SAT Vocab Words TestMasters Big Word List (Part 1 of 2)
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1,618 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 abandon | extreme enthusiasm; dispensing of all inhibitions |
| abash | to humiliate |
| abate | to lessen |
| abbreviate | to shorten; abridge |
| abdicate | to formally give up a position ("to abdicate a throne") |
| aberration | departure from the normal; abnormality |
| abet | to encourage |
| abhor | to hate |
| abide | to follow or put up with ("to abide by the rules") |
| abject | utterly hopeless; miserable |
| abjure | to give up (rights); to deny |
| ablution | washing or cleansing the body as part of a religious rite |
| abnegate | to deny privilege to |
| abominable | something that causes disgust; easily hated |
| aboriginal | the first of its kind in a region |
| abortive | unsuccessful or fruitless |
| abrade | to wear away or rub off; to wear down in spirit |
| abridge | to edit a book by shortening the text |
| abrogate | to cancel; to nullify |
| abscond | to depart secretly; especially to avoid criminal charges |
| absolve | to free from blame or responsibility |
| abstemious | to be moderate; especially in eating and drinking |
| abstinence | the act of refraining from pleasurable activity e.g. eating or drinking |
| abstruse | complex and difficult to comprehend |
| abuts | lie adjacent |
| accede | to give one's consent |
| accentuate | to put emphasis on |
| accessory | a partner in a crime |
| accolade | a mark of acknowledgement or expression of praise |
| accord | a formal reaching of agreement |
| accost | to greet; to address |
| accrue | to be added to by growth |
| acculturation | change of one culture from interacting with another |
| acerb | acid; sour |
| acme | highest point |
| acolyte | novice; young assistant |
| acquiesce | to comply; to yield |
| acquit | to free from charge |
| acrid | biting or harsh in odor or taste; deeply or violently bitter |
| acrimonious | bitter and sharp in language or tone; mean-spirited; bitter; ill-natured. ("acrimonious remarks") |
| acumen | keen insight |
| acute | sharp; shrewd; severe |
| adage | a short proverb or saying |
| adamant | persistent; stubborn |
| adaptation | A composition that has been recast into a new form |
| addendum | something additional; an item to be added on |
| adduce | to cite as an example or justification |
| adept | proficient; expert; highly skilled |
| adherent | someone who adheres to an opinion |
| adjudicate | to judge; to hear and decide a case in court |
| adjure | to command solemnly as if under oath |
| admonition | a gentle rebuke |
| adroit | nimble; skillful in the use of one's hands or body |
| adulation | high praise |
| adulterate | to make impure or tainted |
| adumbrate | foreshadow |
| adventitious | happening by chance; incidental; accidental |
| adversity | misfortune; an unfavorable turn of events |
| advocate | to support |
| aeon | age |
| aesthetic | beautiful |
| affect | to influence or produce an effect on |
| affinity | a natural attraction between two things |
| affirmative | positive in nature; factually valid |
| affliction | suffering; a state of pain |
| affluent | prosperous |
| aggrandize | to raise the importance or make to appear great |
| aggravate | to make worse; to intensify |
| aggregate | total; to form into a mass or whole |
| agnostic | one who says that man cannot understand the nature of men |
| akin | showing a similar feature or quality |
| alacrity | eagerness; promptness; willingness |
| albatross | a significant impediment; handicap; burden |
| allay | to lessen fear; put something to rest; to mitigate; to calm |
| allegation | a statement that is unproven and needs to be proven |
| alleviate | to lighten |
| allude | to hint at |
| alluvial | pertaining to mud left by running water |
| aloof | cool; indifferent |
| altercation | a quarrel |
| altruistic | unselfish |
| amalgamate | to blend into a coherent single unit |
| ambidextrous | capable of using both hands with equal skill |
| ambient | surrounding atmosphere ("ambience of a restaurant") |
| ambiguous | vague; unclear |
| ambivalent | having conflicting feelings about something |
| amble | to saunter or stroll |
| ameliorate | to better |
