| Term | Definition |
|---|
| somber | gloomy; depressing |
| somnambulist | sleepwalker |
| somnolent | half asleep |
| sonorous | resonant |
| sophist | teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning |
| sophisticated | worldly wise and urbane; complex |
| sophistry | seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning |
| sophomoric | immature; half-baked, like a sophomore |
| soporific | sleep causing; marked by sleepiness |
| sordid | filthy; base; vile |
| spangle | small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation |
| sparse | not thick; thinly scattered; scanty |
| spartan | lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined |
| spasmodic | fitful; periodic |
| spat | squabble; minor dispute |
| spate | sudden flood |
| spatial | relating to space |
| spatula | broad-bladed instrument used for spreading, mixing or liftinga material |
| spawn | lay eggs |
| specious | seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally) |
| spectral | ghostly |
| spectrum | colored band produced when a beam of light passed through a prism |
| spendthrift | someone who wastes money |
| sphinxlike | enigmatic; mysterious |
| splice | fasten together; unite |
| spontaneity | lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint |
| spoonerism | accidental transposition of sounds in successive words |
| sporadic | occurring irregularly |
| sportive | playful |
| spruce | neat and trim |
| spry | vigorously active; nimble |
| spurious | false; counterfeit; forged; illogical |
| spurn | reject; scorn |
| squabble | minor quarrel; bickering |
| squalor | filth; degradation; dirty; neglected state |
| squander | waste |
| squat | stocky; short and thick |
| staccato | played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound |
| stagnant | motionless; stale; dull |
| staid | sober; sedate |
| stalemate | deadlock |
| stalwart | Capable of exerting considerable effort or of withstanding considerable stress or hardship; strong, brawny; steadfast |
| stamina | strength; staying power |
| stanch | check flow of blood |
| stanza | division of a poem |
| static | unchanging; lacking development |
| statute | law enacted by legislature |
| statutory | created by statute or legislative action |
| steadfast | loyal; unswerving |
| stealth | slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness |
| steep | soak; saturate |
| stellar | pertaining to the stars |
| stem | check the flow |
| stem from | arise from |
| stentorian | extremely loud |
| stereotype | fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture, often reflecting prejudice |
| sticker | perfectionist; person who insist things be exactly right |
| stifle | suppress; extinguish; inhibit |
| stigma | token of disgrace; brand |
| stilted | bombastic; stiffly; pompous |
| stint (v) | be thrifty; set limits |
| stint (n) | supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work |
| stipend | pay for service |
| stipple | paint or draw with dots |
| stipulate | make express conditions, specify |
| stock | typical; standard; kept regularly in supply |
| stockade | wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier |
| stodgy | stuff; boringly conservative |
| stoic | impassive; unmoved by joy or grief |
| stoke | stir up a fire; feed plentifully |
| stolid | dull; impassive |
| stratagem | clever trick; deceptive scheme |
| stratified | divided into classes; arranged into strata |
| stratum | layer of earth's surface; layer of society |
| strew | spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter |
| striated | marked with parallel band; grooved |
| stricture | critical comments; severe and adverse criticism |
| strident | loud and harsh; insistent |
| stringent | binding; rigid |
| strut (1) | pompous walk |
| strut (2) | supporting bar |
| studied | unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful |
| stultify | cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder |
| stupefy | make numb; stun; amaze |
| stupor | state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness |
| stygian | gloomy; hellish; deathly |
| stymie | present an obstacle; stump |
| suavity | urbanity; polish |
| subaltern | subordinate |
| subdued | less intense; quieter |
| subjective | occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal |
| subjugate | conquer; bring under control |
| sublimate | refine; purify |
| sublime | exalted; noble and uplifting; utter |
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