| Term | Definition |
|---|
| abase (v) | to embarrass or shame someone else; it also means to lower yourself physically or in rank |
| abdicate (v) | to give up power or control |
| abduction (n) | word abduction refers to a kidnapping, taking away or carrying someone off against his or her will |
| abet (v) | to give help to someone who is doing something wrong |
| abeyance (n) | a state of temporary inactivity or to stop for a period of time |
| abnegation (n) | word abnegation refers to the act of staying away from something |
| abominable (adj) | very unlikable, easy to hate, or disgusting |
| abound (v) | to exist in great size or large numbers |
| abrasive (adj) | something that is rough like sandpaper, or something causing friction or tension |
| abridge (v) | to cut short, reduce in size or to shrink |
| absolute (adj) | full, perfect, or complete; it also means without limits or boundaries |
| absorb (v) | to get someone's full interest; it also means to suck up or to take in |
| abstain (v) | to hold back from something, avoid, or quit |
| abstruse (adj) | deep, hard to understand, or complicated |
| abusive (adj) | treating someone or something badly or being harmful or insulting |
| abysmal (adj) | terrible or awful |
| academic (adj) | having to do with formal education or with teaching and learning |
| accentuate (v) | to make something more important or to highlight |
| accessory (n) | an assistant, and also refers to an add-on |
| acclivity (n) | an upward slope (as of ground) |
| accolade (n) | awards, honors, or praise |
| accommodate (v) | to make room for something, to help out, to go well with, or to do a favor for someone |
| accouter (v) | to give clothing and equipment to someone, especially for military service |
| accrue (v) | to grow in size or number over time, to add to something slowly |
| acerbity (n) | bitterness, roughness or sharpness |
| acetic (adj) | sour, acid-like, related to vinegar |
| acidulous (adj) | sour or sharp in taste or manner |
| acrid (adj) | acid, sour, biting or stinging, burning, or bitter in taste or manner |
| acrimonious (adj) | bitter or harsh |
| actuarial (adj) | having to do with insurance risks and premiums |
| acuity (n) | keenness, acuteness or sharpness |
| acumen (n) | great skill, smartness |
| adapt (v) | to adjust or to change something to meet a new circumstance |
| addendum (n) | an addition at the end of a book, an extra part, or something added |
| adept (adj) | highly skilled or experienced in a particular area, proficient |
| adjourn (v) | to postpone to a later time, or to move to another room during a meeting or in court |
| adjunct (n) | someone with lesser status or someone or something that provides assistance |
| admonish (v) | to scold gently, to correct in a well meaning way |
| adorn (v) | to decorate, make prettier or to beautify |
| adumbrate (trv) | to outline, or to foreshadow |
| adverse (adj) | bad, unfavorable, or against someone or something |
| advocacy (n) | support, help, or the act of fighting for something or someone |
| advocate (v) | to support, speak, or act in favor of something |
| aegis (n) | sponsorship, leadership or protection |
| affable (adj) | friendly, easy to be around, or having good manners and pleasant speech |
| affiliation (n) | a connection to or an association with someone or something |
| affinity (n) | a family relationship that is not by blood but by marriage, or a natural attraction |
| affix (v) | to attach, to connect, to add on, or to secure |
| affront (n) | an insult or show of disrespect |
| aftermath (n) | the results of an event, the effects or outcome of an action or situation |
| agenda (n) | a plan, list of things to be done or something one hopes to accomplish |
| agglomeration (n) | a cluster of something, mass of varied parts |
| aggrandize (v) | to expand something or make it bigger, to exaggerate |
| aghast (adj) | to be in wonder or fear, feeling great horror, or being very upset at seeing something |
| agility (n) | the ability to move or think quickly and easily |
| agnostic (n) | someone who is not certain about existence of god |
| agog (adj) | to be very excited, eager and full of interest |
| alacrity (n) | being eager, ready, and willing to do something |
| alchemy (n) | a medieval chemical science aiming to convert the base metals into gold |
| alias (n) | a false name often used as a disguise |
| alimony (n) | payment made to a former spouse to help with living expenses |
| allay (v) | to calm, to ease |
| allege (v) | to claim that something is true |
| allegory (n) | a story that symbolizes an abstract meaning |
| alloy (n) | a combination of two or more metals |
| allude (v) | to suggest or refer to something indirectly |
| aloft (adv) | held up, in the air, flying, or in a high place |
| amalgam (n) | a combination or mixture |
| amass (v) | to collect for oneself or to accumulate |
| ambience (n) | the atmosphere or feeling of a place |
| ambivalent (adj) | undecided or simultaneously having opposite or conflicting feelings, such as love and hate |
| ameliorate (v) | to make more tolerable or to make better |
| amenable (adj) | ready to be changed or controlled |
| amenities (n) | pleasant qualities or behavior, or pleasant features or attractions |
| amiss (adj) | word amiss refers to something that seems wrong about a situation, when something is not right or is out of order |
| amity (n) | friendship and peaceful harmony |
| amorous (adj) | word amorous refers to being loving, full of love, having to do with sexual love |
| ample (adj) | plenty, more than enough |
| amputate (v) | to cut off a limb or body part, usually during surgery |
| anachronistic (adj) | out of place in a particular time period or out of chronological order |
| analgesic (n) | a pain killer or a remedy for pain |
| analogous (adj) | very similar or comparable in some way |
| ancestry (n) | family ties or all the members of your family that came before you |
| angular (adj) | having angles; it can also mean stiff and awkward |
| animosity (n) | word animosity refers to extreme dislike, hatred, or ill will |
| animus (n) | a feeling of strong dislike or hatred |
| anoint (v) | to rub or sprinkle oil on, to make sacred, or to choose by divine knowledge |
| anomalous (adj) | to be out of the ordinary or unusual |
| anonymity (n) | being nameless or having no personal identity |
| antagonism (n) | an opposition, tension or competition between two or more things |
| antecede (v) | to come before something |
| antedate (v) | to happen before a particular time or date, or to assign an earlier date to something |
| anthology (n) | a collection of literary pieces in a single format, like a book |
| anthropocentric (adj) | believing humans are central to and above everything in the universe |
| anthropoid (adj) | looking like a human, especially certain types of apes |
| anthropologist (n) | a person who studies human behavior & nature, & the development & origins of human society |
| antipathy (n) | dislike, hatred, or the object of dislike |
| antiquated (adj) | very old, behind the times, or antique |
| antithesis (n) | the exact opposite of something or someone |
| ape (v) | to copy or mimic the actions of someone |
| apiary (n) | a place where bees are kept |
| apolitical (adj) | not political, not concerned with politicians or the government |
| apostate (n) | a person who turns against their religious beliefs, political party, or cause they used to support |
| apothegm (n) | a short, wise statement or saying |
| appall (v) | to horrify, shock, disgust, or revolt someone |
| appellation (n) | name or title |
| append (v) | to add on or to attach |
| application (n) | the act of applying or the act of putting something on |
| apposite (adj) | appropriate or relevant to a situation |
| appraise (v) | to estimate the value or worth of something |
| apprehensive (adj) | worried or anxious, or having fear of what may happen |
| apprenticeship (n) | a period of learning or studying under a master in a particular field or craft |
| apprise (v) | to inform or to give news |
| approbation (n) | an official approval, praise, or commendation |
| appurtenance (n) | something added to something else, or a piece of equipment |
| apropos (adv) | at the right time or in just the right way; |
| aquatic (adj) | word aquatic refers to living in or being done on the water, or related to the ocean |
| arbitrator (n) | a third party or person who steps in to smooth over or settle a disagreement |
| arboretum (n) | a place where many different types of trees and shrubs are grown for study and exhibition |
| arcane (adj) | meant for or known to only a select few |
| archaic (adj) | old and out of use |
| archetype (n) | a model, an original pattern, an ideal form |
| archipelago (n) | a group of islands or a sea that contains a group of islands |
| archive (n) | a preserved collection of documents or information |
| arduous (adj) | difficult, exhausting or requiring lots of energy and effort |
| aria (n) | a song performed solo, as in an opera |
| arid (adj) | dry, barren, lacking in rainfall, useless, or dull |
| armistice (n) | a temporary cease-fire between warring parties just before a peace treaty is made |
| arraign (v) | to charge or to accuse |
| arrears (n) | word arrears refers to an overdue debt or being behind in payments or in work |
| arroyo (n) | a dry creek which fills with water after rain |
| arsenal (n) | a place for making and storing weapons, a storehouse, a supply, or resources |
| articulate (adj) | using language clearly or spoken in a way that is easily understood |
| artifice (n) | a trick, a deception, or a clever move |
| ascertain (v) | to learn, to find out with certainty, or to discover through investigation |
| ascetic (adj) | self-denying, simple or without luxury of any kind, strict |
| aseptic (adj) | germ-free; it can also mean lacking in emotion or warmth |
| ashen (adj) | very gray or pale, looking like ash |
| asinine (adj) | stupid, foolish, or lacking good sense or intelligence |
| aspersion (n) | a damaging remark about someone or something, or verbal abuse |
| assay (v) | to test, to analyze, to try or attempt to analyze the ingredients of something |
| assent (v) | to agree to or to approve |
| assert (v) | to insist on something or to state strongly |
| assiduous (adj) | very dedicated and determined; one who does things with great care |
| assonance (n) | similarity of vowel sounds or repetition of vowels |
| assuage (v) | to ease the pain, to soothe, or to pacify |
| astral (adj) | related to stars or star-like |
| astringent (adj) | having a harsh or biting quality; bitter or sharp |
| astute (adj) | very clever, smart and perceptive |
| asunder (adj) | cut apart or being apart in direction or position |
| asylum (n) | a place that offers safety; a hospital or sanctuary |
| atheistic (adj) | related to a disbelief in god, or rejecting god's existence |
| atrocity (n) | a horrible, violent or cruel act |
| attenuate (v) | to weaken or to lessen the severity, intensity, or value of something |
| attest (v) | to declare or show that something is true |
| attrition (n) | wearing away, a normal loss of workers or members by retirement or dying |
| audacious (adj) | courageous, or having a devil-may-care attitude |
| audit (n) | an examination of financial records for a person or business |
| augment (v) | to increase, to grow, or to intensify |
| augury (n) | a foretelling of the future, a prediction, or the ability to tell the future |
| aureole (n) | a ring of light often like a halo |
| auroral (adj) | connected to or similar to the northern lights |
| authoritative (adj) | truthful, reliable, or having expert knowledge |
| autocratic (adj) | like a tyrant, assertion of total authority |
| automaton (n) | a machine designed to work automatically by following a predetermined actions, a robot |
| autopsy (n) | word autopsy refers to an examination of a dead body, or any detailed inspection |
| avant-garde (adj) | descriptive of leaders in new fashion, art, literary, or architectural movements |
| aver (v) | to state positively or declare to be true |
| aversion (n) | an extreme dislike for something, or a strong reaction against something |
| aviary (n) | a place where birds are kept |
| avocation (n) | word avocation refers to any activity that is done in addition to one's regular work, usually for enjoyment |