| amenable | responsive; agreeable (to an idea) |
| amend | to formally alter from the original |
| amenity | a pleasant manner or feature |
| amiable | having a pleasant; cordial nature |
| amicable | friendly; agreeable |
| amity | friendliness |
| amoral | without moral standards |
| amorous | passionate |
| amorphous | formless ("an amoeba is amorphous") |
| amortize | to settle a debt by means of installment payments |
| anachronism | something in the wrong time period; out-of-date |
| analogy | similarity |
| analyst | someone who studies data |
| anarchy | the absence of government; a disordered and uncontrolledsituation |
| anathema | a curse; abomination |
| ancillary | secondary; subordinate |
| androgynous | showing both male and female characteristics |
| anecdote | a short; personal story |
| anemic | lacking vitality; listless and weak |
| anesthetic | causing numbness; something that lessens sensation |
| animosity | intense hostility toward a person or thing |
| annul | to cancel |
| annunciate | to proclaim or announce |
| anomalous | abnormal; irregular |
| anonymous | nameless; without a disclosed identity |
| antagonist | foe; opponent; adversary |
| anthology | a collection of stories |
| antibiotic | something that kills bacteria |
| antipathy | strong dislike |
| antiquity | the quality of pertaining to long ago |
| antithesis | the opposite; highest possible contrast |
| apathetic | lacking feeling |
| apathy | indifference |
| aphorism | a short saying that illustrates an important principle or observation |
| aplomb | assurance; self-confidence |
| apocalyptic | having to do with revelation or prophecy |
| apocryphal | of dubious origin; fictitious |
| apolitical | having no interest in politics |
| apostate | a renegade; one who desserts his principles |
| appalled | shocked; disgusted |
| appease | to deal with a demand |
| appellation | title or name |
| apportion | to allot |
| apposite | relevant; appropriate |
| appraise | to determine worth |
| apprehensive | uneasiness about the future; worried |
| apprise | to supply notice to. |
| approbation | an expression of warm approval; praise. |
| apropos | opportunely; as an apt point |
| apt | likely; fit; skillful |
| arbiter | a judge |
| arbitrary | biased or at random |
| arboreal | pertaining to trees |
| archaic | old; not contemporary or modern |
| archetypes | the original model by which other things are made |
| archipelago | a group of islands |
| ardent | intense; passionate; devoted; characterized by high emotion |
| arduous | challenging and difficult |
| argot | slang |
| aridity | dryness |
| aroma | scent; smell |
| arrogance | proud and offensive self-esteem |
| artless | frank; without cunning |
| ascertain | to find out |
| ascetic | self-denying |
| ascribe | to give credit for |
| asinine | stupid or silly |
| askance | distrustfully |
| askew | turned to one side |
| asperity | harshness; severity in temper |
| aspersion | false accusation; slander |
| assertion | a positive statement or claim |
| assiduous | attentive; diligent |
| assuage | soften; alleviate |
| astral | pertaining to the stars |
| astute | shrewd; very smart; clever |
| asylum | sanctuary; shelter; refuge |
| atrophy | wasting away (of muscle) |
| atrophy | wasting away of muscle |
| attrition | grinding down; wearing down |
| audacious | bold; brazen; lacking timidity; fearless |
| augment | to increase |
| augury | prediction |
| august | stately; majestic |
| auspices | support; encouragement; patronage |
| auspicious | of favorable prospect; promising |
| austere | severe; strict |
| authentic | genuine |
| autocrat | a despotic ruler; a mean ruler |
| autonomous | self-governing |
| autonomy | independence |
| avail | to be beneficial or useful |
| avant-garde | of; relating to; or being part of an innovative group; especially one in the arts |
| avarice | greed |
| aver | assert |
| averse | reluctant; disinclined |
| avert | to turn aside; to prevent |
| avian | relating to birds |
| avid | greedy |
| avouch | declare strongly |
| avowal | an open admission or statement |
| avuncular | having to do with an uncle |
| awry | turned to one side |
| axiomatic | self-evident |
| badger | to annoy |
| balderdash | nonsense; a ridiculous idea |
| baleful | deadly; evil |
