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Make Your Point > Archived Issues > UNFLAGGING

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pronounce UNFLAGGING:

un FLAG ing
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connect this word to others:

As we check out the enthusiastic word unflagging, which is perfect for describing someone's energy or support that never lets up, let's recall some synonyms: we've got staunch, steady, tireless, unfailing, aund unre____ing ("trying again and again, as if unwilling to give up in the face of failure").

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)  

definition:

As we saw when we checked out the word "flagging," one meaning of "flag" is "to flap down loosely; to droop or fade." Flagging things and people, then, are drooping, fading, or becoming less strong.

We can use the opposite, "unflagging," to describe things and people who aren't drooping, aren't fading, and aren't becoming less strong—despite being in some long or exhausting situation.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Adjective: "He works with unflagging concentration;" "Her optimism is unflagging."

Other forms: 

The precise opposite is "flagging," and the base verb is "flag." More on those words here.

The adverb is "unflaggingly," as in "He works unflaggingly" and "She is unflaggingly optimistic."

how to use it:

Pick the formal, cheerful, positive, semi-common word "unflagging" when you want to describe someone's admirably steadfast behavior.

We talk about people's unflagging work, effort, devotion, commitment, energy, hope, desire, enthusiasm, support, and loyalty.

examples:

"We find everywhere among women the same enthusiasm for art, and the same unflagging courage in mastering the difficulties that thwart their every effort."   
  — Wilhelm Schölermann, "In Germany and Austria, in Russia, Switzerland and Spain," Women Painters of the World, 1905

"The one thing that I find disappointing about the professional chefs on 'Top Chef Masters' is their unflagging professionalism... Most of us would prefer to see them losing their heads occasionally, 'Real Housewives'-style." 
   — Heather Havrilesky, Salon, 10 June 2010

has this page helped you understand "unflagging"?

   

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this term, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.


study it:

Explain the meaning of "unflagging" without saying "tireless" or "persisting."

try it out:

In his second volume of History of European Morals From Augustus to Charlemagne, William Edward Hartpole Lecky wrote:

"To love truth sincerely means to pursue it with an earnest, conscientious, unflagging zeal. It means to be prepared to follow the light of evidence even to the most unwelcome conclusions."

That sounds delightfully noble. I don't think I've ever personally pursued truth with unflagging zeal, but I've certainly pursued other things with unflagging zeal, like my graduate degree, and a high-protein recipe for tofu-based cheese. (It probably can't be done, yet my zeal hasn't flagged.)

How about you? What have you pursued with unflagging zeal?




before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "Words On Words On Birds."

Use your knowledge of vocabulary to answer questions about the terminology describing names for birds.

Try this today:

Which bird name below is a toponym?

A. Aerodramus fuciphagus
B. Buphagus africanus
C. Cinnamopteryx
D. Dysithamnus

Need a hint? Highlight the hidden text: Consider the meaning of words like "topography" and "dystopia." For a big hint, here's the meaning of the Greek topos.

To see the answer, scroll all the way down. 

review this word:

1. The exact opposite of UNFLAGGING is FLAGGING. But a few pretty close opposites of UNFLAGGING are

A. WILTING and LANGUISHING.
B. WARNING and ADMONISHING.
C. SUPPRESSING and QUASHING.

2. Although you're most likely to read about unflagging _____, you might occasionally read about unflagging _____.

A. issues, problems, and conspiracy theories .. medicines
B. vigor, optimism, and adoration .. grief, anger, and spite
C. quotes, claims, and urban legends .. beliefs or convictions




Answers to the review questions:
1. A
2. B

From the game:

Which bird name below is a toponym?

A. Aerodramus fuciphagus
B. Buphagus africanus is the correct answer.
C. Cinnamopteryx
D. Dysithamnus

A toponym, from the Greek topos, "place," includes a place name. As we can see, the Buphagus africanus or yellow-billed oxpecker is native to Africa.


a final word:


I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.

I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.


From my blog:
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      How to motivate our kids to write.
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A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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