| avuncular (adj) | of or like an uncle |
| axiom (n) | something that's generally accepted as true or self-evident |
| bacchanalian (adj) | related to a drunken festival or wild partying |
| badger (v) | to bother or to nag |
| badinage (n) | playful conversation or speak in a witty manner |
| baffle (v) | to confuse or frustrate someone |
| baleful (adj) | harmful, threatening, evil in effect or intent |
| balk (v) | to refuse to do something, to stop short of something |
| ballast (n) | anything heavy carried in a ship, airplane or vehicle in order to give stability |
| balmy (adj) | pleasant, soothing, or mild |
| banal (adj) | ordinary, common place or unoriginal |
| bandy (v) | to throw or pass back and forth |
| bantering (adj) | funny in tone or attitude, joking |
| barb (n) | a spike, a sharp point, or a mean comment or remark |
| bard (n) | someone who writes poems, a poet |
| barrage (n) | an unending attack, a bombing, or an overwhelming outpouring |
| barren (adj) | unfruitful, lifeless, or unable to produce |
| barterer (n) | a person who does business by trading goods without using money |
| bauble (n) | a pretty but cheap ornament; the scepter carried by a court jester |
| bawdy (adj) | funny but indecent, or vulgar humor |
| beam (n) | a long piece of wood, metal, or other material used mainly to support weight |
| beatitude (n) | a state of perfect happiness or being blessed |
| bedlam (n) | a scene of great confusion and wildness or great uproar |
| bedraggle (v) | to make wet, limp and dirty |
| behest (n) | an order, a directive or a strong request |
| belie (v) | to tell lies, to misrepresent, or to prove false |
| bellicose (adj) | warlike, ready to attack or eager to fight |
| belligerent (adj) | hostile, inclined to fight, or aggressive |
| benediction (n) | a blessing or good wishes |
| beneficiary (n) | someone who benefits from something |
| benevolent (adj) | kind, good-hearted, or generous |
| bent (adj) | determined, committed and eager |
| berate (v) | to attack verbally, to criticize or scold strongly |
| bias (n) | prejudice or tendency; it can also mean a diagonal direction |
| bicameral (adj) | a legislative body with two branches or houses |
| bicker (v) | to have a silly fight or to argue over unimportant things |
| bilk (v) | to cheat or to trick someone |
| blanch (v) | to whiten, to lose color or bleach |
| blare (n) | a loud noise |
| blithe (adj) | carefree, cheerful or showing no concern |
| bluff (adj) | bold, outspoken or blunt |
| blurt (v) | to say something quickly without thinking |
| bogus (adj) | fake or not real |
| bombastic (adj) | to be characterized by grand, dramatic gestures, inflated and overblown |
| bon vivant (n) | someone who enjoys the good life, especially through good food and drink |
| booming (adj) | very active, busy or loud |
| bovine (adj) | like a cow; slow and dull |
| bowdlerize (v) | to cleanup or alter written work so as to make it less controversial |
| brazen (adj) | bold and unashamed, or extremely cocky |
| breadth (n) | general size, scope, distance from side to side, or the extent of something |
| brindled (adj) | gray with dark spots, a spotty pattern |
| broach (v) | to mention, to suggest or to introduce something as a topic of conversation |
| bromide (n) | a cliche, boring or ordinary statement that is repeated often |
| brooch (n) | a piece of jewelry that attaches to a shirt with a pin or a decorative clasp |
| brouhaha (n) | turmoil, heated confrontation or huge fight over something small |
| browbeat (v) | to bully, to pressure someone into doing something or to intimidate |
| browse (v) | to look casually at something, to look without a clear purpose |
| buffet (v) | to hit with violent blows, to punch or slap |
| buffoonery (n) | something that's ridiculous and funny but can be seen as rude or embarrassing |
| bulwark (n) | a structure that acts as a defense, something that protects from outside danger |
| bungalow (n) | a small, one-storey house |
| bungle (v) | to make a mess of something or to do something awkwardly and ineptly |
| bureaucracy (n) | a group of administrative govt officials and departments |
| burlesque (v) | to imitate in a comical or mocking manner, or to parody |
| burly (adj) | large-bodied, big and husky |
| buttress (v) | to support or reinforce something, often with brick, wood, or stone |
| cadaver (n) | a dead body |
| cajole (v) | to persuade with flattery or sweet talk |
| callous (adj) | indifferent or insensitive to other people's feelings |
| calorific (adj) | something or someone who produces heat |
| camaraderie (n) | loyalty and friendship among a group of people |
| candor (n) | the straight-forward, or quality of being fair, honest, and frank |
| cantankerous (adj) | cranky, unpleasant or hard to get along with |
| canter (n) | word canter refers to the movement of a horse that is slower than a gallop but faster than a trot |
| careen (v) | to sway or lurch sideways, especially while moving rapidly |
| carnal (adj) | related to the body as opposed to the spiritual; it also means having to do with sexual experience |
| castigate (v) | to criticize or punish severely, especially to correct a behavior |
| cataclysm (n) | a disaster, great upheaval that causes sudden and often violent changes |
| categorical (adj) | absolute, direct, without conditions |
| catharsis (n) | a release of tensions or purifying of the emotions |
| catholic (adj) | universal, of a general scope or wide-ranging |
| caucus (n) | a meeting of leaders to decide on policy, pick candidates, etc |
| causal (adj) | relating to cause and effect |
| cavalcade (n) | a procession such as of horsemen and carriages |
| cavil (v) | to complain, to find fault unnecessarily |
| celibate (adj) | related to avoidance of sexual activities, or unmarried |
| chafe (v) | to irritate or annoy |
| chaff (n) | waste or debris; the word can also be used as a verb, meaning to tease good-naturedly |
| chagrin (n) | a feeling of embarrassment and annoyance |
| chastise (v) | to discipline, to criticize sharply, or to scold |
| chauvinist (adj) | one who has extreme devotion to one's gender, race, country, etc |
| chimerical (adj) | imaginary, fantastic, or absurd |
| choleric (adj) | having or showing a quick temper, irritable |
| churlish (adj) | one who is mean and rude or grumpy |
| chutzpah (n) | shameless boldness, arrogance and nerve |
| circumlocution (n) | wordiness, a way of speaking that uses too many words |
| clamber (v) | to climb with effort, usually clumsily |
| clamor (n) | a loud noise or outcry such as a shout, demand, or complaint |
| cliche (n) | an idea that's been repeated too much |
| coerce (v) | to force or compel someone to do something |
| coiffure (n) | a way of styling the hair, hairstyle |
| commandeer (v) | to take something by force or to force someone into military service |
| commiserate (v) | to sympathize with, to show sorrow for, or to offer condolences |
| commodious (adj) | offering plenty of room or space |
| complacent (adj) | being self-satisfied and uncritically pleased with one's circumstances |
| complaisant (adj) | willing to please or oblige |
| comport (v) | to conduct oneself in a particular way; it also means to agree or be appropriate |
| concerted (adj) | mutually arranged or agreed upon; coordinated |
| conciliatory (adj) | making peace or attempting to solve a dispute through goodwill |
| concomitant (adj) | existing along with something else, accompanying, or associating with it |
| connubial (adj) | the state of being married |
| conscript (v) | to force into service for the government or to enroll in the armed forces |
| consign (v) | to hand something over or to set something apart |
| consternation (n) | a great fear or shock causing helplessness |
| continence (n) | moderation, abstinence or self-restraint |
| contumely (n) | an act or statement that offends someone's pride or sense of dignity; harsh treatment |
| conviction (n) | a strong belief in something, or a determination |
| convivial (adj) | being fun-loving, festive or joyful |
| correlation (n) | a relationship between two things |
| cow (v) | to make one timid by filling with fear or to frighten |
| cower (v) | to shrink or tremble from fear |
| coy (adj) | behaving in a shy manner, hesitant to reveal information. it also means to be flirtatious |
| craven (adj) | very cowardly or fearful |
| crestfallen (adj) | disappointed, disheartened or feeling low |
| cynosure (n) | a person or a thing that is the center of attention |
| dabble (v) | to do something lightly, superficially, or not seriously |
| dapper (adj) | very neatly and fashionably dressed |
| debase (v) | to lower in value, quality, character or dignity |
| debauch (v) | to corrupt, or lead away from morals |
| debilitate (v) | to weaken, to sicken or to harm |
| delirious (adj) | suffering from extreme mental excitement or being extremely confused |
| demote (v) | to reduce to a lower grade or rank |
| denounce (v) | to speak out against or to condemn |
| descry (v) | to look over or to discover by searching hard |
| deter (v) | to prevent, to discourage, or to keep from doing something |
| dialect (n) | a regional or a socially distinct variety of a language |
| diatribe (n) | a harsh verbal attack, sharp criticism or rant |
| dichotomy (n) | a division into two parts, groups, or halves |
| diction (n) | a way of speaking, including choice of words, pronunciation, and so on |
| dictum (n) | an authoritative pronouncement; a popular saying |
| diffuse (adj) | scattered across a wide area, broadly distributed |
| din (n) | very loud noise or confusing sounds |
| discourse (n) | a formal discussion about a subject, like a speech, sermon, or long written work |
| doctrine (n) | a body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system |
| doff (v) | to take off clothes; it also means to lift a hat in a greeting |
| dolt (n) | someone who is stupid or dense |
| don (v) | to put on a garment or other item of clothing |
| drawl (v) | to speak slowly, especially by drawing out the vowels |
| droll (adj) | amusing in an odd way |
| dross (n) | the waste or impurities removed from refined metal; inferior or a trivial matter |
| edifying (adj) | enlightening, uplifting, instructive and inspiring |
| efficacious (adj) | producing a desired effect or having the intended result |
| elucidate (v) | to make clear or to explain effectively |
| emanate (v) | to derive or to originate |
| embellish (v) | to decorate or improve using small details; it also means to add imaginary details to a story |
| emollient (n) | something that soothes the skin, like a lotion or cream |
| encomium (n) | formal praise |
| endeavor (n) | a difficult effort, a tough challenge |
| endemic (adj) | native to a particular area |
| engaging (adj) | attractive or pleasant |
| epigram (n) | a short poem or statement that's clever or amusing |
| epistemology (n) | the philosophical study of knowledge itself |
| epitaph (n) | an inscription on a tomb or gravestone in memory of the person buried there |
| esprit (n) | liveliness of mind and expression |
| espy (v) | to see from a distance or to spy something far away |
| estrange (v) | to turn one’s affections away from another person; it also means to remove or to keep apart |
| euphemism (n) | a mild-sounding word or phrase to describe something that's actually much worse |
| exegesis (n) | the interpretation of a text; explanation of religious, legal or literary work |
| exhort (v) | to urge with strong advice or warning |
| existential (adj) | related to existence |
| expound (v) | to explain in great detail, to discuss at length |
| fathom (v) | to understand thoroughly or to measure the depth of something |
| feign (v) | to pretend, imagine, or make up such as a story or excuse |
| fetter (v) | to chain or tie up., to restrict |
| filibuster (v) | to prevent a bill from being passed by delaying a vote with long speeches |
| flourish (v) | to grow in a healthy way, to thrive, or to succeed |
| fluke (n) | a chance occurrence, usually in a positive way |
| forestall (v) | to prevent or hinder by doing something ahead of time |
| fulminate (v) | to explode suddenly or violently; it also means to shout forth criticism |
| gaffe (n) | a blunder or a mistake which results in an awkward situation |
