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All 500 terms

TermDefinition
ABASEto humble; disgrace
ABATEto reduce in amount, degree, or severity
ABDICATEto give up a position, right, or power
ABERRANTdeviating from what is normal or expected
ABEYANCEtemporary suppression or suspension
ABJUREto reject; abandon formally
ABSCONDto leave secretly
ABSTAINto choose not to do something
ABSTEMIOUSmoderate in appetite
ABYSSan extremely deep hole
ACCRETIONa growth in size; an increase in amount
ACIDULOUSsour in taste or manner
ACMEhighest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable
ADULTERATEto make impure
ADVOCATEto speak in favor of
AERIEa nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
AESTHETICconcerning the appreciation of beauty
AFFECTEDphony; artificial
AGGRANDIZEto increase in power, influence, and reputation
ALACRITYspeed or quickness
ALLEVIATEto make more bearable
AMALGAMATEto combine; to mix together
AMBIGUOUSdoubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways
AMELIORATEto make better; to improve
AMORTIZEto diminish by installment payments
AMULETornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
ANACHRONISMsomething out of place in time
ANALGESIAa lessening or pain without loss of consciousness
ANALOGOUSsimilar or alike in some way; equivalent to
ANODYNEsomething that calms or soothes pain
ANOMALYdeviation from what is normal
ANTAGONIZEto annoy or provoke to anger
ANTIPATHYextreme dislike
APATHYlack of interest or emotion
APOCRYPHALof questionable authority or authenticity
APOSTATEone who renounces a religious faith
APPROBATIONapproval and praise
ARBITRARYdetermined by chance or impulse
ARBITRATEto judge a dispute b/w two opposing parties
ARCHAICancient; old-fashioned
ARDORintense and passionate feeling
ARROGATEto claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
ARTICULATEable to speak clearly and expressively
ASSAILto attack; assault
ASSUAGEto make something unpleasant less severe
ATTENUATEto reduce in force or degree; weaken
AUDACIOUSfearless and daring
AUGURYprophecy; prediction of events
AUGUSTdignified; grandiose
AUSTEREsevere or stern in appearance; undecorated
AXIOMpremise; postulate; self-evident truth
BANALpredictable; cliched; boring
BELFRYbell tower; room in which a bell is hung
BEVYgroup
BIFURCATEto divide into two parts
BILKto cheat; defraud
BLIGHTto afflict; destroy
BLITHEjoyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought
BOLSTERto support; prop up
BOMBASTICpompous in speech and manner
BONHOMIEgood-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
BOORcrude person, one lacking manners or taste
BURGEONto grow and flourish
BURNISHto polish
CABALa secret group seeking to overturn something
CACOPHONYharsh, jarring noise
CALUMNYa false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation
CANARDa lie
CANDIDimpartial and honest in speech
CAPRICIOUSchanging one's mind quickly and often
CARTOGRAPHYscience or art of making maps
CASTIGATEto punish or criticize harshly
CATALYSTsomething that brings about a change in something else
CATHOLICuniversal; broad and comprehensive
CAUSTICbiting in wit
CHAOSgreat disorder or confused situation
CHAUVINISTsomeone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he/she belongs
CHICANERYdeception by means of craft or guile
CIRCUMSPECTcautious; aware of potential consequences
CLOYINGsickly sweet; excessive
COALESCEto grow together to form a single whole
COFFERstrongbox; large chest for money
COGENTconvincing and well-reasoned
COLLUSIONcollaboration; complicity; conspiracy
CONDONEto overlook, pardon, or disregard
CONNOISSEURa person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes
CONTRITEdeeply sorrowful or repentant for a wrong
CONTUMACIOUSrebellious
CONVOLUTEDintricate and complicated
CORROBORATEto support with evidence
COSSETto pamper; treat with great care
COTERIEan intimate group of persons with a similar purpose
CRAVENlacking courage
CREDULOUStoo trusting; gullible
CRESCENDOsteadily increasing in volume or force
CUPIDITYgreed; strong desire
CURMUDGEONcranky person, usually old
DEBUTANTEyoung woman making debut in high society
DECLIVITYdownward slope