| balk | to stop and refuse to go on; to thwart; to frustrate; to prevent |
| ballad | a type of poem |
| balm | something that reduces irritation |
| balmy | mild; refreshing |
| banal | commonplace |
| bandit | an individual who has broken the law |
| bandy | to exchange words |
| bane | a cause of death; destruction; or ruin |
| baneful | destructive |
| banish | to put into exile |
| banter | casual conversation; jesting |
| barbaric | rude; uncultured; primitive; uncivilized |
| barrage | concentrated outpouring or volley ("barrage of questions") |
| bask | to expose to warmth |
| bauble | a cheap toy |
| beatitude | highest possible blessedness or contentment |
| bedraggled | in a condition of disarray; unkempt; dirty and limp |
| befuddle | to confuse or perplex |
| beget | to produce offspring; to cause |
| beguile | to cheat; to charm |
| belated | late or tardy; delayed |
| beleaguered | embattled; constantly confronted with obstacles |
| belie | to disprove or demonstrate to be false; to contradict appearances |
| bellicose | warlike |
| belligerent | quarrelsome; fighting a lot |
| bemused | bewildered; perplexed |
| benediction | a blessing |
| benevolent | friendly; generous |
| benighted | ignorant; unenlightened |
| benign | favorable; kind |
| benison | blessing |
| bequeath | to give an inheritance to |
| berate | to scold severely |
| bereaved | in a state of mourning |
| beseech | to beg |
| besmirch | to make dirty; to soil (like a reputation) |
| bestial | relating to beasts |
| bestow | to give ("bestow on you three wishes") |
| bevy | a large group |
| bigamy | being illegally married to two people simultaneously |
| bigoted | prejudiced |
| bilateral | pertaining to both sides of something |
| bilk | to swindle; to cheat |
| binary | made up of two parts; double |
| biogenesis | the process of life arising from other living things |
| bipartisanship | of; consisting of; or supported by members of two parties; especially two major political parties: a bipartisan resolution. |
| bipolar | having opposites poles or extremes |
| bizarre | strange; fantastic |
| bland | mild |
| blandish | persuade by flattery |
| blandishment | the act of coaxing by flattery or wheedling; the act of cajoling. |
| blanket | something used to provide warmth |
| blaring | To sound loudly and stridently |
| blasphemy | irreverence |
| blatant | noisy; obvious |
| blather | to talk ridiculously |
| blight | destruction or withering disease |
| blithe | carefree; merry |
| bludgeon | to beat |
| blueprint | plans created by an architect |
| blurb | a short notice |
| bluster | to threaten |
| bog | an area of soft; naturally waterlogged ground. |
| bogus | not genuine |
| boisterous | to be loud; or otherwise ostentatious |
| bolster | to support |
| bombastic | using impressive but meaningless language; pompous |
| boorish | offensive; lacking manners |
| botanical | of or pertaining to plant life; the study of plants |
| bounty | a reward |
| bovine | 1) dull; unresponsive; or slow 2) relating to cows |
| bowdlerize | to remove offensive portions in a book |
| brag | to show excessive pride |
| braggadocio | unjustified boasting |
| braggart | someone with a big ego |
| brandish | to shake at menacingly ("to brandish a revolver") |
| brash | impudent; hasty |
| brassy | cheap or showy |
| bravado | false bravery |
| brazenness | shocking boldness |
| brevity | briefness; conciseness |
| brine | a type of preservative |
| bromide | a commonplace remark; cliché |
| brunt | the primary impact of a blow |
| brusque | roughly abrupt |
| bucolic | pertaining to the country |
| buffer | something used absorb shock or scrutiny |
| bugaboo | something that causes worry or dismay |
| bulwark | a strong defense |
| bumptious | boldly conceited |
| bungler | someone who has a lot of ineptitude. |
| buoyant | happy; elated |
| bureaucracy | an inefficient administrative body |
| burlesque | a speech or action that treats a serious subject with ridicule |
| burnish | to polish |
| buttress | to support; to prop up |
| bygone | an occurrence that took place in the past |
| cabal | intrigue; a group plotting secretly |
| cache | hiding place |
| cacophony | discordant sounds or comments |
| cadaverous | haggard; ghastly pale |
| cadence | rhythm |
