Something that is incessant continues without interruption—and is more often than not a source of irritation! Incessant chatter near your workstation might disrupt your concentration; incessant whining in any circumstance might deplete your patience; and incessant demands, as from a boss or from any other source, might make you feel exhausted or taken for granted (or both!). When not used to describe undesirable situations such as these, you may find incessant used in a more neutral sense to describe continuous and unrelenting rainfall, or other weather events that carry on seemingly to no end.

Something that is stale has lost freshness, such as a stale slice of bread, or has lost novelty or interest, such as a stale joke. That crusty old joke may also be described as hackneyed. Something that is hackneyed is commonplace or trite and worn out by overuse. This term is especially used of words, remarks, or styles of expression that are clichéd to the point of seeming lifeless and uninteresting. So synonym seekers beware: while it may be tempting to slather this adjective on a piece of stale bread, hackneyed simply doesn't make sense as a descriptor for brittle day-old baked goods!

To allay something is to put it to rest or to quiet it. This sense of the word is mostly used to talk about laying to rest fear, doubt, suspicion, or anger, possibly by making the emotion seem unjustified. Allay is also used to talk about lessening or mitigating something, such as pain. Soothe is similar (an ointment can soothe sunburned skin, for instance). But a key difference is that soothe is sometimes used to talk about people (rather than their concerns or fears)—and in these cases, it may suggest tranquility and even comfort. A person might be soothed or comforted by a warm cup of tea, for instance, but not allayed.

The verb donate is more specific than give. You can give your payment info to a website or give advice to a friend, but the verb donate instantly suggests supporting a cause or offering help to those in need. To donate something is to present it as a gift, grant, or contribution. This generous verb can be used with or without an object (you can donate clothes or donate to the Red Cross), and is particular to American English.

The adjective unparalleled describes things that stand alone in quality or degree, or, more literally, things that have no parallel. Unprecedented—a word we’ve heard a lot in 2020—describes things that have not happened before, or that have no precedent. A precedent is any act, decision, or case that serves as a guide or justification for subsequent situations. Unprecedented is often found near the words history, historic, and historically, which makes sense considering that when something unprecedented occurs, it is, by definition, a first, not yet recorded in the annals of history. Find out why this word was a top trend on Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com in 2020.

To be under the tutelage of another is to receive careful guidance and instruction from that person. A promising young violinist might be lucky enough to come under the tutelage of a world-renowned musician, receiving expert training and support in a manner that sets her up for future success. Tutelage comes from Latin tūtēla “guardianship,” and its earliest uses in English referred to the act of guarding or protecting, or to the office or function of a guardian. While the meaning of the term has broadened, it still suggests a degree of watchful protectiveness or personal interest on the part of the teacher or guide.

The adjective slow describes things characterized by a lack of speed (slow pace) or moving with less than usual speed (slow train). Sluggish, calling to mind everyone’s favorite shell-less gastropod, captures this as well. But sluggish also suggests a lack of activity, as in laziness or lethargy, or stagnant growth as in an industry or economy. You might feel sluggish after a grand feast, for instance. After your meal, perhaps while lounging about and browsing headlines, you might encounter news of sluggish sales in a retail sector or a sluggish economic recovery.