| garish (adj) | tastelessly showy |
| garrulous (adj) | talkative and irritating |
| genesis (n) | the beginning of something; it also refers to the first book of the bible |
| geniality (n) | extreme niceness, kindliness or friendliness |
| germane (adj) | to the point, relevant |
| girder (n) | a large support beam, usually supporting the framework of a building or a bridge |
| gist (n) | the main point of something, the essence or substance |
| glib (adj) | speaking without thinking or concern; to speak casually |
| gloat (v) | to show mean-spirited happiness, to be happy about someone's bad luck or misfortune |
| glutton (n) | a greedy eater, or someone who has a large capacity to absorb |
| gourmand (n) | a lover of good food, often to excess |
| grandiose (adj) | grand or affectedly grand |
| grapple (v) | to struggle with or hold on tightly to something |
| grievance (n) | a cause for a complaint, or displeasure from a feeling of having been wronged |
| grill (v) | to question relentlessly; it also means to cook over a flame |
| grouse (v) | to complain |
| gruff (adj) | very rude; it can also mean harsh, as a voice |
| guileless (adj) | naive or straightforward |
| gullible (adj) | naive, easily deceived or cheated |
| gustatory (adj) | related to the sense of taste |
| hap (n) | fortune or an occurrence |
| harangue (n) | a long, blustering speech or a rant |
| harry (v) | to assault or to annoy with repeated attacks |
| heckler (n) | someone who continuously interrupts, taunts or harasses someone else |
| hegemony (n) | a predominant influence or dominance of one group or state over another |
| hermetic (adj) | totally sealed; enclosed |
| heterodoxy (n) | being outside of the accepted belief or established doctrine |
| hierarchy (n) | an organization with people or things arranged in different ranks |
| histrionic (adj) | overly dramatic or over-acting |
| hoary (adj) | gray with age, very old |
| homeopathy (n) | a system of medical treatment where some diseases can be cured by giving healthy patients small doses of drugs that would produce symptoms like those in the disease |
| hypothesis (n) | an educated guess |
| impasse (n) | a deadlock, a road with no exit |
| implacable (adj) | unable to be eased or appeased |
| imply (v) | to suggest without saying so directly |
| improvident (adj) | failing to provide for the future; incautious |
| indelible (adj) | permanent, lasting or unforgettable |
| indomitable (adj) | not easily defeated or discouraged, or invincible |
| ineluctable (adj) | inescapable, something that can't be avoided |
| inscrutable (adj) | difficult to understand, unreadable |
| insular (adj) | narrow-minded |
| intractable (adj) | hard to manage or stubborn |
| inured (adj) | being used to something difficult or painful |
| invective (n) | an insult or sharp and nasty criticism |
| inveigle (v) | to persuade someone with kind words, to flatter to get something you want |
| invidious (adj) | extremely unpleasant or offensive |
| invigorate (v) | to fill with energy or to enliven |
| inviolable (adj) | secure from harm, safe from danger, or something that can't be crossed |
| invocation (n) | request to god or spirit for help or protection |
| invulnerable (adj) | very secure, something that can't be hurt |
| iota (n) | a very small amount, extremely small quantity |
| irreverence (n) | disrespect |
| itinerant (adj) | traveling around or migrant |
| jaded (adj) | worn out; made insensitive by excess |
| jargon (n) | word jargon also refers to words or terms used by people in specific fields or occupations |
| jaundiced (adj) | affected by negative feelings or being prejudiced or biased |
| jaunt (n) | a short trip for pleasure |
| jaunty (adj) | buoyantly self-confident or dapper |
| jettison (v) | to throw overboard or to get rid of things so as to achieve stability in a vessel or aircraft |
| jingoist (n) | someone who shows extreme nationalism |
| jocose (adj) | playful or humorous |
| jollity (n) | great happiness, merriness, and joy |
| jubilant (adj) | triumphant or thrilled |
| judicious (adj) | having good judgment or being balanced and wise |
| juggernaut (n) | something with great power and force that destroys everything in its path |
| junta (n) | a small group that rules a country after a revolution |
| jurisprudence (n) | the philosophy of law or the collected system of legal rulings |
| jut (v) | to protrude or to stick out past the ordinary limit |
| juxtapose (v) | to put things side by side to compare them |
| kernel (n) | inner part of a seed or, more generally, the central part of something |
| killjoy (n) | someone who ruins the fun |
| kindle (v) | to build or light a fire, to inspire, or to become bright |
| kindred (adj) | very much alike, having much in common or being related in some way |
| kleptomaniac (n) | someone who has the uncontrollable impulse to steal |
| knave (n) | a villain, someone without decency or honesty |
| knell (n) | the ominous sound of a bell or a signal of disaster |
| knoll (n) | a small slope or incline, small hill |
| laborious (adj) | requiring great energy, effort or done with difficulty |
| labyrinth (n) | a maze or a confusing network of passages |
| laceration (n) | a deep cut or wound |
| lachrymose (adj) | causing or inclined to shed tears |
| lackluster (adj) | lacking in brightness, energy or vitality |
| laconic (adj) | brief with words, concise or something said with few words |
| laggard (n) | one who is slow and falls behind or a slowpoke |
| lampoon (v) | to make fun of or to mock |
| languish (v) | to lose vigor and vitality, to become weak |
| languor (n) | a lack of energy, lack of interest or spirit |
| lap (v) | to drink liquid, usually by dipping it up with one's tongue |
| larceny (n) | theft, robbery |
| larder (n) | a place where food is stored, pantry |
| lassitude (n) | feeling of being tired, or weariness of mind or body; it also means a condition of indifference |
| lavish (adj) | occurring in great amounts; it also means generous in giving or spending |
| leery (adj) | cautious, skeptical or attentive |
| legerdemain (n) | sleight of hand, trickery, or manipulation |
| leverage (n) | an increased means of accomplishing a purpose with increased influence |
| levitate (v) | to hover or cause to rise and float in the air |
| levy (v) | to issue a tax or fine, to demand payment for something |
| lexicographer (n) | one who writes or compiles a dictionary |
| liability (n) | a disadvantage, drawback or unnecessary burden |
| libel (n) | a false statement written out of a desire to damage someone's reputation |
| libretto (n) | the words of an opera or similar musical composition |
| licentious (adj) | immoral and improper, especially in regards to sexual activity |
| lilliputian (adj) | tiny, extremely small |
| limber (adj) | flexible or being able to bend one's body easily |
| limerick (n) | a short humorous five-line poem |
| limpid (adj) | perfectly clear, transparent, or unclouded |
| linchpin (n) | a pin that attaches the wheel to the axle; it also means a vital element |
| lineage (n) | a line of descendants or members of the same group or family |
| liniment (n) | a soothing liquid or gel that's rubbed on injured skin |
| lionize (v) | to treat a person as a celebrity |
| lissome (adj) | having a flexible body, athletic |
| lithe (adj) | being easily bendable or flexible |
| loll (v) | to lean or lounge in a relaxed manner |
| lugubrious (adj) | deeply sad and gloomy in an exaggerated way |
| lumen (n) | a unit of measure for the flow of light |
| macerate (v) | to soften or break down into parts, usually by soaking in a liquid |
| machinations (n) | secret plots or schemes, usually with evil intent |
| madrigal (n) | a short, poetic song for 2-3 voices, with no music |
| maelstrom (n) | a large whirlpool or a confused or disorderly state of things |
| magnate (n) | an influential person in a specific field, especially in business |
| malapropism (n) | a comical or embarrassing misuse of words |
| malcontent (adj) | someone who is discontented or rebellious |
| malediction (n) | a curse, cruel words |
| malefactor (n) | someone who does harm, a bad person, like a criminal |
| malevolent (adj) | wishing harm to someone, showing ill will or mean-spirited |
| malfeasance (n) | wrongdoing or misconduct, specially by a public figure |
| malicious (adj) | having or showing ill will, wicked |
| malleable (adj) | able to be hammered, pounded, or pressed into shapes without breaking |
| mandate (n) | an authoritative command or order |
| manifest (v) | to make clear or evident, to reveal, or to appear |
| manifesto (n) | a public declaration of motives and intentions by a government, person, or group |
| manumit (v) | to set free, as from slavery |
| marginal (adj) | being on the outer or lower limits, borderline |
| marquee (n) | word marquee refers to the area that hangs over the entrance of a theater |
| martinet (n) | someone who is strict or who sticks to the rules |
| masochist (adj) | one who receives pleasure from being dominated, mistreated, or hurt physically |
| matriarch (n) | a woman who rules her family or tribe; it can also mean a highly respected elderly woman |
| maudlin (adj) | overly emotional, sappy |
| maul (v) | to injure by beating or tearing |
| maverick (n) | someone who takes an independent stand; it can also mean a wild, unbranded animal that has strayed |
| mawkish (adj) | emotional to the point of being unpleasant |
| meddlesome (adj) | being inclined to interfere or tamper with something or someone |
| medley (n) | a diverse mix, a jumble of things |
| melee (n) | a fight involving several people, a chaotic battle or brawl |
| mellifluous (adj) | like honey, sweet and smooth |
| mephitic (adj) | sickening smell, stinky, or poisonous |
| metaphor (n) | a word or phrase that draws a comparison between two unlike things |
| metaphysical (adj) | abstract or related to philosophical discussions around reality, truth and being etc |
| metaphysics (n) | the branch of philosophy that seeks to explain the nature of being or reality |
| mettle (n) | an inherent quality of character or courage |
| miasma (n) | a poisonous atmosphere, sickening air or something like it |
| microcosm (n) | a little world, miniature |
| migratory (adj) | word migratory relates to animals or other creatures that move from place to place |
| milieu (n) | cultural and social surroundings, environment |
| minion (n) | an employee, hireling, or subordinate |
| misanthrope (n) | someone who hates other people |
| mite (n) | a small insect; a small bit |
| modulate (v) | to change or to tone down |
| molt (v) | to shed an outer covering, such as skin, feathers, etc |
| momentous (adj) | extremely important or significant |
| monastic (adj) | secluded and simple, often monk-like |
| monolithic (adj) | massive, solid and uniform in appearance |
| montage (n) | combining several elements (especially images) into one composition |
| morbid (adj) | gruesome or preoccupied with death. it can also mean extremely unhealthy |
| mortician (n) | someone who works with dead bodies and prepares them for burial or cremation |
| mosaic (n) | art made with small bits of material like stone or glass to form a larger image |
| mote (n) | a small speck, usually of dirt or dust, a fragment |
| motif (n) | a theme or subject that appears in an artistic work |
| motley (adj) | containing a great variety such as being multi-colored |
| mottled (adj) | spotted |
| multiform (adj) | having different shapes or different kinds, diverse |
| munificent (adj) | willing to give, feeling selfless and generous |
| musty (adj) | a stale smell or being outdated |
| myriad (n) | variety, a great number of things |
| natty (adj) | excessively neat and fashionable |
| neologism (n) | a new word or a new way of speaking |
| neonate (n) | a newborn child |
| niggling (adj) | being overly concerned with or requiring great attention to small details |
| nirvana (n) | a state of bliss, state of perfect calm or peace |
| noisome (adj) | disgusting, offensive, gross, or harmful |
| nomenclature (n) | a set of terms used by a group or community |
| nonplus (v) | to confuse or to puzzle |
| noxious (adj) | harmful, upsetting or causing damage |
| nullity (n) | a state of nothingness or something that is not valid |
