| Term | Definition |
|---|
| incorrigible | bad beyond control |
| bamboozle | to trick or deceive by elaborate misinformation |
| synthetic | created artificially |
| suave | refined in social manners |
| queasy | nauseous |
| pneumonia | a lung illness |
| ambiguous | unclear or having more than one meaning |
| enumerate | to count off one by one |
| vivacious | full of life |
| literate | able to read & write |
| henpeck | to dominate one's husband by persistant nagging |
| extradite | to surrender a prisoner to another state |
| fabricate | to lie; to build |
| clemency | leniency or mercy, especially to an offender or enemy |
| lenient | merciful, forgiving |
| lacerate | to cut |
| vulnerable | capable of being hurt or taken advantage of |
| fiasco | disaster |
| criterion | a standard upon which a judgement can be made |
| undaunted | not intimidated |
| carnage | destruction of life |
| defame | to affect the good name by slander or libel |
| exhume | to dig out of the ground or to remove from the grave |
| euphemism | a mild expression in place of an unpleasant one |
| expatriate | an exile; one who has withdrawn from their native land |
| fastidious | meticulous or difficult to please |
| faux pas | a mistake in manner or behavior |
| fledgling | inexperianced |
| flamboyant | showy or ornate |
| disparage | belittle or slight |
| sadistic | to delight in cruelty |
| ricochet | to bounce off |
| loathe | to hate |
| resilient | durable |
| utopian | perfect |
| staunch | loyal |
| flaunt | to display ostentatiously |
| delirious | mental confusion |
| stamina | endurance |
| sultry | humid |
| catalyst | something which speeds an action |
| reciprocate | repay |
| sequel | a following event |
| demented | sickly twisted; insane |
| whim | a sudden idea |
| enunciate | to pronounce clearly |
| disparity | unequal; a difference |
| erratic | not consistent |
| exonerate | to clear of charges |
| extol | to praise or laud |
| feign | pretend; fake |
| galvanize | to stimulate by shock; stir-up |
| genteel | well-bred; elegant |
| extraneous | from without; foreign |
| gesticulation | motion or gestures |
| gregarious | sociable |
| hedonism | the belief pleasure is the sole aim in life |
| heresy | opinion contrary to accepted religion or popular belief |
| impropriety | something inappropriate |
| indiosyncrasy | quirk; peculiarity; eccentricity |
| good/well | noun modifier/verb modifier |
| conspicuous | easy to see; obvious |
| fortify | to make strong |
| gallivant | to go in search of amusement/excitement |
| precocious | matured earlier than usual |
| alliteration | repetition of consonant sounds |
| allusion | reference to something that is presumably known |
| allegory | using characters symbolically |
| acquisition | something which has been collected |
| impeccable | perfect; faultless |
| dignity | having poise that inspired respect |
| expertise | skill and knowledge |
| diminutive | tiny |
| impasse | stale mate |
| anonymous | nameless |
| rambunctious | unrestrained or uncontrolled |
| robust | sturdy, thick |
| appease | pacify |
| arbitrator | a referee for settlement or dispute |
| incongruity | an absurdity; something with a lack of harmony |
| inherent | established by nature or habit |
| inordinate | excessive or unrestrained |
| lecherous | impure in thought or habit |
| macabre | gruesome; ugly |
| Machiavellian | double-dealing; crafty |
| martial | war-like |
| metamorphosis | change of form |
| misnomer | wrong name or incorrect designation |
| motif | theme |
| seal | spirit |
| recluse | hermit |
| homage | honor/respect |
| promontory | a peak of high land that juts into water |
| ambivalent | conflicting feelings occurring at the same time |
| crux | most important point |
| refurbish | restore |
| amnesty | pardon |
| notorious | famous for doing bad; infamous |
| recapitulate | to summarize or restate |
| stalemate | impasse or standoff |
| segregate | to separate |
| adhere | to stick to |
| scoundrel | villain |
| collaborate | to work together |
| omniscient | all-knowing |
| naïve | lacking knowledge in the ways of the world |
| antecedent | the word which the pronoun refers to |
| implement | put into effect |
| exile | to remove from one's country |
| noxious | harmful |
| omnipotent | all-powerful |
| onslaught | an attack |
| penance | punishment for a sin |