| cajole | persuade by flattery or deceit |
| callous | insensitive; immature |
| callow | lacking adult maturity or experience; immature |
| calumny | false; malicious accusation |
| calvary | a sad and emotionally painful moment |
| camaraderie | trust; sociability amongst friends |
| canard | an absurd rumor circulated to deceive the public |
| candid | 1. frank; honest; open 2. an informal photograph or snapshot |
| canine | relating to dogs |
| canonical | conforming to church law |
| cant | slang |
| cantankerous | irritable; ill-natured; peevish |
| canter | a smooth; easy pace |
| capacious | capable of holding much; roomy |
| caper | skip |
| capitulate | to surrender; to give in without resistance |
| caprice | random spontaneous behavior |
| capricious | continuously changing one's mind; whimsical |
| captious | quick to find petty fault; extra critical |
| cardinal | of major importance ("cardinal rule") |
| careen | tip over |
| caricature | a grotesquely or absurdly exaggerated representation |
| carnal | sensual; sexual |
| carouse | to revel; rowdy merriment |
| carp | to complain or nag |
| carrion | decaying flesh |
| cartel | a group of companies trying to control a market ("oil cartel") |
| cartoon | a type of drawing |
| castigate | to punish or criticize |
| castigate | to put into punishment |
| cataclysm | disaster |
| catalyst | something that initiates an event and is itself unaffected |
| catharsis | an emotional purging |
| catholic | tolerant; universal |
| caustic | biting; harsh ("caustic remarks") |
| cavalcade | a procession involving people on horses or in vehicles |
| cavalier | indifferent ("cavalier attitude") |
| cavalry | a group of soldiers on horseback |
| cavil | to find petty fault |
| celerity | speed; swiftness of action or motion |
| celibate | bachelor |
| censure | to criticize harshly |
| certify | to make official |
| cessation | the act of drawing to a close |
| chafe | to irritate |
| chagrin | disappointment |
| chalice | a cup |
| chaos | confusion |
| charismatic | personally appealing; inspiring |
| charlatan | pretender of knowledge; a fake |
| charmer | someone who captivates |
| chastise | to punish |
| cherubic | angelic |
| chicanery | deception by sharp practice |
| chide | to scold |
| chime | sound made by a bell |
| chimerical | fanciful; imaginary; unreal |
| chimerical | fantastic; wild fancies |
| chivalrous | honorable |
| choleric | ill-tempered |
| choreography | art of the dance |
| chronicle | a long description |
| circuitous | indirect; taking the longest route |
| circumlocutory | wordy |
| circumspect | cautious |
| circumvent | to evade by means of deception |
| citadel | a stronghold |
| cite | to name; to mention |
| clairvoyance | supernatural perceptive skills; ability to foresee the future |
| clamorous | loud; expressively vehement |
| clandestine | kept or done in secret; often in order to conceal an illicit or improper purpose |
| clarion | trumpet; sound of trumpets |
| claustrophobia | fear of confined spaces |
| cleavage | division |
| clemency | mercy |
| cliché | a commonplace phrase |
| clump | a bunch of bushes |
| coalesce | fuse; merge |
| code | list of principles (like code of ethics) |
| codify | to reduce to the form of a code; arrange; systematize |
| coerce | to compel |
| cogent | strongly persuasive or compelling |
| cogitate | to ponder or consider deeply |
| cognition | perception; the process of knowing |
| cognizant | aware |
| cohort | a close friend |
| coin | to create a word |
| collaborate | to cooperate; work together |
| colloquial | in common conversational use |
| collude | to illegally join forces in a secret plot or strategy |
| combative | tending to fight |
| comely | pleasant to look at; pleasing and wholesome in appearance |
| comic | being funny |
| commandeer | to seize for military use; confiscate |
| commendable | worthy of praise |
| commensurate | having an equal measure |
| commiserate | to share in another's sorrow or disappointment |
| commodious | roomy |
| communal | shared |
| compassion | sympathy; helpfulness or mercy |
| compatible | agreeable; consistent |
| compendium | summary |
| complacent | happy; satisfied |
| complaisant | eager to please; agreeable |