| numismatist (n) | a collector of coins or currencies for studying purposes or as a hobby |
| nuptial (adj) | related to a marriage ceremony |
| obeisance (n) | a gesture showing honor or respect |
| obfuscation (n) | something that causes confusion, unclear |
| oblique (adj) | indirect or not straightforward |
| obstreperous (adj) | noisy, unruly, or hard to control |
| obtuse (adj) | lacking in insight or intellect, or slow to comprehend; it also means not sharp or pointed |
| officious (adj) | overly eager to serve or to advise, usually in a bossy way |
| ominous (adj) | threatening or suggesting something bad is on the way |
| operetta (n) | a light, amusing opera with spoken dialogue |
| opus (n) | a musical composition or literary work |
| oracular (adj) | being like an oracle, offering wisdom that seems to come from god |
| oratory (n) | ability to speak well in public |
| ordinate (adj) | the arrangement of things in regular rows |
| ornate (adj) | beautifully detailed, showy or decorated |
| ornithologist (n) | a scientist who studies birds |
| ovation (n) | a long round of applause, lengthy cheers |
| overt (adj) | clearly evident or obvious |
| overwrought (adj) | overworked or fatigued; it can also mean very nervous or excited |
| paean (n) | a song or a few words of praise or tribute |
| palliate (v) | to bring some relief or comfort |
| pallid (adj) | unusually pale, weak, or lacking intensity or spirit |
| palpitate (v) | to beat rapidly, especially one’s heart |
| paltry (adj) | extremely small and worthless |
| panacea (n) | a cure-all, a solution for everything |
| panache (n) | having a lot of style and flair |
| pander (v) | to give satisfaction to someone, often in order to gain something yourself |
| panegyric (n) | statements of great appreciation, usually very formal |
| pantomime (n) | a performance that contains no words, only actions and gestures |
| paradigm (n) | a model or a set of beliefs |
| paragon (n) | an example of excellence, a positive model |
| paraphernalia (n) | equipment or apparatus |
| pariah (n) | someone who is cast out of a group or someone who is hated and avoided |
| parochial (adj) | related to a local church; it also means narrow or limited in scope |
| peccadillo (n) | a minor or petty offense, or a slight fault |
| peerless (adj) | without equals, superior to everything, champion |
| perennial (n) | a plant that lives all seasons or for several years |
| perplex (tr v) | to confuse or puzzle |
| pluck (v) | to pick or pull on something |
| predilection (n) | having a preference or liking for someone or something |
| prelude (n) | the introduction to a main event, performance, or action |
| profuse (adj) | plentiful or generous |
| propensity (n) | a natural tendency to something, inclination or bias |
| purist (n) | one who follows strict, often formal, rules and observances |
| quaint (adj) | charmingly old-fashioned or unusual in character |
| quiescent (adj) | to become quiet or still |
| rabid (adj) | fanatical, violent, or extremely expressive |
| rampart (n) | an elevated fortification and protection |
| receptive (adj) | open to new ideas or things, favorable, or welcoming |
| reconcile (v) | to make friendly again or to settle a dispute or disagreement |
| recourse (n) | assistance or a method of obtaining assistance |
| relic (n) | a keepsake from the past, something which has survived deterioration |
| reprisal (n) | inflicting injury on someone for a previous insult |
| resilient (adj) | springing back into shape, or quickly recover one’s strength or spirits |
| retard (v) | to slow something down, or to delay |
| rift (n) | an opening or break caused by a split |
| routine (n) | a regular pattern that is followed, or a habitual activity |
| saga (n) | a lengthy story or narrative |
| scabbard (n) | a case for a sword |
| scotch (tr v) | to put an end to or to crush |
| scourge (n) | a whip, a method of inflicting harsh punishment, or a cause of widespread suffering |
| serrated (adj) | having saw-like notches along the edge |
| shrewd (adj) | sharp intelligence and judgment in practical matters |
| shunt (v) | to shift something from one track or path to another |
| skiff (n) | a light, open boat usually propelled by oars or a sail |
| somatic (adj) | relating to the body or physical |
| steadfast (adj) | being firm, constant or loyal |
| striated (adj) | marked by grooves or stripes; it can also mean hollow or empty |
| successive (adj) | following one after another in sequence |
| supposition (n) | a guess, hypothesis or a theory |
| svelte (adj) | elegantly slim or slender |
| tarantula (n) | a large, hairy spider |
| tether (v) | to tie something or someone to something |
| toady (n) | someone who flatters in the hopes of gaining something |
| tortuous (adj) | full of twists and turns or tricky; it can also mean not being straightforward |
| transitional (adj) | characteristic of change; in the process of change or modulation |
| trappings (n) | items worn for decoration, particularly on a horse's gear, or outward indications of something |
| travail (n) | hard physical exertion or agony |
| tutelage (n) | guardianship or sponsorship |
| ubiquitous (adj) | appearing to be everywhere simultaneously |
| unbridled (adj) | unrestrained or uncontrolled, wild |
| uncanny (adj) | supernatural, unusual or exciting wonder |
| undermine (v) | to injure, weaken, or impair, especially by subtle means |
| underpinning (n) | a basis or something which is used as a support |
| underwrite (v) | to agree to or show support for by signing one's name |
| unfrock (v) | to remove or to deprive the rank, function, or authority of a priest or minister |
| unilateral (adj) | involving or affecting one side or only one of several persons or parties |
| unimpeachable (adj) | that which cannot be questioned, doubted, or discredited |
| uninhibited (adj) | behavior that is free from social or moral restraints |
| unkempt (adj) | tangled, uncombed, or messy |
| unpalatable (adj) | unpleasant to the taste, or disagreeable |
| unravel (v) | to untangle or separate; it can also mean to solve |
| unscathed (adj) | unharmed or safe from being injured |
| untenable (adj) | incapable of being defended, occupied or maintained |
| unwieldy (adj) | difficult to hold or move because of shape, weight, or bulk |
| upright (adj) | standing erect; it can also mean honest and just |
| upstart (n) | someone of humble background who has risen suddenly to power or importance |
| usury (n) | the act of lending money at an high, illegal interest rate |
| utilitarian (adj) | having or stressing usefulness over beauty, or being practical |
| uxorious (adj) | excessively devoted or submissive to one's wife |
| vagary (n) | an odd or unexpected idea or a flight of fancy |
| vagrant (n) | a person who wanders from place to place, or a homeless person |
| vantage (n) | an advantage in a conflict or competition, or a position which provides an advantage |
| ventriloquist (n) | a person who projects her voice on a puppet or on a dummy to communicate or entertain |
| venturesome (adj) | inclined to take risks or involving risks |
| vespertine (adj) | relating to or happening in the evening |
| vestige (n) | an almost invisible trace of something |
| vexation (n) | something that causes annoyance or distress |
| vie (v) | to strive for victory or compete |
| vilify (v) | to criticize harshly or to defame |
| vindicate (v) | to clear from criticism, blame, guilt, or suspicion |
| viper (n) | a venomous snake; it can also describe a malicious or treacherous person |
| viscous (adj) | gluey or sticky |
| wastrel (n) | someone who wastes money, like a spendthrift |
| wax (v) | to grow larger or more numerous in a gradual way; it can also mean to speak or express oneself |
| whimsical (adj) | fanciful, unpredictable, enchanting in a light-hearted way |
| wistful (adj) | expressing vague longings or having desires tinged with sadness |
| wry (adj) | twisted or distorted; it can also mean dry and ironic |
| yoke (v) | to harness an animal; it also means to join together |
| zany (adj) | comical, funny, and crazy |
| zealot (n) | a person who is a fanatic, or who is extreme or in his/her enthusiasm |
| zeitgeist (n) | the outlook, trends and characteristics of a specific period |
| zodiacal (adj) | relating to the zodiac, astrological |
| zoophagous (adj) | meat-eating or carnivorous |
| Abhor | hate |
| Bigot | narrow-minded, prejudiced person |
| Counterfeit | fake; false |
| Enfranchise | give voting rights |
| Hamper | hinder; obstruct |
| Kindle | to start a fire |
| Noxious | harmful; poisonous; lethal |
| Placid | calm; peaceful |
| Remuneration | payment for work done |
| Talisman | lucky charm |
| Abrasive | rough; coarse; harsh |
| Bilk | cheat; defraud |
| Covert | hidden; undercover |
| Engender | cause |
| Hangar | storage area (like garage) for a plane |
| Knotty | complex; difficult to solve |
| Nuance | something subtle; a fine shade of meaning |
| Plagiarism | taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas |
| Renown | fame |
| Tangent | going off the main subject |
| Abasement | humiliation; degradation |
| Billowing | swelling; fluttering; waving |
| Cower | recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from |
| Enhance | improve; make better or clearer |
| Harangue | noisy, attacking speech |
| Labyrinth | a maze |
| Nullify | to counter; make unimportant |
| Plaintiff | petitioner (in court of law) |
| Replete | full |
| Tangible | can be touched |
| Abrogate | cancel; deny; repeal |
| Blasphemy | speech which offends religious sentiments |
| Credible | believable |
| Enigma | puzzle; mystery |
| Harbingers | indicators; bringers of warnings |
| Labyrinthine | complicated; highly convoluted |
| Nuzzle | cuddle; snuggle |
| Plaudit | statement giving strong praise |
| Reprehensible | shameful; very bad |
| Tardy | slow; late; overdue; delayed |
| Absolution | forgiveness; pardon; release |
| Blatant | obvious |
| Creditable | praiseworthy |
| Ensconce | establish firmly in a position |
| Hasten | hurry; accelerate; rush |
| Laceration | a cut |
| Obdurate | stubborn |
| Plausible | can be believed; reasonable |
| Reprieve | a respite; postponement of a sentence |
| Tawdry | of little value; gaudy |
| Abstain | desist; go without; withdraw |
| Blighted | damaged; destroyed; ruined |
| Credulous | gullible; ready to believe anything |
| Enshroud | cover |
| Haughtiness | arrogance; pride |
| Lachrymose | tearful; sad |
| Obfuscate | deliberately make something difficult to understand |
| Plethora | an excess |
| Repudiate | shun; eschew |
| Tedium | boredom |
| Abstemious | self denying; refraining from indulging |
| Blithe | free-spirited; carefree |
| Crepuscular | active at dawn and dusk |
| Enunciation | clear pronunciation; accent; articulation |
| Headstrong | stubborn; willful |
| Lackluster | dull; monotonous; bland |
| Objective | unbiased; not subjective |
| Pliable | flexible; not stubborn |
| Rescind | retract; repeal |
| Temper | to moderate; soften |
| Abstruse | difficult to understand; obscure |
| Blunderbuss | 1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person |
| Cringe | recoil; flinch; shy away |
| Envenom | to cause bitterness and bad feeling |
| Hedonism | self indulgence; pleasure-seeking |
| Laconic | using few words; brief; to the point |
| Oblique | indirect; slanting |
| Plumage | feathers of a bird |
| Resignation | acceptance of fate |
| Tenacious | stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose |
| Accolade | tribute; honor; praise |
| Bolster | support; prop up |
| Cryptic | puzzling; enigmatic |
| Ephemeral | short-lived |
| Hedonist | a pleasure seeker |
| Lamentation | expression of regret or sorrow |
| Obliterate | destroy; demolish; eradicate |
| Plummet | fall suddenly and steeply |
| Resolution | determination |
| Tentative | not certain |
| Acquiesce | to agree to; give in to |
| Bombast | arrogant, pompous language |
| Curtail | cut short |
| Epicure | someone who appreciates good food and drink |
| Heed | listen to |
| Lampoon | ridicule; spoof |
| Oblivious | totally unaware |
| Podium | raised platform |
| Resonant | echoing |
| Tenuous | flimsy; not solid |
| Acrid | sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes) |
| Boorish | ill-mannered |
| Cynical | believing that people act only out of selfish motives |