DECOROUSproper; tasteful; socially correct
DECORUMappropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
DEFACEto mar the appearance of; vandalize
DEFERENCErespect; courtesy
DELETERIOUSsubtly or unexpectedly harmful
DEMAGOGUEa leader or rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
DEMURto express doubts or objection
DERIDEto speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
DESICCATEto dry out thoroughly
DESULTORYjumping from one thing to another; disconnected
DIAPHANOUSallowing light to show through; delicate
DIATRIBEan abusive, condemnatory speech
DICTUMauthoritative statement
DIFFIDENTlacking self-confidence
DILATEto make larger; expand
DILATORYintended to delay
DILETTANTEsomeone with an amateurish or superficial interest in a topic
DIRGEa funeral hymn or mournful speech
DISABUSEto set right; free from error
DISCERNto perceive or recognize
DISPARATEfundamentally different; entirely unalike
DISSEMBLEto present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
DISSONANCEa harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds
DISTAFFthe female branch of a family
DISTENDto swell, inflate, or bloat
DITHERto act confusedly or without clear purpose
DIURNALexisting during the day
DIVINEto foretell or know by inspiration
DOCTRINAIRErigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic
DOGMAa firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief
DOGMATICdictatorial in one's opinions
DROLLamusing in a wry, subtle way
DUPEto deceive; a person who is easily deceived
DYSPEPTICsuffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
EBULLIENTexhilarated; full of enthusiasm and high spirits
ECLECTICselecting from or made up from a variety of sources
EDIFYto instruct morally and spiritually
EFFICACYeffectiveness
EFFIGYstuffed doll; likeness of a person
EFFRONTERYimpudent boldness; audacity
ELEGYa sorrowful poem or speech
ELOQUENTpersuasive and moving, especially in speech
EMBELLISHto add ornamental or fictitious details
EMULATEto copy; to try to equal or excel
ENCOMIUMwarm praise
ENDEMICbelonging to a particular area; inherent
ENERVATEto reduce in strength
ENGENDERto produce, cause, or bring about
ENIGMAa puzzle; a mystery
ENUMERATEto count, list, or itemize
EPHEMERALlasting a short time
EPICUREperson with refined taste in food and wine
EQUIVOCATEto use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
ERRATICwandering and unpredictable
ERSATZfake
ERUDITElearned; scholarly; bookish
ESCHEWto shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)
ESOTERICknown or understood only by a few
ESTIMABLEadmirable
ETHOSbeliefs or character of a group
EULOGYspeech in praise of someone
EUPHEMISMuse of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
EUPHONYpleasant, harmonious sound
EXACERBATEto make worse
EXCULPATEto clear from blame; prove innocent
EXIGENTurgent; requiring immediate action
EXONERATEto clear of blame
EXPLICITclearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
EXPONENTone who champions or advocates
EXPURGATEto censor
FALLOWdormant; unused
FANATICALacting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme unquestioned devotion
FATUOUSstupid; foolishly self-satisfied
FAWNto grovel
FECUNDfertile; fruitful; productive
FERVIDintensely emotional; feverish
FETIDfoul-smelling; putrid
FLAGto decline in vigor, strength, or interest
FLORIDexcessively decorated or embellished
FOMENTto arouse or incite
FORDto cross a body of water by wading
FORESTALLto prevent or delay; anticipate
FORTUITOUShappening by chance; fortunate
FRACTIOUSunruly; rebellious
FRENETICfrantic; frenzied
FRUGALITYtending to be thrifty or cheap
FURTIVEsecret, stealthy
GAMBOLto dance or skip around playfully
GARNERto gather and store
GARRULOUStending to talk a lot
GESTATIONgrowth process from conception to birth
GLIBfluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual
GLOWERto glare or stare angrily and intensely
GRADATIONprocess occurring by regular degrees or stages; variation in color
GREGARIOUSoutgoing; sociable
GRIEVOUScausing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing
GROVELto humble oneself in a demeaning way
GUILEdeceit; trickery