| paranoia | delusions of persecution |
| pious | devout |
| prodigious | enormous |
| risqué | verging on the improper |
| protocol | diplomatic etiquette |
| diction | choice of words |
| fickle | changeable |
| PROSPEROUS | SUCCESSFUL |
| REMORSEFUL | REGRETFUL |
| PERPETUAL | LASTING FOREVER |
| OBNOXIOUS | VERY UNPLEASANT OR ANNOYING |
| PICTURESQUE | LIKE A PICTURE OR CHARMING |
| PESSIMISTIC | TAKING THE NEGATIVE VIEW |
| METHODICAL | SYSTEMATIC |
| PALATABLE | PLEASANT TO TASTE |
| RECONCILE | TO MAKE FRIENDLY AGAIN |
| REPLENISH | TO SUPPLY AGAIN |
| SCRUMPTIOUS | SPLENDID OR DELECTABLE |
| ADOLESCENT | A TEENAGER |
| EPITAPH | A STATEMENT ON A TOMBSTONE |
| FACSIMILE | EXACT COPY OR REPRODUCTION |
| ANGUISH | EXTREME SUFFERING |
| ANIMOSITY | HOSTILITY, HATRED |
| CHAUVINISM | UNREASONABLE PRIDE FOR ONE'S GROUP OR RACE |
| DEFUNCT | DEAD, EXTINCT |
| DECIPHER | TO MAKE OUT THE MEANING |
| ERADICATE | TO REMOVE OR DESTROY |
| PELL-MELL | IN CONFUSION; DISORDERLY |
| POTPOURRI | HETEROGENEOUS MIXTURE |
| POTENTATE | MONARCH; SOVEREIGN |
| RHETORIC | THE ART OF EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE; INSINCERE LANGUAGE |
| PROXIMITY | NEARNESS |
| QUAFF | TO DRINK WITH DELIGHT |
| RECANT | TO REPUDIATE OR TO WITHDRAW A PREVIOUS STATEMENT |
| SKEPTIC | A DOUBTER |
| SLANDER | FALSE AND MALICIOUS STATEMENTS |
| intricate | complicated, detailed |
| enhance | to make better |
| biopsy | a diagnostic examination of tissue from a living body |
| emphatic | emphasis of speech |
| parity | same rank, equality |
| predator | animal that preys on other animals |
| culprit | offender |
| gratuity | tips |
| trajectory | the path of something through space |
| emaciated | abnormally thin |
| elite | the very best |
| competent | well-qualified |
| genre | category of a literary work |
| taxidermy | stuffing and mounting of animal skins |
| superlative | superior to others |
| surveillance | a watch |
| cynical | doubt about the goodness of human motives |
| fallacy | something false |
| compassionate | showing sympathy |
| curtail | to cut short or reduce |
| prose | written in ordinary language |
| repository | storeroom |
| seethe | disturbed or boiled |
| schism | division |
| squalid | dirty, neglected, poor |
| stigmatize | to mark as wicked |
| stringent | rigid or strict |
| stymie | obstacle |
| tawdry | cheap and gaudy |
| transgression | crime or sin |
| garnish | to decorate with something that adds color or taste |
| egotist | very conceited person |
| premeditated | to plan |
| stereotype | a conventional character, an oversimplified conception with little individuality |
| perjury | false swearing under oath |
| mesmerize | enchant or hypnotize |
| soliloquy | a character speaking his thoughts aloud |
| invincible | not able to be conquered |
| retroactive | applying to a period prior to enactment |
| skittish | fearful |
| deterrent | discourage or to prevent from happening |
| satire | to ridicule or make fun of a subject |
| perplexed | bewildered, puzzled, confused |
| antagonist | a character who opposes the main character |
| novice | a beginner |
| espionage | spying |
| permeate | saturate |
| diabolic | very cruel or wicked |
| mercenary | working solely for money |
| affect/effect | influence/the result of influence |
| vaunted | highly publicized |
| verbiage | pompous array of words |
| zealot | fanatic |
| wont | custom or habit |
| wanton | unruly or excessive |
| visage | face or appearance |
| abysmal | bottomless |
| affidavit | a written statement made under oath |
| apocalyptic | prophetic or pertaining to revelation |
| beholden | obligated or indebted |
| Dissipate | evaporate, scatter |
| Diligent | careful and with effort |
| Oblivious | not aware |
| Retrospect | a view of the past |
| Mortify | ashame, or embarrass |
| Credible | believable |
| Impinge | violate, encroach |
| Garb | clothes |
| Superficial | not meaningful/ shallow |
| Expedite | speed up |
| Provocative | causing thought or action |
| Intangible | cannot be perceived by the senses |
| Linguistics | study of speech and language |
| Expound | explain more fully |
| Protagonist | leading character |
| Relevant | meaningful or having to do with the subject |
| Abridged | condensed |
| Characterization | the means by which an author creates life-like people or characteristics |
| Insoluble | having no solution |