| Epistle | a letter (form of communication) |
| Heresy | against orthodox opinion |
| Lance | spear; spike; javelin |
| Obscure | difficult to understand; partially hidden |
| Poignant | deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions |
| Respite | a break; intermission |
| Terse | concise; to the point |
| Acrophobia | fear of heights |
| Bourgeois | middle class |
| Debility | weakness; incapacity |
| Epistolary | concerned with letters; through correspondence |
| Hiatus | interruption; pause |
| Languid | tired; slow |
| Obscured | hidden; covered; buried |
| Poised | calm; collected; self-possessed |
| Resplendent | shining; glowing |
| Therapeutic | medicinal; curative |
| Acuity | sharpness (mental or visual) |
| Braggart | someone who boasts |
| Debunking | exposing false claims or myths |
| Epitomized | typified; characterized; personified |
| Hidebound | rigid in opinions |
| Languish | decay; fade away; get weaker |
| Obsequious | servile; submissive |
| Polemical | causing debate or argument |
| Restorative | a tonic |
| Thwart | prevent; frustrate |
| Adamant | forceful; inflexible |
| Brawny | muscular |
| Decathlon | an athletic competition with ten events |
| Equivocate | speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth |
| Hieroglyphics | 1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic |
| Larceny | theft; robbery; stealing |
| Obsession | a dominating concern |
| Ponderous | weighty; slow and heavy |
| Retention | preservation; withholding |
| Timorous | cowardly; fearful |
| Adroit | skilful |
| Brevity | being brief |
| Decorum | dignified, correct behavior [decorous (a)] |
| Err | make a mistake |
| Hinder | obstruct |
| Largess | generosity |
| Obsolete | no longer valid |
| Pontificate | speak pompously or dogmatically |
| Reticent | restrained; holding something back; uncommunicative |
| Tirade | stream of verbal abuse |
| Adulation | strong admiration; worship |
| Bristle | to show irritation |
| Decoy | lure; trap; trick |
| Erratic | wandering; irregular |
| Histrionic | theatrical; exaggerated |
| Laud | praise |
| Obstreperous | noisy and boisterous |
| Portend | foretell |
| Retraction | withdrawal; cancellation of a statement |
| Titter | giggle quietly |
| Adversity | hardship |
| Broach | start to discuss; approach |
| Deference | respect |
| Esoteric | obscure and difficult to understand |
| Hoary | old |
| Lavish | on a grand scale; wasteful |
| Obtuse | mentally dull |
| Portent | a warning sign; omen |
| Revere | worship |
| Tome | large book |
| Advocate | support |
| Brusque | blunt; abrupt |
| Defoliate | cause leaves to fall off |
| Espouse | promote; take up; support |
| Hone | sharpen; increase; whet |
| Lax | careless; not strict |
| Obviate | avoid; make unnecessary |
| Poseur | someone who puts on an act |
| Riddled | full of (usually full of holes) |
| Torpid | inactive; lazy; stagnant |
| Aesthetic | concerning art or beauty |
| Bulwark | fortification; barricade; wall |
| Defunct | no longer in existence |
| Etymology | the study of word origins |
| Hyperbole | grossly exaggerated speech |
| Legend | 1. key to map; 2. myth or story |
| Odious | hateful |
| Posterity | future generations |
| Rife | common |
| Torpor | dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity |
| Affable | friendly; social; easygoing |
| Bureaucracy | officialdom |
| Degradation | deprivation; poverty; debasement |
| Eulogy | praise |
| Hypochondriac | a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses |
| Legion | in large numbers |
| Officious | domineering; intrusive; meddlesome |
| Posthumous | after death |
| Rigor | thoroughness |
| Totter | walk unsteadily |
| Alacrity | eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness |
| Burgeon | grow; flourish; put forth new shoots |
| Deleterious | harmful |
| Euphemism | a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant |
| Hypocritical | insincere |
| Lethargic | tired; without energy |
| Ogle | stare at; observe in an obvious manner |
| Postulate | hypothesize; propose |
| Robust | strong; healthy; tough |
| Tractable | obedient; dutiful; polite |
| Alchemy | medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold |
| Burnish | polish |
| Deliberate | to think over deeply |
| Euphony | pleasant sounds |
| Iconoclast | person who opposes orthodoxy |
| Levity | flippancy; joking about serious matters |
| Olfactory | concerned with the sense of smell |
| Potable | suitable for drinking |
| Rotund | round |
| Tranquil | peaceful |
| Alibi | an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene |
| Buttress | strengthen; support |
| Delineation | demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining |
| Evacuate | vacate; empty; abandon |
| Idiosyncrasy | a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual |
| Libertarian | someone who opposes tyranny |
| Ominous | threatening |
| Potent | powerful; compelling; strong |
| Ruminate | think over something; ponder |
| Transcribe | copy |
| Allay | to lessen |
| Byline | the line that tells you who wrote an article |
| Demur | hesitate; refuse |
| Exacerbate | make worse |
| Ignominious | shameful |
| Liniment | soothing lotion |
| Omnipotent | all-powerful |
| Pragmatic | practical |
| Ruse | trick; stratagem |
| Transgress | go astray; disobey; commit a sin |
| Alleviate | make less severe |
| Cacophony | discordant loud noises |
| Denounce | condemn; speak out against |
| Exasperated | frustrated; annoyed |
| Ignominy | shame [ignominious (a) = shameful] |
| Lithe | flexible; supple |
| Omniscient | all-knowing |
| Pragmatist | practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness |
| Saccharin | falsely sweet |
| Transient | short-lived; ephemeral |
| Aloof | distant; detached; cold |
| Cajole | coax |
| Deplete | use up; lessen |
| Exceptionable | very bad (something which we should object to) |
| Illuminate | to light up or make clear |
| Livid | very angry |
| Onerous | burdensome; hard to undertake |
| Preamble | introductory material |
| Sacrosanct | very holy; inviolable |
| Traverse | to move across |
| Altruism | putting others first; being self-sacrificing |
| Caldron | huge cooking pot |
| Deplore | regret |
| Exculpate | free someone from blame; pardon; acquit |
| Illusory | deceptive; false; misleading |
| Lobbyist | person who tries to persuade someone to support a particular cause |
| Onus | burden |
| Precarious | unstable; risky |
| Sagacious | wise |
| Trepidation | fear |
| Amass | accumulate |
| Callow | immature |
| Depravity | moral corruption |
| Execrable | very, very bad |
| Immoderate | excessive; extreme |
| Lofty | snooty; arrogant; haughty |
| Opaque | does not let light through |
| Precedent | a previous occurrence used as a guide |
| Sage | a wise person |
| Trinket | something of little value; knick-knack |
| Ambiguity | uncertainty; vagueness |
| Candid | frank; honest |
| Deprecate | criticize; denounce |
| Exegesis | scholarly explanation or interpretation |
| Immutable | unchanging; permanent |
| Longevity | long life |
| Opulent | wealthy; rich; magnificent |
| Precept | guiding principle |
| Salacious | lecherous; erotic |
| Trite | unoriginal; dull |
| Ambiguous | unclear in meaning; can be interpreted in different ways |
| Candor | frankness; openness |
| Deride | ridicule; make fun of; mock |
| Exemplary | outstandingly good; setting a fine example |
| Impartial | unbiased; neutral |
| Loquacious | talkative |
| Ordain | 1. destine; 2. confer holy orders on a priest |
| Precinct | district of a city |
| Sallow | yellowish |
| Trivial | unimportant |
| Ambivalence | lack of clarity; wavering; being undecided |
| Cantankerous | bad-tempered; quarrelsome |
| Derogatory | uncomplimentary |
| Exemplify | to serve as a good example |
| Impecunious | having no money |
| Lucid | clear |
| Ornate | highly decorated |
| Precipice | steep slope |
| Salubrious | health-giving |
| Truant | shirker; someone absent without permission |
| Ambulatory | able to walk around (used of hospital patients) |
| Capacious | spacious |
| Desecrate | to damage or pollute a holy place |
| Exhaustive | complete and thorough |
| Impious | wicked; profane |
| Ludicrous | ridiculous; silly |
| Orthodox | conventional |
| Precipitous | done in a hurry |
| Salutary | something which teaches you a lesson; beneficial |
| Truncate | cut short |
| Ameliorate | make better |
| Capitulate | surrender; give in to |
| Desecration | spoiling something holy |
| Exonerates | acquits; absolves; removes blame |
| Impoverished | destitute; poor |
| Lukewarm | 1. unenthusiastic; 2. neither hot nor cold |
| Ossify | 1. turn to bone; 2. become fixed and rigid |
| Preclude | prevent or make impossible |
| Sanctimonious | hypocritically holy |
| Tumult | uproar; noise |
| Amelioration | improvement |
| Carping | constant criticism |
| Desist | stop; discontinue; cease |
| Exorcism | getting free/rid of; eliminating (especially demons) |
| Impromptu | unrehearsed; spontaneous |
| Lummox | clumsy person |
| Ostentatious | showy |
| Precocious | developing early |
| Sanction | give approval to |
| Turpitude | depravity |
| Amiable | friendly |
| Cartographer | person who makes maps |
| Despondent | having no hope; miserable |
| Expatriate | refugee; emigrant; someone living away from his own country |
| Inadvertent | not intentional |
| Luscious | juicy; moist; succulent |
| Oust | push out of a position |
| Predecessor | one who came before |
| Sanguinary | bloodthirsty; bloody |
| Tyro | novice; beginner |
| Amity | friendship |
| Castigate | scold strongly |
| Destitution | hardship; poverty; misery |
| Expedient | convenient; practical |
| Incantation | chant; invocation; prayer |
| Lynch | assassinate; kill; illegal hanging |
| Overt | obvious; not hidden |
| Predicament | dilemma; difficult situation |
| Sanguine | optimistic; cheerful |
| Ubiquitous | found everywhere; omnipresent |
| Amorphous | lacking in shape |
| Catharsis | purging of pent-up emotions |
| Deter | put off; prevent |
| Expedite | make faster |
| Incarceration | putting in prison |
| Machinations | plots and plans |
| Overwrought | worked up; in an emotional state |
| Preeminent | famous; outstanding |
| Sardonic | mocking |
| Unalloyed | undiluted; total |
| Analgesic | medicine to combat pain |
| Caucus | type of private political meeting |
| Deteriorate | worsen; decline |
| Exposition | clear explanation |
| Incessant | without stopping |
| Maelstrom | whirlpool; storm in the ocean |
| Palatable | good to eat; agreeable |
| Prerogative | right or privilege |
| Savant | person with knowledge |
| Unctuous | oily; using excessive flattery |
| Analogous | comparable |
| Caustic | burning |
| Detrimental | harmful |
| Extol | praise |
| Incipient | just beginning |
| Magnanimous | generous; big-hearted |
| Palisade | fence made of posts |
| Prescient | having fore-knowledge |
| Scale | to climb |
| Undermined | damaged; attacked |
| Anarchy | chaos; lack of government |
| Cavalcade | procession of vehicles |
| Devoured | greedily eaten/consumed |
| Extradite | deport from one country back to the home country |
| Inclination | tendency; a leaning toward |
| Magnate | powerful businessman |
| Palliative | a remedy that improves but doesn't cure |
| Presentiment | a feeling that something might happen |
| Scapegoat | person on whom blame is placed for faults of others |
| Underscore | emphasize |
| Anecdote | a brief amusing story |
| Celerity | speed |
| Dexterous | skilful with hands |
| Extraneous | irrelevant |
| Incoherent | not clear |
| Maladroit | clumsy; unskillful |
| Pallid | pale |
| Presumptuous | assuming too much; arrogant |
| Scrupulous | careful; diligent; painstaking |
| Unequivocal | clear; obvious |
| Animosity | hatred; antagonism |
| Censorious | disapproving; critical |
| Dichotomy | a division into two parts |
| Extrapolate | extend; predict on the basis of known data |
| Incongruous | not fitting in; out of place |
| Malady | illness |
| Palpable | easily felt; easily perceived |
| Pretentious | pompous; self-important |
| Scrutinize | examine carefully |
| Unfetter | set free |
| Annex (n) | a building which is an addition to an existing building |
| Censure | blame |
| Didactic | intended to teach; instructive |
| Extrinsic | irrelevant; on the outside |
| Inconsequential | unimportant; insignificant; negligible |
| Malediction | a curse |