GULLIBLEeasily deceived
HAPLESSunfortunate; having bad luck
HEGEMONYthe domination of one state or group over its allies
HERMETICtightly sealed
HETEROGENEOUScomposed of unlike parts; different; diverse
HOARYvery old; whitish or gray from age
HOMOGENEOUSof a similar kind
HUSBANDto manage economically; to use sparingly
HYPERBOLEpurposeful exaggeration for effect
ICONOCLASTone who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
IDIOSYNCRASYpeculiarity of temperament; eccentricity
IGNOBLEhaving low moral standards; not noble in character; mean
IMBUEto infuse, dye, wet, or moisten
IMPASSEblocked path; dilemma with no solution
IMPECUNIOUSpoor; having no money
IMPERTURBABLEnot capable of being disturbed
IMPERVIOUSimpossible to penetrate
IMPETUOUSquick to act without thinking
IMPIOUSnot devout in religion
IMPLACABLEunable to be calmed down or made peaceful
IMPRECATIONa curse
IMPUGNto call into question; to attack verbally
INCARNADINEblood-red in color
INCHOATEnot fully formed; disorganized
INCULCATEto teach; impress in the mind
INDOLENThabitually lazy or idle
INEXORABLEinflexible; unyielding
INGENUOUSshowing innocence or childlike simplicity
INGRATEungrateful person
INGRATIATEto gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage
INIMICALhostile; unfriendly
INIQUITYsin; evil act
INNOCUOUSharmless
INQUESTan investigation; an inquiry
INSIPIDlacking interest or flavor
INSURRECTIONrebellion
INTERto bury
INTERREGNUMperiod between reigns
INTRACTABLEnot easily managed or manipulated
INTRANSIGENTuncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
INTREPIDfearless; resolutely courageous
INUNDATEto overwhelm; to cover with water
INUREto harden; accustom become used to
INVECTIVEabusive language
INVESTITUREceremony conferring authority
INVIDIOUSenvious, obnoxious, or offensive; likely to promote ill-will
IRASCIBLEeasily made angry
ITINERANTwandering from place to place; unsettled
JARGONnonsensical talk; specialized language
JETTISONto discard; get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering
JINGOISMbelligerent support of one's country
JOCULARplayful; humorous
JUDICIOUSsensible; showing good judgement
JUNCTUREpoint of time, especially where two things are joined
KEENhaving a sharp edge; intellectually sharp; perceptive
KINDLEto set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire
KINETICrelating to motion; characterized by movement
KNELLsound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure
KUDOSfame, glory, or honor
LACHRYMOSEtearful
LACONICusing few words
LAMENTto express sorrow; to grieve
LAMPOONto ridicule with satire
LANGUIDlacking energy; indifferent; slow
LAPIDARYrelating to precious stones or the art of cutting them
LARCENYtheft of property
LARGESSgenerous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior
LASSITUDEa state of diminished energy
LATENTpotential that is not readily apparent
LAUDto give praise; to glorify
LAVISHextremely generous or extravagant; giving unsparingly
LEERYsuspicious
LEGERDEMAINtrickery
LETHARGICacting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
LEVITYan inappropriate lack of seriousness; overly casual
LIBERALtolerant or broad-minded; generous or lavish
LIBERTINEa free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one without moral restraint
LICENTIOUSimmoral; unrestrained by society
LIMPIDclear; transparent
LIONIZEto treat as a celebrity
LISSOMEeasily flexed; limber; agile
LISTLESSlacking energy and enthusiasm
LIVIDdiscolored from a bruise; reddened with anger
LOQUACIOUStalkative
LUCIDclear and easily understood
LUGUBRIOUSsorrowful; mournful; dismal
LUMBERto move slowly and awkwardly
LUMINOUSbright; brilliant; glowing
MACHINATIONplot or scheme
MAELSTROMwhirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind
MAGNATEpowerful or influential person
MALEDICTIONa curse; a wish of evil upon another
MALINGERto evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
MALLEABLEcapable of being shaped
MANNEREDartificial or stilted in character
MARto damage or deface; spoil
MARTINETstrict disciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules
MAUDLINoverly sentimental
MENDACIOUSdishonest
MENDICANTbeggar