| complement | something that completes; makes up a whole; or brings to perfection. |
| complicity | partnership in wrongful act |
| comport | to agree with ("does not comport with the facts") |
| composure | calmness of mind or manner |
| compounded | made worse |
| compress | to reduce volume |
| compromise | to settle a dispute by terms agreeable to both sides |
| compulsory | forced; something required |
| compunction | strong uneasiness caused by guilt; sorrow for sin |
| con | to read carefully |
| concatenation | series; linking together |
| concerted | mutually devised or planned |
| conclave | a secret conference |
| concomitant | accompanying |
| concourse | an assembly of a large number of people |
| concur | to agree |
| condemning | criticize |
| condescending | possessing an attitude of superiority; patronizing |
| condign | deserved |
| condiment | a sauce; relish; or spice used to season food |
| conditional | depending on a condition; e.g.; in a contract |
| condolence | sympathy |
| condone | to excuse; to overlook ("to condone tardiness") |
| conducive | contributing to a result |
| conduits | a pipe; channel; for conveying fluids |
| confabulate | to chat or talk informally |
| confederation | a group of nations |
| confine | to give a restriction |
| conflagration | a big fire |
| conflated | fused together; not distinct |
| conflict | a situation that lacks accord |
| confluence | a point of meeting or flowing together |
| conformist | person who complies with accepted rules and customs |
| confound | to confuse; perplex |
| confrontation | a fight |
| congenial | pleasant |
| congenital | existing at birth |
| conglomeration | mass of varied elements |
| congregation | a crowd of people; an assembly |
| conjecture | guess |
| conjure | to summon or bring about ("conjure up spirits") |
| connive | to plot; to conspire |
| connoisseur | an expert in food or drink |
| connotation | an implication beyond literal meaning; an unspoken suggestion |
| consanguineous | related by blood; of common lineage |
| consecrate | to make holy; to hallow |
| console | to comfort someone who has bereavement |
| consortium | an alliance |
| conspicuous | obvious |
| constellation | an assemblage of stars or distinguished people |
| consternation | dismay; sudden amazement; alarm |
| construe | to interpret; to explain |
| consummate | (adj.) perfect; (verb) to complete or finalize |
| contemptuous | feeling hate; disdain; or scorn. |
| contiguity | closeness |
| contravene | to violate |
| contrite | sorry for past wrong actions |
| contrive | to plan or conspire |
| contumacious | scornfully insubordinate; rebellious |
| contumely | arrogant and contemptuous behavior |
| convalescence | the recovering or recuperating from something |
| convergence | the state of separate elements joining or coming together |
| convince | to cause belief |
| convivial | merry; festive; fond of feasting; drinking; and good company; sociable; joyous; amiable. |
| convocation | an assembly of people |
| convoluted | complicated and twisted |
| copious | plenteous; abundant |
| coquettish | shy; given to flirting |
| coronation | a ceremony that inducts a monarch |
| corporeal | pertaining to the body |
| corroborate | confirm; substantiate |
| corrupt | lacking purity |
| coruscate | to sparkle |
| cosmopolitan | Having constituent elements from all over the world or from many different parts of the world |
| cosmopolitan | Having constituent elements from all over the world or from many different parts of the world |
| coterie | a clique; a circle |
| counterfeit | to make fake money |
| courtiers | a group of attendants for a sovereign |
| covenant | a binding agreement |
| covert | hidden; secret |
| coveted | desired |
| covetous | grasping; craving |
| crass | coarsely stupid |
| craven | cowardly |
| credence | belief |
| credulous | gullible; easy to get to believe |
| criterion | basis for which to do something |
| cronies | close friends |
| crop | to reduce a picture in size |
| crush | to put too much pressure on |
| culinary | pertaining to cooking |
| cull | to select |
| culminate | to result in |
| culpable | guilty |
| cumbersome | hard to manage |
| cumbrous | burdensome |
| cupidity | greed |
| curative | curing |
| curator | someone who manages a museum |
