gets its depth, so to speak, from the noun sense of fathom, a unit of measurement equivalent to six feet used for gauging depth in water. Consequently, one can fathom (measure the depth of) a body of water, or fathom (attempt to get to the bottom of) a difficult or complicated matter. Such depths may seem profound and hard to comprehend, which is perhaps why fathom is so frequently used when full comprehension feels just out of reach.