English Words for "Irregularity and Irrationality" | ACT Vocabulary

peculiarity

noun

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ɪ

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u

ju

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a feature that sets something or someone apart

Example

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Her habit of collecting antique clocks was a peculiarity that fascinated her friends.

The house had many peculiarities, including a secret door hidden behind a bookshelf.

novelty

noun

n

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v

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ə

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the quality of being noticeably new or different

fluke

noun

f

l

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k

e

a surprising piece of good luck

What is a "fluke"?

A fluke is an unexpected or fortunate event that happens by chance, often in a way that seems accidental or unlikely. It can refer to situations where something happens in a way that was not planned or anticipated, but it results in a positive or surprising outcome. Flukes can occur in many different contexts, from sports to everyday life, and typically involve an element of luck or randomness.

coincidental

Adjective

c

k

oi

oʊɪ

n

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s

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ə

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happening unexpectedly and without deliberate planning or foresight

exotic

Adjective

e

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gz

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ɑ

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exciting or beautiful because of having qualities that are very unusual or different

quaint

Adjective

q

k

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w

ai

eɪ

n

t

curiously distinct, unique, or unusual

eccentric

Adjective

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ɛ

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k

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s

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ɛ

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slightly strange in behavior, appearance, or ideas

accidental

Adjective

a

æ

cc

ks

i

ə

d

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ɛ

n

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occurring unexpectedly or without prior planning

sporadic

Adjective

s

p

o

ɜ

r

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æ

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occurring from time to time, in an irregular manner

continual

deviant

Adjective

d

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t

departing from established customs, norms, or expectations

atypical

Adjective

a

eɪ

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ɪ

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differing from what is usual, expected, or standard

typical

distinctive

Adjective

d

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ɪ

s

t

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ɪ

n

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possessing a quality that is noticeable and different

newfangled

Adjective

n

e

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f

a

æ

n

ə

g

l

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recently invented or introduced, often implying novelty over practicality

bizarre

Adjective

b

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ə

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a

ɑ

rr

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e

strange or unexpected in appearance, style, or behavior

unprecedented

Adjective

u

ə

n

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ɛ

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never having existed or happened before

precedented

unparalleled

Adjective

u

ə

n

p

a

ɛ

r

a

ə

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l

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ɛ

l

e

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unmatched in comparison to others

idiosyncratic

Adjective

i

ɪ

d

io

ioʊ

s

y

ɪ

n

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k

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a

æ

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having characteristics that are unique to an individual or group

infrequent

Adjective

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ɪ

n

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r

e

i

q

k

u

w

e

ə

n

t

happening at irregular intervals

frequent

abnormal

Adjective

/æbˈnɔɹməɫ/

different from what is usual or expected

normal

improbably

Adverb

i

ɪ

m

p

r

o

ɑ

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a

ə

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in a manner that is unlikely to happen or occur

believably

occasionally

Adverb

o

ə

cc

k

a

eɪ

s

ʒ

io

ə

n

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ll

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not on a regular basis

Grammatical Information:

adverb of frequency

irrational

Adjective

i

ɪ

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r

a

æ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

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l

not based on reason or logic

rational

unfounded

Adjective

u

ə

n

f

o

a

u

ʊ

n

d

e

ɪ

d

having no basis in fact or reality, making something unreliable or untrue

absurd

Adjective

a

ə

b

s

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ɜ

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d

so unreasonable or illogical that it provokes disbelief or laughter

fantastical

Adjective

f

a

æ

n

t

a

æ

s

t

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ɪ

c

k

a

ə

l

strangely unbelievable or bizarre

supernatural

Adjective

s

u

p

e

ɜ

r

n

a

æ

t

ʧ

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ɜ

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ə

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beyond what is explainable by natural laws, often attributed to divine or mystical forces

natural

laughable

Adjective

l

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u

gh

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ə

b

l

e

so absurd or ridiculous that it provokes laughter

ridiculous

Adjective

r

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k

u

j

ə

l

ou

ə

s

extremely silly and deserving to be laughed at

inconceivable

Adjective

i

ɪ

n

c

k

o

ə

n

c

s

ei

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v

a

ə

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ə

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too unlikely to believe or imagine

preposterous

Adjective

p

r

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ɪ

p

o

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t

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ou

ə

s

absurd and contrary to common sense

outlandish

Adjective

o

a

u

ʊ

t

l

a

æ

n

d

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

Disapproving

unconventional or strange in a way that is striking or shocking

paranormal

Adjective

p

a

ɛ

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a

ə

n

o

ɔ

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m

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beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding or explanation

normal

counterintuitive

Adjective

c

k

o

a

u

ʊ

n

t

e

ə

r

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ɪ

n

t

u

u:

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contradictory to the expectations that are formed on common sense or intuition

arbitrary

Adjective

a

ɑ

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b

i

ə

t

r

a

ɛ

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not based on reason but on chance or personal impulse, which is often unfair

nonarbitrary

surreal

Adjective

s

u

ɜ

rr

r

ea

i

l

related to an artistic style that emphasizes the bizarre, dreamlike, or irrational, often blending reality with fantasy in unexpected ways

ludicrous

Adjective

l

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d

i

ə

c

k

r

ou

ə

s

unreasonable or exaggerated to the point of being ridiculous

perversity

noun

p

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v

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the intentional deviation from what is considered right or good

paradox

noun

p

a

ɛ

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ks

a logically contradictory statement that might actually be true

What is a "paradox"?

A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself but often reveals a deeper truth. It challenges logic, common sense, or expectations by presenting two seemingly incompatible ideas that somehow coexist. For example, "Less is more" may appear contradictory, yet it suggests that simplicity can lead to greater effectiveness. Paradoxes are commonly used in literature and philosophy to provoke thought and encourage deeper analysis of complex ideas.

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You learned 38 words from ACT Irregularity and Irrationality Vocabulary. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

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