| cursory | hasty |
| curtail | to shorten |
| curtness | abrupt |
| cymbal | an instrument that makes a loud clash sound |
| cynical | sneering; sarcastic |
| cynosure | center of attention |
| dais | something a lecturer stands on |
| dalliance | carefree spending of time ("dilly-dally") |
| dank | damp and chilly |
| daunt | to discourage |
| daunting | abating the courage of; discouraging |
| dawdled | To take more time than necessary; To move aimlessly or lackadaisically |
| dearth | scarcity |
| debacle | a collapse |
| debase | to reduce in value; lower in character or quality; degrade |
| debauchery | acts lacking virtue |
| debilitate | to weaken |
| debonair | suave; sophisticated; charming |
| decadence | characterized by declining moral standards |
| decipher | to decode |
| decorous | proper behavior |
| decorum | dignified conduct |
| decrepit | worn out; as by old age; past its prime |
| decry | discern; discover |
| deduce | to infer or derive |
| deescalate | to diminish in size; intensity; or extent (opposite of escalate) |
| defamation | a false attack on someone's reputation |
| defection | desertion (of a duty) |
| defer | to put off until later |
| deference | submission to another's will or opinion |
| deft | skillful |
| defunct | dead; extinct |
| degenerate | having regressed or descended to a lower state |
| deify | to idolize |
| deign | to condescend to ("The snob wouldn't deign to answer our questions.") |
| delectable | pleasant; delicious |
| delete | to expunge; to cancel |
| deleterious | having a harmful effect; injurious |
| delineate | to sketch out; to outline; to depict |
| delinquent | Overdue in payment |
| deluge | flood |
| delusion | something misleading or deceiving |
| demagogue | leader who arouses by emotional and inflamed speech; often leading to public hysteria |
| demarcate | to establish the limits of |
| demise | death |
| demote | to reduce in rank |
| demur | to hesitate |
| demure | affectedly modest |
| denigrate | to ruin one's reputation |
| denizen | inhabitant |
| denote | to indicate or make clear |
| denunciation | to accuse publicly ("to denounce") |
| deplete | to reduce quantity or empty |
| deplorable | very bad; wretched |
| deplore | lament; to really regret |
| deport | remove from a country |
| depose | to remove a ruler from office |
| depravity | corruption |
| deprecate | to protest strongly |
| derelict | abandoned vessel; social outcast; negligent |
| deride (adj. derisive) | to ridicule |
| derision | ridicule |
| derisive | making fun of; belittling |
| derivation | a source |
| derivative | copied or adapted from others |
| derogatory | belittling |
| desecrate | to render unholy; treat as unholy ("to desecrate a temple") |
| desiccant | drying |
| desideratum | a desirable thing |
| despicable | something worthy of contempt |
| despondency | dejection; depression |
| despotism | authoritarian rule |
| destitute | lacking resources or means of subsistence; completely impoverished; poverty-stricken; deprived |
| desuetude | disuse |
| desultory | aimless |
| desultory | unmethodical; aimless |
| detachment | having no emotion for |
| detergent | cleansing agent |
| deviate | to wander from the usual course |
| devious | indirect; crooked |
| devotee | one who is very loyal to a group; faith; or team |
| dexterity | skill |
| diabolic | satanic; devilish |
| diagnosis | explanation resulting from a careful study of facts |
| dialectic | having a logical approach to things ("with dialectic thoroughness") |
| diaphanous | transparent |
| diatribe | an abusive speech |
| dichotomy | division into two contrasting parts |
| dictum | authoritative statement |
| didactic | instructive; related to teaching |
| diffident | shy; modest |
| diffuse | lacking concentration |
| digression | the act of turning aside; straying from the main point; esp. in a speech or argument |
| dilapidated | something falling apart or run down |
| dilate | to expand |
| dilatory | likely to cause delay; late |
| dilemma | a perplexing situation |
| dilettante | amateur dabbler; lacking seriousness |
| diligent | hard-working; attention to detail |
| diminution | reduction or decrease due to outside influence |
| diplomacy | tact; the conduct of relations among nations |