| Annihilate | demolish, destroy |
| Archives | public records or the place where public records are kept |
| Debacle | breaking up or downfall |
| Crypt | a recess or vault |
| Crotchety | stubborn |
| Platonic | purely spiritual without sensual desires |
| Quagmire | marsh, swamp, bog |
| Reactionary | desire for a return to former ways |
| Resurgent | rising again after defeat |
| Resilient | having the power to spring back |
| Quorum | number of members needed to hold a meeting |
| commiserate | to feel or express sympathy |
| indict | formally charged with a crime |
| grotesque | ugly |
| rustic | pertaining to country people |
| brazen | bold or forward |
| amiable | friendly or amicable |
| reminiscence | remembering |
| devastate | destroy |
| endeavor | to do your best; strive |
| elusive | hard to catch |
| perpetrate | to be guilty of; to commit |
| coercion | to compel by pressure |
| duress | stress |
| audacious | bold, daring |
| rotunda | circular building covered by a dome |
| tedious | causing weariness or boredom |
| excavate | remove by digging |
| fetish | anything to which excessive devotion or concern is given |
| perforate | to make holes in |
| connoisseur | critical judge or expert |
| sophomoric | immature and shallow |
| subsidy | financial aid by government |
| vivisection | dissecting of living animals |
| vendetta | feud, private warfare |
| unilateral | one-sided |
| titillate | to tickle or amuse |
| yokel | country bumpkin |
| statutory | created by statute |
| serpentine | twisting or winding |
| quarantine | isolation to prevent spread of infection |
| expletive | profanity |
| gnarly | twisted, knotty |
| instigate | to start, to begin |
| steward | one who manages another's affair |
| priority | in sequence of importance |
| essence | the qualities which give it its identity |
| fetter | chain or shackles attached to ankles to restrain movement |
| estuary | inlet of water from the sea |
| conscientious | having a sense of moral goodness |
| neurotic | disorder of the mind, emotions |
| residue | remainder, what's left over |
| stipend | wage or salary |
| impale | to pierce with a sharp stick or point |
| sociology | the study of human society |
| clique | small, exclusive group |
| psychology | study of the mind |
| scrutinize | examine very closely |
| herculean | great strength or effort |
| incense | to make angry |
| gargoyle | a grotesque figure carved on buildings |
| fracas | a fight, a brawl, a melee |
| belligerents | those involved in a fight |
| revere | regard with respect |
| empirical | based on experiments or experience |
| emeritus | retired but retained in an honorary capacity |
| embryonic | undeveloped |
| dispassionate | calm or impartial |
| curator | superintendent, manager |
| impending | to happen soon or imminent |
| epitomize | to represent a standard or group |
| gaunt | bony or slim |
| impeccable | faultless, perfect |
| equitable | fair or just |
| attribute | characteristic or quality |
| austerity | stern, harsh |
| sanitarium | institution to regain health |
| zenith | the peak |
| monetary | having to do with money |
| dormant | not active |
| semantics | the study of the meaning of words |
| syntax | the way the author uses the words in sentences |
| impel | to urge action |
| emulate | imitate |
| fluctuate | to change or waver |
| latent | dormant |
| redundant | unnecessarily repetitive |
| chronological | in order of occurrence |
| ebb | period of fading away or declining |
| hiatus | break in time or gap |
| menial | humble or degrading |
| restitution | reparation, paying for damage |
| scuttle | sink |
| imp | mischievous child or a small demon |
| stoic | person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain |
| subservient | an inferior role |
| implicit | understood although not directly expressed |
| treatise | an article treating a subject systematically & thoroughly |
| vegetate | to live in a monotonous way |
| vertigo | dizziness |
| tutelage | training |
| nuance | subtle distinction |
| incognito | hiding under false name or in disguise |
| hallucination | seeing or hearing things that aren't there |
| devise | plan or invent |
| envision | form a picture in one's mind |
| meticulous | wanting things to be perfect, finicky |
| applicable | capable of being applied, appropriate |