MERCURIALquick, shrewd, and unpredictable
MERETRICIOUSgaudy; falsely attractive
METAPHORfigure of speech comparing two different things
METICULOUSextremely careful; fastidious; painstaking
MILITATEto operate against; work against
MIRTHfrivolity; gaiety; laughter
MISANTHROPEa person who dislikes others
MISSIVEa written note or letter
MITIGATEto soften; to lessen
MOLLIFYto calm or make less severe
MOLTto shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically
MONASTICextremely plain or secluded
MONOTONYno variation; tediously the same
MORESfixed customs or manners; moral attitudes
MULTIFARIOUSdiverse
MYOPIClacking foresight; having a narrow view or lang-range perspective
NADIRlowest point
NAIVElacking sophistication or experience
NASCENTstarting to develop; coming into existence
NEOLOGISMnew word or expression
NEOPHYTEnovice; beginner
NETTLEto irritate
NOISOMEstinking; putrid
NOMINALexisting in name only; negligible
NUANCEa subtle expression of meaning or quality
NUMISMATICScoin collecting
OBDURATEhardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
OBLIQUEindirect or evasive; misleading or devious
OBSEQUIOUSoverly submissive and eager to please
OBSTINATEstubborn; unyielding
OBVIATEto prevent; to make unnecessary
OCCLUDEto stop up; prevent the passage of
OFFICIOUStoo helpful; meddlesome
ONEROUStroublesome and oppressive; burdensome
OPAQUEimpossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
OPINEto express an opinion
OPPROBRIUMpublic disgrace
OROTUNDpompous
OSSIFYto change into bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern
OSTENSIBLEapparent
OSTENTATIONexcessive showiness
OVERWROUGHTagitated; overdone
PALATIALrelating to a palace; magnificent
PALLIATEto make less serious; ease
PALLIDlacking color or liveliness
PANACHEflamboyance or dash in style and action; verve
PANEGYRICelaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
PANOPLYimpressive array
PARADOXa contradiction or dilemma
PARAGONmodel of excellence or perfection
PAREto trim off excess; reduce
PARIAHan outcast
PARLEYdiscussion, usually b/w enemies
PARRYto ward off or deflect, especially by a quick-witted answer
PASTICHEpiece of literature or music imitating other works
PATHOGENICcausing disease
PECCADILLOminor sin or offense
PEDANTsomeone who shows off learning
PEJORATIVEhaving bad connotations; disparaging
PENURYan oppressive lack of resource (as money); severe poverty
PEREGRINATEto wander from place to place; to travel, especially on foot
PERFIDIOUSwilling to betray one's trust
PERFUNCTORYdone in a routine way; indifferent
PERIPATETICwandering from place to place, especially on foot
PERMEATEto penetrate
PERSPICACIOUSshrewd, astute, or keen-witted
PERVADEto be present throughout; to permeate
PHALANXa compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things
PHILANTHROPYcharity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
PHILISTINEa person who is guided by materialism and is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values
PHLEGMATICcalm and unemotional in temperament
PITHYprofound or substantial yet concise succinct, and to the point
PLACATEto soothe or pacify
PLASTICable to be molded, altered, or bent
PLEBEIANcrude or coarse; characteristic of commoners
PLETHORAexcess
PLUCKYcourageous; spunky
POLEMICcontroversy; argument; verbal attack
POLITICshrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic
POLYGLOTa speaker of many languages
POSITto assume as real or conceded; propose as an explanation
POTENTATEmonarch or ruler with great power
PRAGMATICpractical, as opposed to idealistic
PRATTLEmeaningless; foolish talk
PRECIPITATEto throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
PRECISshort summary of facts
PRESCIENThaving foresight
PREVARICATEto lie or deviate from the truth
PRISTINEfresh and clean; uncorrupted
PROBITYcomplete honesty and integriity
PROCLIVITYa natural inclination or predisposition
PRODIGALlavish; wasteful
PROFLIGATEcorrupt; degenerate
PROLIFERATEto increase in number quickly
PROPITIATEto conciliate; to appease
PROPRIETYthe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs
PRUDENCEwisdom, caution, restraint
