Y10W03VC Word Roots — -anthro- (human)

Anthropology is the academic study of human beings, including their societies, cultures, origins, and behaviour across different times and places.

Word Breakdown: -logy (suffix meaning ‘the study of’)

Example: Anthropology draws on fieldwork, archaeology, and linguistics to understand the diversity of human experience.

Synonyms: social science, cultural study, ethnography

Collocations: study anthropology, cultural anthropology, applied anthropology

A misanthrope is a person who dislikes, distrusts, or has a generally low opinion of human beings and human society.

Word Breakdown: mis- (prefix meaning ‘wrongly’ or ‘hatred of’)

Example: The protagonist is often described as a misanthrope whose cynical worldview stems from repeated betrayal by those he trusted.

Synonyms: cynic, recluse, pessimist

Collocations: a confirmed misanthrope, the misanthrope withdraws, portrayed as a misanthrope

Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially through charitable acts, donations, or projects that benefit communities.

Word Breakdown: phil- (prefix meaning ‘love of’)

Example: Critics argue that corporate philanthropy often serves as a public relations strategy rather than a genuine commitment to social justice.

Synonyms: charity, benevolence, altruism

Collocations: corporate philanthropy, act of philanthropy, philanthropy and social change

To perpetuate means to cause something, especially something harmful or unjust, to continue indefinitely or to be passed on across time.

Word Breakdown: per- (prefix meaning ‘through’ or ‘completely’)

Word family: perpetuation (n.), perpetual (adj.)

Example: Uncritical media coverage can perpetuate harmful stereotypes by presenting them as factual or normal.

Synonyms: sustain, maintain, reinforce

Collocations: perpetuate a myth, perpetuate inequality, perpetuate a cycle

To portray means to represent or depict someone or something in a particular way, especially in art, literature, or media, often shaping how an audience understands them.

Word family: portrayal (n.), portrayed (adj.)

Example: The novel portrays colonised peoples as active agents of resistance rather than passive victims.

Synonyms: depict, represent, characterise

Collocations: portray as, portray sympathetically, portray accurately

As a noun, privilege is an advantage or right available to some people but not others, often due to social, economic, or historical factors. As a verb, to privilege means to give undue priority or advantage to something.

Word family: privileged (adj.), underprivileged (adj.)

Example: The curriculum was criticised for privileging Western literary traditions over those from other cultures.

Synonyms: advantage, entitlement, benefit

Collocations: social privilege, white privilege, privilege one perspective over another

To problematise means to analyse something critically, revealing the complexities, contradictions, or assumptions within it rather than accepting it at face value.

Word Breakdown: -ise (suffix meaning ‘to make or treat as’)

Word family: problematisation (n.)

Example: The author problematises the notion of a unified national identity by exploring the diverse and often conflicting experiences within the community.

Synonyms: question, complicate, challenge

Collocations: problematise the idea of, problematise assumptions, problematise a narrative

To refine means to improve or develop something by making small changes, removing imperfections, or making it more precise and effective.

Word Breakdown: re- (prefix meaning ‘again’ or ‘further’)

Word family: refinement (n.), refined (adj.)

Example: The author refined her argument in subsequent editions, addressing the critiques raised by scholars.

Synonyms: improve, develop, hone

Collocations: refine an argument, refine a technique, refine understanding

‘Significantly’ is used in academic writing to indicate that something is important, notable, or meaningful — often signalling that the writer considers the point to have analytical weight beyond the surface level.

Example: The study found that income significantly predicted educational outcomes, even after controlling for other variables.

Synonyms: notably, importantly, meaningfully

Collocations: significantly affects, significantly higher, significantly different