| tenacity | effort and persistence |
| pertinent | related to |
| invocation | prayer |
| magnitude | greatness of size |
| resumé | an account of education, qualification, and experience |
| spontaneity | acting on natural impulse |
| gory | bloodshed or slaughter |
| persevere | to persist in face of obstacles |
| intrepid | fearless, brave |
| chronic | continuing or prolonged |
| perturb | upset |
| stenographer | one who takes short hand |
| ruddy | healthy reddish color |
| terminate | to bring an end |
| rampart | defensive mount of earth |
| prototype | original work used as model |
| phobia | fear |
| peristyle | series of columns surrounding a building or yard |
| pathological | caused by disease |
| passe | old fashion, outdated |
| phoenix | egyptian bird of mythology |
| paramour | illicit lover |
| opportunist | one who sacrifices principles, taking advantage of circumstances |
| orient | to make familiar with new surroundings or situations |
| nocturnal | active at night |
| contemporary | belonging to the same period of time; modern |
| hypocrite | one who fakes beliefs or virtue |
| exhilarating | exciting or stimulating |
| pillage | rob by force |
| apathy | indifference, lack of strong feeling |
| blatant | obvious, flagrant |
| luxurious | physically comforting |
| incarcerate | to be put in jail |
| phenomenon | something that can be perceived by senses |
| horrendous | awful, dreadful |
| contingent | dependent upon, conditional |
| placate | appease |
| flagrant | obvious or blatant |
| escalate | to increase by steps |
| placebo | a substance containing no medication, given to humor a patient |
| polygamy | having more than one spouse at a time |
| ostracize | exclude from a group |
| portend | to serve as a warning or omen |
| precursor | something that precedes and announces something to come |
| mayhem | injury to body |
| myopic | short-sighted |
| mandate | order or charge |
| microcosm | small representative world |
| progeny | children or descendants |
| malcontent | dissatisfied person |
| larceny | theft |
| propagate | breed or reproduce |
| pungent | sharply stimulating |
| intervene | interfere |
| obscure | not well-known |
| commodity | anything bought and sold |
| rationale | logic |
| impeachment | a trial to remove from office |
| obstinate | unyielding, stubborn |
| renege | to fail to carry out a promise |
| hysterical | wildly excited |
| contrived | planned |
| adamant | standing firm |
| integrity | honest, trustworthy |
| empathy | to see and feel as another does |
| enviable | desirable, admirable |
| cohesive | sticking together |
| monotonous | tiresome because sameness |
| vociferous | calling out loudly or noisy |
| vindictive | desire for revenge |
| repulsive | to be driven back |
| revel | to take great delight in |
| jurisprudence | the science of law |
| itinerary | plan of a trip |
| hyperbole | exaggeration, overstatement |
| gerrymander | changing voting districts to favor a group |
| grovel | crawl on the ground |
| incredulous | skeptical, withholding belief |
| incongruous | something that's absurd, not fitting |
| interdict | to forbid or prohibit |
| enigma | puzzling, not easily explained |
| explicit | definite |
| vacillate | to change one's mind often |
| affiliate | to associate with |
| aesthetic | having to do with the sense of beauty |
| accolade | praise |
| detriment | damage |
| ecstasy | intense pleasure |
| feasible | possible; plausible |
| susceptible | easily affected |
| tenement | run-down houses/apartments, slums |
| anecdote | short interesting or humorous story |
| advocate | supporter |
| antidote | remedy for poison |
| subsidiary | a company controlled by another company |
| tentative | temporary: subject to change |
| procrastinate | delay doing |
| cascade | a series of waterfalls |
| inclement | stormy |
| eccentric | deporting from the established norm, strange |
| may/can | permission/ability |
| astute | keen in judgement |
| accost | approached & spoken to in an aggressive way |
| betroth | become engaged to be marry |
| candor | frankness |
| chaste | pure |
| clandestine | secret |
| demagogue | person who appeals to people's prejudice |
| dastardly | cowardly |
| docile | calm |
| entrepreneur | one who accepts the risks of business |
| eschew | avoid |
Combine with other sets
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