PUERILEchildish, immature, or silly
PUGILISMboxing
PULCHRITUDEbeauty
PUNGENTsharp and irritating to the senses
PUSILLANIMOUScowardly; without courage
QUERULOUSinclined to complain; irritable
QUIESCENTmotionless
QUIXOTICoverly idealistic; impractical
QUOTIDIANoccurring daily; commonplace
RACONTEURwitty, skillful storyteller
RAREFYto make thinner or sparser
REDRESSrelief from wrong or injury
REJOINDERresponse
REPASTmeal or mealtime
REPLETEabundantly supplied; complete
REPOSErelaxation; leisure
REPUDIATEto reject the validity of
REQUITEto return or repay
RESTIVEimpatient, uneasy, or restless
RETICENTsilent; reserved
RHETORICeffective writing or speaking
RIBALDhumorous in a vulgar way
ROCOCOvery highly ornamented
RUSTICrural
SACROSANCTextremely sacred; beyond criticism
SAGACIOUSshrewd; wise
SALIENTprominent; of notable significance
SALUBRIOUShealthful
SANGUINEruddy; cheerfully optimistic
SARDONICcynical; scornfully mocking
SATIATEto satisfy fully or overindulge
SCINTILLAtrace amount
SEDITIONbehavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state
SENTIENTaware; conscious; able to perceive
SERAPHICangelic; sweet
SINECUREa well-paying job or office that requires little or no work
SLAKEto calm down or moderate
SOBRIQUETnickname
SOLECISMgrammatical mistake; blunder in speech
SOPORIFICcausing sleep or lethargy
SPARTANhighly self-disciplined; frugal; austere
SPECIOUSdeceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
SPORTIVEfrolicsome; playful
STASISa state of static balance or equilibrium; stagnation
STENTORIANextremely loud
STIGMAa mark of shame or discredit
STOLIDunemotional; lacking sensitivity
STRATAGEMtrick designed to deceive an enemy
SUBLIMElofty or grand
SULLYto tarnish; taint
SUPPLANTto replace (another) by force; to take the place of
SURFEITexcessive amount
SURLYrude and bad-tempered
SYBARITEa person devoted to pleasure and luxury
SYCOPHANTa self-serving flatterer; yes-man
SYMBIOSIScooperation; mutual helpfulness
SYNCOPATIONtemporary irregularity in musical rhythm
TACITdone without using words
TACITURNsilent; not talkative
TALONclaw of an animal, especially a bird of prey
TANGENTIALdigressing; diverting
TAWDRYgaudy, cheap, or showy
TERRESTRIALearthly; down-to-earth; commonplace
TIRADElong, harsh speech or verbal attack
TOADYone who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
TOMEbook, usually large and academic
TORPORextreme mental and physical sluggishness
TRANSITORYtemporary; lasting a brief time
TRENCHANTacute, sharp, or incisive; forceful; effective
TURGIDswollen as from a fluid; bloated
TYRObeginner; novice
UMBRAGEoffense; resentment
UNCONSCIONABLEunscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust
UNEQUIVOCALabsolute; certain
UPBRAIDto scold sharply
USURYthe practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
VACILLATEto physically sway or be indecisive
VARIEGATEDvaried; marked with different colors
VENERABLErespected because of age
VENERATEto respect deeply
VERACITYfilled with truth and accuracy
VERBOSEwordy
VERDANTgreen with vegetation; inexperienced
VERNALrelated to spring; fresh
VESTIGEa trace; remnant
VEXto annoy; irritate; puzzle; confuse
VICISSITUDEa change or variation; ups and downs
VIMvitality and energy
VISCOUSthick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing fluid
VITUPERATEto abuse verbally; berate
VOLATILEeasily arouse or changeable; lively or explosive
VOLUBLEtalkative; speaking easily; glib
WANsickly pale
WANTONundisciplined; unrestrained; reckless
WAVERto fluctuate b/w choices
WHIMSICALlightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
WILYclever; deceptive
WINSOMEcharming; happily engaging
WIZENEDshriveled; withered; wrinkled
WRAITHa ghost or specter; a ghost of a living person seen just before his/her death
XENOPHOBIAa fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers
YOKEto join together
ZEALpassion; excitement
ZEALOTsomeone passionately devoted to a cause
ZENITHthe point of culmination; peak
ZEPHYRa gentle breeze; something airy or insubstantial

Set Information

Terms 500
Creator omkar86
Created September 1, 2009
Groups None
Subjects None
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