| Panacea | remedy for all ills |
| Prevaricate | speak misleadingly and evasively |
| Scuttle | sink |
| Unfrock | to remove a priest from his position |
| Annex (v) | take possession of; seize; capture |
| Cerebral | intellectual |
| Diffident | lacking confidence |
| Fallacious | false |
| Inconspicuous | not easily seen; subtle; not noticeable |
| Malefactor | a wrong-doer |
| Paradigm | 1. example; 2. model; 3. way of looking at things |
| Pristine | unspoiled |
| Seminary | an institution in which priests are trained |
| Unprecedented | never having happened before |
| Anomaly | something which does not fit in a pattern; irregularity |
| Certitude | certainty |
| Digress | wander off the subject |
| Falter | hesitate; waver |
| Indelible | cannot be wiped out |
| Malinger | deliberately avoid work; shirk |
| Paradox | apparently contradictory statement |
| Proclivity | tendency towards |
| Sensuous | appealing to the senses |
| Unscathed | unharmed; intact; without a scratch |
| Antagonism | hostility; strong opposition |
| Charlatan | trickster who claims knowledge he doesn't have |
| Dike | dam; embankment |
| Fanatical | obsessive; fixated |
| Indifferent | 1. neutral; 2. not outstanding |
| Malingerer | person who deliberately tries to avoid work |
| Paragon | a perfect example |
| Procrastinate | delay; put off |
| Sentinel | guard; sentry |
| Unwitting | not deliberate; unconscious |
| Antagonistic | opposed; hostile; aggressive |
| Chary | wary of; cautious about; reluctant to give |
| Dilatory | slow; falling behind with one's work |
| Fanaticism | passion; excessive devotion |
| Indigenous | native to a particular area |
| Malleable | flexible; can be shaped |
| Paramount | of supreme importance |
| Prodigal | wasteful; extravagant |
| Sequester | isolate |
| Upbraid | scold; tell off; reprimand |
| Antediluvian | outdated; prehistoric; very old-fashioned |
| Chastises | punishes |
| Dilemma | puzzling situation |
| Fastidious | overly particular; finicky |
| Indolence | laziness |
| Mallet | 1. wooden hammer; 2. stick used for polo |
| Parasite | 1. scrounger; 2. animal which takes digested food from another |
| Prodigious | very large |
| Serendipity | fortunate coincidence; unsought discovery |
| Uproarious | hilarious; hysterical; very funny |
| Anthology | a book which is a collection of poems or stories |
| Chicanery | trickery |
| Dilettante | person who dabbles in a subject without serious study |
| Fatuous | silly; foolish |
| Inductee | novice; beginner |
| Manipulatable | influencable; controllable |
| Parched | dried up |
| Profane | unholy |
| Serene | calm; peaceful |
| Upshot | outcome |
| Anthropocentrism | putting man at the center of one's philosophy |
| Chimerical | changeable; unstable |
| Diligent | hard-working |
| Feasible | possible and practicable |
| Indulgent | pampering; satisfying desires |
| Marred | damaged; spoiled |
| Pariah | an outcast from society |
| Profanity | swearing; cursing |
| Serrated | jagged; saw-like |
| Urbane | sophisticated; suave |
| Antiquated | outdated; old fashioned |
| Choleric | easily angered |
| Diorama | model of a scene |
| Fecund | fertile |
| Inebriation | drunkenness; intoxication |
| Marshal | to gather together |
| Parity | equality |
| Profound | having deep meaning |
| Servile | overly submissive; groveling |
| Usurp | take someone's position (usually by force) |
| Apathetic | indifferent; uninterested; lethargic |
| Chronicler | person who records historical information |
| Dirge | mournful song |
| Felicitous | apt |
| Ineffable | cannot be expressed in words |
| Marsupial | pouched mammal (like a kangaroo) |
| Parochial | narrow-minded; concerned only with local matters |
| Profundity | depth |
| Skeptical | doubting; not gullible |
| Utilitarian | useful |
| Apathy | lack of interest or emotion |
| Circuitous | indirect |
| Disapprobation | disapproval |
| Fervor | passion; enthusiasm |
| Inept | incompetent; unskilled; useless |
| Martinet | person who believes in strict discipline |
| Parody | a mockery; imitation for ridicule; spoof |
| Proletarian | member of the working class |
| Skirmish | minor battle |
| Utopian | a believer in an ideal world |
| Apocryphal | of doubtful origin |
| Circumlocution | using too many words; long-windedness |
| Discern | to distinguish one thing from another |
| Fickle | unpredictable; whimsical; easily swayed |
| Inertia | inactivity; lethargy |
| Masochist | person who intentionally inflicts pain on himself |
| Parry | ward off; avoid |
| Prolific | producing a lot |
| Sluggard | slow-moving; lethargic person |
| Vacillate | waver; hesitate |
| Appease | pacify; soothe; calm down; make peace with |
| Circumscribe | limit |
| Discord | disagreement |
| Finesse | skill |
| Inevitable | cannot be avoided |
| Matriarchy | society governed by women |
| Parsimonious | economical; frugal; thrifty |
| Proponents | promoters; supporters |
| Smelt | refine an ore |
| Vacuous | empty; silly; meaningless |
| Apprehensive | worried; fearful |
| Circumspect | cautious; considering all sides |
| Discordancy | cacophony; harshness; jarring |
| Fitful | not continuous; stopping and starting |
| Inexorable | relentless |
| Maverick | a loner |
| Parsimony | stinginess; frugality; cost-cutting |
| Prosaic | dull; boring; ordinary |
| Smorgasbord | a Swedish buffet of cold dishes |
| Vagrant | person wandering without a home |
| Arable | can be cultivated |
| Circumvent | avoid |
| Discrepancy | something which does not match up; inconsistency |
| Flagrant | clearly wrong |
| Inexpedient | not advisable |
| Meager | in short supply |
| Partisan | biased; one-sided; committed to one group |
| Proscribe | forbid |
| Solace | comfort for grief |
| Vapid | dull; uninspiring |
| Arbitrary | random; for no definite reason |
| Clairvoyant | psychic; mystic |
| Discriminate | to make a clear distinction; see the difference |
| Flamboyant | showy; ornate |
| Infallible | perfect; flawless; cannot make mistakes |
| Meander | wander from side to side |
| Pathos | evoking sadness or pity |
| Prosody | study of versification |
| Solicit | to ask for; seek |
| Variegated | multicolored; speckled |
| Arcane | obscure; known only to a few people |
| Clamor | shout; scream |
| Discursiveness | long windedness; indirectness |
| Flaunt | show off; display in a showy manner |
| Infamous | famous for something bad |
| Mellow | soft; melodious; ripe |
| Patron | one who give support (usually financial) |
| Prostration | 1. lying face down; 2. be overcome with extreme weakness |
| Somnambulist | sleepwalker |
| Vehemence | violence; fervor; forcefulness |
| Archaic | ancient; outdated; old fashioned |
| Clandestine | secret; covert; stealthy |
| Disdain | contempt; strong dislike |
| Flippant | making jokes about serious matters |
| Infer | deduce; conclude |
| Menagerie | collection of animals |
| Patronize | condescend to; behave in an arrogant manner towards |
| Protagonist | main character in film, book, play etc. |
| Soothsayer | fortuneteller |
| Vehement | forceful |
| Archetype | classic example of |
| Clemency | mercy |
| Disinterested | unbiased |
| Flout | defy; reject |
| Ingénue | naïve, unsophisticated person |
| Mendacious | given to lying |
| Paucity | shortage |
| Protean | changeable |
| Sophomoric | juvenile; immature |
| Venal | corrupt; can be bribed |
| Archives | collections of old records; place of storage of old documents |
| Cliché | overused expression; something unoriginal |
| Disparage | criticize; belittle |
| Flustered | worked-up; not calm |
| Ingrate | ungrateful person |
| Mercenary | concerned only with money |
| Peccadillo | minor weakness; trivial offence |
| Protégé | person under protection of, or guided by another |
| Soporific | inducing sleep |
| Veneer | surface coating |
| Articulate | clear; lucid; eloquent |
| Clientele | customers |
| Disparity | an inequality |
| Fly-by-night | unreliable; disreputable |
| Inimical | hostile |
| Mercurial | volatile; changeable |
| Pedant | person who insists on strict adherence to rules or narrow learning |
| Protocol | procedure; code of behavior |
| Sparse | spare; bare; meager |
| Venerate | revere; worship |
| Artifice | deception; trickery |
| Coalesce | come together; merge |
| Dispassionate | neutral; objective |
| Forensic | concerned with argument or debate (esp. for legal evidence) |
| Innate | inherited; inborn |
| Merge | come together |
| Pedestrian | common; mundane; banal |
| Provincial | unsophisticated; narrow-minded |
| Specious | false |
| Venial | minor; unimportant |
| Artisan | craftsman |
| Coddle | pamper; fuss over; indulge |
| Disseminating | circulating; broadcasting; spreading (information) |
| Fortitude | bravery |
| Innocuous | harmless; inoffensive |
| Metaphorically | symbolically; figuratively |
| Peerless | without equal |
| Prudent | cautious; wise |
| Speckled | spotted; freckled; dotted |
| Veracity | truthfulness |
| Ascetic | without luxuries; severely simple |
| Coercion | force |
| Diurnal | active in daytime |
| Fortuitous | happening by chance |
| Innovate | create; introduce something new |
| Meticulous | very careful; painstaking |
| Pejorative | derogatory |
| Puerile | childish |
| Sporadic | not continuous; intermittent |
| Verbose | talkative; long-winded; rambling |
| Assiduous | thorough; diligent |
| Cogent | lucid; well argued |
| Divert | 1. entertain; 2. distract; 3. cause a detour |
| Fractious | irritable; difficult to control |
| Inscrutable | mysterious; impenetrable |
| Mettle | courage; bravery; valor |
| Pellucid | transparently clear |
| Punctilious | paying attention to small details |
| Spurious | false |
| Verbosity | using too many words |
| Assuage | to calm |
| Cogitate | think over something; ponder |
| Docile | gentle and easily lead |
| Fraudulent | fake; false |
| Insentient | unfeeling |
| Milieu | environment |
| Pensive | in a thoughtful mood; thinking deeply |
| Purloin | steal |
| Stagnant | still; not moving |
| Vertigo | dizziness |
| Astute | perceptive; sharp-witted |
| Collage | picture made from fragments of other pictures |
| Dogmatic | having stubbornly held opinions |
| Frivolous | not serious |
| Insipid | dull; bland; boring |
| Mire | swamp; muddy ground |
| Penury | poverty |
| Pusillanimous | cowardly |
| Staid | dull; sober; serious |
| Vestigial | not developed |
| Asylum | place of refuge or safety |
| Collate | arrange in order |
| Dolt | stupid person |
| Frugal | economical; not wasting anything |
| Instigate | to start; provoke |
| Misanthrope | hater of the rest of mankind |
| Perceptive | observant |
| Pyromania | compulsion to start fires |
| Stanza | section of a poem |
| Vignette | small sketch |
| Atheist | person who does not believe in God |
| Colloquial | local and informal (used of language) |
| Dotard | foolish old man |
| Furrow | groove |
| Instigator | troublemaker; person who entices others to do something |
| Misnomer | wrong name |
| Percipient | perceptive; insightful |
| Quaff | drink down quickly |
| Staunch | loyal; faithful; dependable |
| Vilification | blackening someone's name |
| Atrophy | waste away from lack of use |
| Collusion | plotting and planning |
| Drawl | speak slowly with words running together |
| Furtive | hidden and secret |
| Insurgent | a rebel |
| Misogynist | hater of women |
| Perdition | damnation |
| Quagmire | marsh; bog |
| Stereotype | fixed image |
| Vindicate | prove right; remove blame |
| Attenuate | weaken |
| Commandeer | take possession of |
| Drivel | nonsense |
| Futile | useless; hopeless |
| Interminable | never-ending |
| Misrepresentation | deliberately deceiving |
| Peremptory | in a commanding manner |
| Quaint | picturesque |
| Stevedore | dockworker |
| Virtuoso | an accomplished musician |
| Augment | increase; make bigger |
| Complacent | self-satisfied; smug |
| Droll | dryly amusing |
| Galleon | ancient type of sailing ship |
| Intermittent | sporadic; irregular |
| Mitigate | lessen; make less severe |
| Perfidy | treachery |
| Quandary | dilemma; puzzle |
| Stifle | suppress |
| Virulent | dangerous; harmful |
| Auspicious | favorable; promising to turn out well |
| Compliant | easy to control; submissive |
| Drone | 1. monotonous noise (n); 2. to speak with no emotion (v); 3.male bee |
| Gambol | frolic; leap; bound |
| Intransigence | stubbornness |
| Modicum | small amount |
| Perfunctory | superficial; cursory |
| Quarantine | isolation to prevent the spread of disease |
| Stoic | known for fortitude; indifferent to pleasure or pain |
| Vital | essential; alive; important |
| Austere | severely plain |
| Concatenate | link together |
| Dubious | doubtful |
| Garble | distort; confuse; muddle |
| Intransigent | stubborn; unyielding |
| Momentous | very important |
| Peripatetic | nomadic; moving from place to place |
| Quarry | 1. something that is hunted; 2. mine for stone |
| Stoke | add fuel to; strengthen |
| Vitriolic | corrosive; strongly attacking |
| Aversion | a dislike of |
| Concatenation | linking into chains |
| Dupe | to fool someone |
| Garish | gaudy |
| Intrepid | brave |
| Monotonous | dull; unvarying |
| Peripheral | on the edge; not important |
| Querulous | always complaining |
| Stolid | impassive; dull; indifferent |
| Vivacity | liveliness; animation |
| Balk | hinder and prevent; hesitate over |
| Conciliate | to bring together; end a dispute |
| Dynamic | lively; vibrant; energetic |
| Garner | gather; collect |
| Inveterate | habitual |
| Moratorium | temporary prohibition or halt to activity |
| Perjury | telling lies under oath |
| Quirk | oddity |
| Stratagem | plot; plan; trick |
| Vivify | enliven |
| Banal | common; dull |
| Concise | stated in few words |
| Ebullient | very lively; cheerful; jovial; happy |
| Garrulous | talkative |
| Invidious | arousing envy |
| Moribund | on the point of death |
| Pernicious | destructive; harmful |
| Ramble | wander aimlessly |
| Strident | loud and harsh |
| Vociferous | noisy; loud in speech |
| Banality | ordinariness; dullness |
| Condescend | talk down to |
| Eccentric | unusual; quirky; odd |
| Gaunt | emaciated; bony and angular |
| Inviolable | cannot be invaded |
| Morose | gloomy; bad tempered |
| Persnickety | fastidious; fussy |
| Ramifications | branches; subdivisions of a complex system; outcomes |
| Stringent | strict or severe |
| Volatile | dangerously unstable; evaporates easily |
| Bane | troublesome influence |
| Condone | tacitly support; overlook |
| Eclectic | taking things from different sources |
| Genre | a category; type |
| Irascible | easily angered |
| Mundane | ordinary; worldly |
| Perpetuated | caused to continue |
| Rancor | resentment; animosity; bad feeling |
| Strut | swagger; show off |
| Voluble | talkative |
| Bard | poet |
| Condoning | overlooking; disregarding; ignoring |
| Edifice | building; structure; construction |
| Germane | relevant |
| Ire | anger [irate (a) = very angry] |
| Munificent | generous; charitable |
| Perpetuity | eternity |
| Rant | use bombastic language |
| Stupefying | astonishing; shocking; stunning into silence |
| Voluminous | very large; spacious |
| Bastion | fortress; stronghold |
| Conflagration | big fire |
| Efface | wipe out; remove all trace of |
| Germinal | just growing; not developed; immature |
| Irksome | annoying; infuriating |
| Mutinous | very rebellious |
| Personable | attractive |
| Ratify | approve; consent |
| Subpoena | summons to court |
| Voracious | ravenous |
| Befuddle | confuse |
| Confound | confuse |
| Effigy | a model of a person |
| Gibbering | making meaningless noises |
| Ironic | satiric; unexpected |
| Myriad | in large numbers |
| Perspicacious | insightful; sharp; wise |
| Raucous | rough and unpleasant (of sounds) |
| Substantiate | give supporting evidence |
| Waive | surrender; give up |
| Begrudge | resent |
| Congeal | to solidify |
| Effusive | gushing; demonstrative |
| Glacial | hostile; unfriendly; cold; icy |
| Irrational | unreasonable; absurd |
| Navigable | suitable for sailing |
| Perspicacity | insight |
| Raze | destroy; demolish; tear down |
| Subterfuge | a trick |
| Wane | grow less |
| Beguile | mislead; lure |
| Congenital | present from birth |
| Egalitarianism | belief in equality |
| Goad | prod; urge |
| Irreproachable | cannot be criticized; perfect |
| Nebulous | vague |
| Pertinent | relevant |
| Rebuttal | denial |
| Subtle | not obvious |
| Wary | hesitant; cautious |
| Belabor | explain in unnecessary detail |
| Connoisseur | person with refined taste and good judgment |
| Egregious | outstandingly, obviously bad |
| Grate (v) | 1. to annoy; aggravate; vex; 2. shred |
| Irrevocable | cannot be cancelled; unchangeable |
| Nefarious | wicked; immoral; disreputable |
| Peruse | read carefully |
| Recant | disclaim; retract statement |
| Subversive | rebellious; revolutionary |
| Wax | to increase; to grow |
| Beleaguer | besiege; attack |
| Consecrate | dedicate |
| Egress | exit |
| Gratis | free of charge; without payment |
| Itinerant | nomadic; wandering from place to place |
| Negate | cancel; deny |
| Pervasive | spreading everywhere |
| Recapitulate | summarize |
| Succinct | concise |
| Waylay | accost; stop; approach; hinder |
| Belie | contradict |
| Consensus | general agreement |
| Eloquent | fluent and persuasive in speech |
| Gratuitous | unwarranted |
| Jaded | tired; bored; worn out |
| Negligence | carelessness |
| Petrify | 1. terrify; 2. turn to stone |
| Receptacle | container; vessel; holder |
| Suffragist | someone who campaigns for voting rights |
| Weighty | serious |
| Belittle | to demean |
| Conspicuous | easily seen; prominent |
| Elucidate | make clear |
| Gravity | seriousness |
| Jargon | specialized language used by experts |
| Neologism | newly coined word |
| Petulant | sulky; peevish |
| Recluse | someone who cuts himself off from life |
| Supercilious | proud and haughty |
| Whelp | young dog |
| Bellicose | war-like; aggressive |
| Consummate | complete; total; supremely good |
| Elusive | hard to pin down |
| Gregarious | extroverted; sociable; outgoing |
| Jaundiced | cynical; pessimistic |
| Nettle | annoy |
| Phenomenon | an event or happening (plural: phenomena) |
| Recuperate | get better after illness |
| Superlative | extremely good; the best |
| Whet | sharpen |
| Belligerent | aggressive; ready to fight |
| Contemporary | living or happening at the same time |
| Emaciated | very thin; withered |
| Gritty | coarse; granular |
| Jaunt | short pleasure trip |
| Niggardly | miserly; stingy |
| Philanthropy | charity; love of mankind |
| Red tape | formalities; paperwork; official procedure |
| Surly | grumpy; rude |
| Whimsical | capricious; changeable |
| Bemoan | complain about |
| Contrite | sorry |
| Emancipate | set free |
| Guffaw | sudden loud laughter |
| Jeopardize | put at risk; endanger |
| Nomadic | wandering from place to place |
| Philistine | uncultured person |
| Redolent | smelling of; giving off odors |
| Surreptitious | secret; sneaky; stealthy |
| Willful | stubborn |
| Benevolent | kindly |
| Contrition | sorrow and repentance |
| Embezzle | defraud; steal |
| Guile | cunning; craftiness |
| Jingoistic | extremely patriotic; nationalistic |
| Nonchalance | an appearance of indifference; calm and composed |
| Phlegmatic | calm; imperturbable |
| Redress | put right something that was wrong |
| Surreptitiously | secretly; furtively; stealthily |
| Wily | cunning |
| Benign | kindly; harmless |
| Contumacious | stubborn |
| Embroil | involve in hostility or argument |
| Guileless | frank; straightforward; honest |
| Jocular | in a joking manner |
| Nondescript | having no special features; dull and ordinary |
| Pillage | plunder |
| Redundant | unnecessary; superfluous |
| Susceptible | vulnerable |
| Wispy | flimsy; frail; delicate |
| Benignity | compassion; gentleness; fondness |
| Contusion | a bruise |
| Emerge | come out; appear |
| Gullibility | unwariness; trustfulness; being easily fooled |
| Jollity | gaiety; happiness |
| Nonentity | a person of no importance; not famous |
| Pinnacle | topmost point |
| Referendum | public vote |
| Suspect | doubtful |
| Wistful | melancholy; pensive; expressing a longing for |
| Bequeath | leave something in one's will to be given after one's death |
| Conundrum | a puzzle |
| Emulate | to imitate something admired |
| Gullible | easily fooled |
| Jubilant | ecstatic; delighted; rejoicing |
| Nostalgia | longing for the past |
| Pious | very religious |
| Refute | disprove |
| Sybarite | lover of luxury |
| Zany | crazy; wacky |
| Berate | scold; criticize |
| Conventional | usual; customary; common |
| Endorse | give support or approval to |
| Gustatory | concerned with the sense of taste |
| Judicious | correct in judgment; wise |
| Notoriety | infamy; known for wrong doing |
| Pivotal | of central importance |
| Regale | entertain |
| Sycophant | bootlicker; flatterer |
| Zeal | enthusiasm |
| Beret | type of cap |
| Corpulent | fat |
| Endurance | staying power; patience; stamina |
| Hackneyed | common and over-used |
| Jurisprudence | science or study of law |
| Novel | new; unusual |
| Placate | pacify; soothe; calm |
| Relegate | dismiss to a lower position |
| Taciturn | quiet; saying little |
| Zealot | fanatic |
| Bestial | behaving like a beast; brutal |
| Corrugated | highly folded |
| Enduring | lasting |
| Hallowed | worshipped; consecrated |
| Juxtapose | place next to |
| Novice | a beginner; tyro |
| Placebo | harmless medicine with no effect; dummy medicine |
| Remorse | regret; sorrow; contrition |
| Tactile | concerned with the sense of touch |
| Zenith | summit |
| Adulation | worship; great praise |
| Amiable | friendly, lovable |
| Arable | can be cultivated ("arable land") |
| Articulation | 1. joining, 2. speaking clearly |
| Autocrat | absolute ruler; dictator |
| Bountiful | generous |
| Callous | cruel; hard and unfeeling |
| Cerebral | concerned with thinking |
| Compendious | containing a lot in a small space/few words |
| Conciliatory | bringing together; ending a dispute |
| Connoisseurs | experts with good taste/judgment |
| Convivial | sociable |
| Corpulence | being fat |
| Dearth | shortage |
| Debacles | disasters |
| Demonstrative | expressing emotion freely |
| Depreciatory | devaluing; criticizing |
| Facile | over-simplified |
| Floridity | 1. floweriness in language, 2. redness |
| Haranguing | attacking verbally |
| Heterogeneity | variety; non-uniformity |
| Histrionic | melodramatic; expressing exaggerated emotion |
| Imperious | in a commanding manner |
| Indulgent | kindly; pampering |
| Inscrutable | not east to comprehend |
| Insufferable | cannot be tolerated |
| Insular | narrow-minded |
| Intemperate | not moderate; excessive |
| Intonation | tone of voice |
| Lavish | 1. (verb) to spend freely, 2. (adj.) opulent; costing a lot |
| Litigious | seeking legal remedies |
| Magnanimous | generous minded; big-hearted |
| Mandatory | compulsory |
| Momentous | of great importance |
| Nemesis | fate, doom |
| Opacity | lack of transparency; being opaque |
| Palliative | something that makes better but does not cure |
| Peer | 1. (noun) an equal, 2. (verb) to look closely at |
| Profundity | depth (of ideas/thought) |
| Radical | revolutionary |
| Redolent | smelling of (literal or metaphoric) |
| Reprehensible | very bad |
| Robust | strong and sturdy |
| Solicitous | expressing care and concern |
| Somber | gloomy |
| Succulent | juicy |
| Sycophants | toadies; flatterers |
| Therapeutic | medicinal |
| Thwarted | prevented |
| Toadies | sycophants; flatterers; boot-lickers |
| Undermined | weakened |
| Vex | annoy |
| Viscous | thick and sticky |
| Wistful | sad, yearning; longing in a thoughtful way |
| Advocate | support |
| Ambiguous | vague |
| Animosity | hostility; hatred |
| Boorishness | rudeness; ill-mannered behavior |
| Censure | blame; criticize |
| Concord | agreement |
| Conflagration | big fire |
| Consecrated | dedicated; made holy |
| Consummate | supremely good |
| Contagious | passed on through touch; infectious |
| Cursory | superficial |
| Dalliance | non-serious involvement; toying or playing with something |
| Deleterious | harmful |
| Disparaging | critical |
| Dubious | doubtful |
| Equitable | fair and equal |
| Eulogy | praise |
| Fastidious | very fussy; excessively concerned (esp. about cleanliness) |
| Fidelity | faithfulness; loyalty |
| Formidable | inspiring awe |
| Futile | useless; waste of time and effort |
| Futility | uselessness |
| Holistic | whole; entire (Holistic viewpoint = seeing things as a whole) |
| Idiosyncratic | quirky; eccentric; unique to an individual |
| Ineffable | can't be expressed in words |
| Infelicity | unsuitability; inappropriateness |
| Integrity | honor; honesty |
| Intermittent | on and off; not continuous |
| Judicious | fair; wise |
| Legitimate | to make legal; give approval to |
| Mercenary | seeking money above all else |
| Meticulous | thorough; taking care of details |
| Petulant | sulky |
| Polarized | divided into two extremes |
| Pragmatism | practicality |
| Presumptive | presumed |
| Propensity | tendency; leaning' predilection |
| Prosaic | ordinary |
| Quelled | suppressed |
| Regressive | moving backwards (literal or metaphoric) |
| Remiss | neglectful |
| Rhetoric | persuasive language |
| Sedulous | thorough; eager |
| Sermonized | gave moral lecture |
| Shroud | 1. a cover for dead body, 2. to cover |
| Steadfastness | loyalty; firmness of purpose |
| Temporize | put off; procrastinate |
| Treacly | too sweet; over sentimental |
| Vacillated | wavered; hesitated |
| Vindication | proving right |
| Vindictive | seeking revenge |
| Abstruse | difficult to comprehend |
| Acumen | sharpness of mind |
| Adroit | skilful |
| Anachronistic | out of normal time range |
| Arcane | obscure; known only to few people |
| Autonomy | self-government |
| Belittlers | people who criticize/disparage |
| Byzantine | excessive; decadent |
| Consecration | dedication |
| Corollary | consequence; inference |
| Curtail | cut short |
| Debunkers | people who expose/throw out old ideas |
| Devious | cunning |
| Didactic | intending to preach or teach |
| Effacement | wiping out; (self-effacement = excessive modesty) |
| Egotistical | selfish |
| Embodiment | living example of |
| Epitome | essence; typical example or symbol of |
| Esoteric | obscure |
| Extrapolated | predicted on the basis of existing data; extended |
| Foster | encourage |
| Inane | silly |
| Incoherence | lack of clarity |
| Inconspicuous | not easily seen |
| Indiscriminate | without thought; random; careless |
| Ingenuous | naïve |
| Insolence | lack of respect; rudeness |
| Insurrectionists | rebels |
| Intemperance | lack of moderation |
| Irreverence | lack of respect |
| Jeopardize | put at risk |
| Lackadaisical | lazy; careless; lax |
| Lucid | clear |
| Magnanimity | generosity (of spirit) |
| Multifarious | having many aspects |
| Nefarious | infamous |
| Onerous | burdensome |
| Opportunism | grabbing opportunities; seeking unprincipled advantage |
| Ornate | highly decorated |
| Precursor | forerunner |
| Proponents | supporters |
| Resolute | firm of purpose |
| Sanctity | holiness |
| Seditious | causing division or rebellion |
| Slipshod | careless; untidy |
| Solicitousness | expressing care/concern |
| Sophistry | devious logic |
| Substantiate | give supporting evidence |
| Subversive | intending to overthrow |
| Sustain | support |
| Tenacious | holding firmly to idea or purpose |
| Volatile | 1. evaporates easily, 2. easily angered; emotional |
| Adroit | skilful (Maladroit = clumsy) |
| Agnostic | unsure of the existence of god |
| Ameliorating | making better |
| Arboreal | living in trees |
| Ascertain | find out; make sure |
| Barrage | bombardment; stream (of abuse etc.) |
| Belabor | over-emphasizing |
| Brevity | briefness |
| Cacophony | noise; din |
| Censured | blamed |
| Circumvent | avoid |
| Coerced | forced |
| Condoning | tolerating |
| Congenial | friendly; sociable; suitable |
| Demagogues | mob leaders; agitators |
| Disparaged | criticized |
| Docile | tame; subservient |
| Eclectic | taking things from different sources |
| Elitist | favoring top group; snob |
| Elusive | difficult to pin down |
| Empiric | found by experiment/practice |
| Endorsed | supported |
| Envisioning | imagining, predicting |
| Extolled | praised |
| Foster | support; encourage |
| Furtiveness | secretiveness |
| Gluttonous | greedy |
| Indictment | charge; legal accusation |
| Indigenous | native to a locality |
| Irreproachable | cannot be criticized. (Reproach = criticize) |
| Knack | trick; skill |
| Libelous | open to prosecution for libel (Libel = written slander) |
| Naiveté | innocence; lack of worldliness |
| Nihilism | belief in nothing; anarchy |
| Paucity | shortage |
| Penchant | tendency; leaning toward |
| Perquisites | 'perks' |
| Phobic | fearful |
| Pilfer | steal |
| Pliant | flexible |
| Predilection | liking for; penchant |
| Presumption | assuming too much |
| Profundity | depth (of ideas) |
| Quixotic | idealistic; impractical |
| Reclusive | avoiding other people; solitary |
| Rehash | revamp hurriedly/carelessly |
| Repertoire | range; set of skills |
| Repertory | story; stock; repertoire |
| Reprehensible | very bad |
| Sarcasm | sneering, bitter remarks; ironic or taunting |
| Supple | flexible; pliant; lithe |
| Temperamental | volatile; changeable |
| Transitory | shot-lived |
| Tribulations | troubles |
| Unwitting | not deliberate |
| Venality | corruption |
| Vulnerable | open to attack; susceptible |
| Aberration | deviation; abnormality |
| Abstruse | difficult to comprehend |
| Affability | friendliness; cordiality |
| Affluence | wealth and status |
| Alleviation | making less severe |
| Amalgamation | mixture or joining of different components |
| Amassed | accumulated |
| Arcane | esoteric |
| Augmenting | increasing in size or number |
| Belied | contradicted |
| Benevolent | kindly |
| Callous | cruel and unfeeling |
| Candid | truthful; honest |
| Coalition | a union of two parts |
| Concordance | agreement |
| Conflagration | big fire |
| Copious | in large amounts |
| Dearth | shortage |
| Debacle | disaster |
| Disarming | charming; unthreatening |
| Disillusioned | freed from wrong ideas |
| Disparaging | criticizing |
| Embellished | decorated |
| Empathetic | understanding in an insightful way |
| Encompassed | included; surrounded |
| Endorsement | support; approval |
| Entourage | group of followers; retinue |
| Equanimity | peace of mind; balance; calm |
| Eradicating | wiping out; destroying |
| Esoteric | obscure |
| Exacerbated | made worse |
| Excised | cut out |
| Exotic | strange; foreign |
| Faction | section; group with common interests |
| Finagle | wheedle; wangle; trick |
| Grating | harsh; rasping |
| Gratuitous | free; unwarranted |
| Hackneyed | commonplace; over-used |
| Insightful | perceptive |
| Insolence | rudeness |
| Intrigued | interested and curious |
| Intuition | sixth sense; 'gut feeling' |
| Languid | lacking energy; weak |
| Lobby | 1. to try to persuade, 2. entrance hall |
| Lucid | clear |
| Marred | spoiled; ruined |
| Meager | small; scanty |
| Monotonous | dull; repetitive |
| Motley | varied; miscellaneous |
| Opting | choosing |
| Overhaul | renovate |
| Preclude | prevent |
| Precursors | forerunners |
| Purportedly | apparently claiming |
| Ratify | give official approval to |
| Resilience | strength; ability to withstand |
| Retraction | removal; 'taking back' |
| Sporadic | intermittent; on and off |
| Spurned | shunned; rejected |
| Substantiated | backed up; given supporting evidence |
| Supplant | replace |
| Truculence | stubbornness |
| Unequivocal | certain; cannot be disputed |
| Voluminous | large; bulky; extensive |
| Winnow | sift; separate good from bad |
| Alacrity | speed and eagerness |
| Amiable | friendly; lovable |
| Apathetic | lacking energy or interest |
| Bypasses | avoids; finds a way around |
| Capricious | whimsical; changeable |
| Censures | blames |
| Conciliatory | seeking compromise |
| Convergence | coming together |
| Cumulative | building up |
| Deferment | putting off |
| Deliberation | careful thought |
| Delineates | outlines |
| Derelict | rundown; abandoned |
| Discrepancy | inconsistency |
| Embittered | full of bitter feelings |
| Encroaching | trespassing |
| Eradicate | wipe out |
| Exacerbates | makes worse |
| Exasperation | frustration and annoyance |
| Exorbitant | excessive |
| Flabbergasted | shocked; speechless |
| Foil for | person that shows another to advantage |
| Frugal | economical |
| Glacial | icy; unfriendly |
| Grimy | dirty |
| Inconsequential | unimportant |
| Indiscernible | not easy to see |
| Infusion | influx |
| Integrity | honesty |
| Jaded | tired; bored |
| Juxtaposition | placing two thing nest to each other |
| Lithe | flexible |
| Miffed | annoyed |
| Mitigator | moderator |
| Modicum | tiny amount |
| Negate | wipe out |
| Nondescript | having no special qualities; ordinary |
| Penurious | miserly |
| Phlegmatic | calm; imperturbable |
| Razing | cutting down |
| Recrimination | blame |
| Reprieve | let off (at least temporarily) |
| Rousing | stirring |
| Salvageable | can be saved |
| Scouring | cleaning thoroughly; thorough searching |
| Secluded | lonely; isolated |
| Solace | comfort |
| Squelch | suppress; crush |
| Stifling | suppressing |
| Surfeit | excess |
| Tangential | off the point; irrelevant |
| Temper | moderate |
| Tremulous | hesitant |
| Unyielding | not giving up |
| Vigilant | wary; watchful |
| Waning | declining |
| Warped | twisted; distorted |
| Wary | cautious |
| Wrath | anger |
| Alleviate | make less severe |
| Amalgam | mixture |
| Astute | wise; mentally sharp |
| Autonomous | self-governing |
| Belied | contradicted |
| Callousness | cruelty; unfeeling behavior |
| Circumstantial | accidental; indirect (as in circumstantial evidence) |
| Corroborated | supported; given supporting evidence |
| Credulity | belief |
| Debilitated | weakened |
| Deliberation | careful thought |
| Denuded | stripped |
| Derided | mocked |
| Despoiled | spoiled |
| Dilatory | slow; sluggish |
| Dispatch | speed and eagerness |
| Empathetic | exhibiting deep emotional understanding |
| Eradicate | wipe out |
| Estrangement | separation |
| Expeditious | speedy |
| Extant | still in existence |
| Flag | 1. to lose energy, 2. to signal |
| Foundered | sank |
| Fraudulent | crooked; intending to cheat |
| Hubris | excessive pride |
| Idiosyncratic | eccentric |
| Impetuosity | impulsiveness |
| Impudent | cheeky |
| Indomitable | unshakeable; fearless |
| Innocuous | harmless |
| Insolvent | bankrupt |
| Irresolute | lacking firmness of purpose; hesitant |
| Irreverent | lacking respect |
| Manipulative | deceptive; skilful at handling people |
| Morbidity | concern with death and disease |
| Myopic | short-sighted (literal or metaphoric) |
| Occlusion | shutting out |
| Officious | interfering |
| Peevishness | childish sullenness; irritability |
| Placid | peaceful |
| Prudent | wise; cautious |
| Punctilious | meticulous |
| Rambunctious | boisterous |
| Rancor | bitterness and bad feeling |
| Scrutinize | examine carefully |
| Scuttled | sunk |
| Sedate | calm; placid |
| Serene | peaceful |
| Squander | waste |
| Validated | proved right |
| Valor | bravery |
| Vulnerable | open to attack; susceptible |
| Adroitness | skill |
| Altruism | self-sacrifice |
| Arbitration | mediating between disputing sides |
| Archaic | old-fashioned |
| Aural | through the sense of hearing |
| Cognitions | mental knowledge |
| Discernment | judgment; |
| Disingenuous | crafty |
| Distension | swelling |
| Egotists | selfish people |
| Emancipators | those who set others free |
| Enigmas | puzzles |
| Erudition | learning; scholarly knowledge |
| Exemplars | excellent examples of |
| Exonerated | proved not guilty |
| Extirpation | destruction |
| Fawning | groveling; 'sucking up' to people |
| Finesse | skill |
| Fitful | intermittent; on and off; not continuous |
| Gestures | signals |
| Hilarity | great laughter |
| Husbandry | careful management of resources |
| Ignominy | shame |
| Ineptitude | lack of ability |
| Insipid | flavorless; bland |
| Intuitions | gut feelings |
| Invocation | prayer |
| Irony | something unexpected; use of words to convey opposite meaning |
| Lackadaisical | lazy |
| Lamentable | regrettable |
| Mandate | permission |
| Manifesto | statement of values |
| Modicum | tiny amount |
| Notoriety | infamy |
| Obsequious | groveling |
| Opulence | lavish display of wealth |
| Pathos | sadness; stirring the emotions |
| Plaudits | praise |
| Prospectus | brochure |
| Raze | knock down |
| Rectitude | uprightness |
| Reprimanded | scolded |
| Rudimentary | elementary; basic |
| Sarcasm | mockery |
| Soporific | sleep-inducing |
| Stipulated | insisted |
| Tactile | through the sense of touch |
| Tenacity | firmness of purpose |
| Versatility | ability to do many things |
| Vicarious | experienced indirectly; at secondhand |
Combine with other sets
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