| directory | a collection of names and numbers |
| dirge | a funeral song |
| disavow | to disclaim knowledge of |
| discern | insight |
| discerning | having keen insight |
| discombobulate | to confuse; to throw into an awkward predicament |
| discomfiture | frustration or disappointment; embarrassment |
| disconcerting | ruffled; upset |
| discord | disagreement; lack of harmony |
| discount | to disregard |
| discourse | lecture |
| discredit | to harm the reputation of; dishonor or disgrace |
| discredited | not respected |
| discreet | cautious; quietly |
| discriminating | picky |
| discursive | rambling from one subject to another |
| disdain | to regard with scorn or contempt |
| disgruntled | unhappy; angry |
| disingenuous | less than honest; not straightforward |
| disinterested | lacking bias |
| disparage | belittle; to speak ill of; to criticize |
| disparate | completely different |
| disparity | inequality |
| displace | remove |
| disport | to play; to entertain |
| dispossess | to deprive ownership of |
| disquiet | to disturb; to increase apprehension |
| disseminate | to disperse; to scatter far and wide |
| dissension | fighting |
| dissipate | to vanish or cease |
| dissolution | the act of dissolving into parts |
| dissonance | a harsh or inharmonious combination; especially of sounds |
| dissuade | opposite of persuade |
| distrait | absent-minded |
| distraught | bewildered; perplexed; troubled |
| diurnal | daily; occurring at daytime |
| divergent | separating; moving towards different directions from a particular point |
| divisive | dividing; creating differences |
| divulge | to reveal; to disclose |
| docile | submissive |
| doggerel | trivial or satirical poetry |
| dogmatic | strongly asserting an opinion |
| doleful | sad |
| dolorous | sad |
| domesticate | to make accustomed to home life |
| domicile | a residence |
| dorsal | pertaining to the back |
| dossier | a complete group of documents |
| dotage | feeblemindedness |
| drab | monotonous; dull |
| draft | the preliminary version of a report |
| drastic | extreme in effect |
| droll | comical |
| dubious | doubtful |
| dudgeon | sullen resentment or anger |
| dulcet | sweet |
| duplicity | deception (dupe, to deceive) |
| duress | imprisonment; compulsion |
| dwindling | getting smaller |
| dynamic | energetic |
| ebb | to slowly decrease (refers to water tide) |
| ebullition | bubbling over; outburst of spirit |
| eccentric | unpredictable; erratic or marked by unconventional behavior |
| ecclesiastical | pertaining to religious practices |
| echelon | a level of command |
| éclat | brilliance |
| eclectic | consisting of elements from many diverse sources |
| eclogue | a poem about the country |
| ecstasy | extreme happiness |
| ecumenical | universal |
| edification | enlightenment |
| edify | teach for improvement; enlighten |
| educe | to draw out; to reason out |
| effect | to accomplish or bring about (a thing) |
| effeminate | female-like |
| effervesce | to create bubbles |
| effete | worn out |
| efficacious | producing a desired effect |
| effigy | a dummy of a hated person |
| efflorescent | blossoming |
| effrontery | shameless boldness |
| effulgent | radiant; brilliantly shining |
| egalitarian | fair towards all parties involved |
| egocentric | selfish |
| egoist | someone who is selfish |
| egregious | outstanding; flagrantly incorrect or bad |
| ejaculate | to exclaim |
| eke | to survive or subsist ("to eke out an existence") |
| élan | enthusiastic vigor and liveliness |
| elicit | draw forth; to bring out ("to elicit a response") |
| elocution | the way in which a speech is delivered |
| eloquent | fluent and articulate (speech) |
| elucidate | to make clear |
| elusive | difficult to understand; grasp; or perceive |
| emaciated | haggard |
| emanate | to issue forth; to emit from a source |
| emancipate | to liberate |
| embark | to cause to board a vessel or aircraft |
| embellish | to elaborate upon |
| embezzle | to steal |
| embodiment | the incarnation of a given thing or idea ("she is the embodiment of virtue") |
| emeritus | a person who is retired but still holds an honorary position |
| eminence | superiority; outstanding notability |
| eminent | famous |
| eminent | to have prominence |
| emissary | an agent or messenger |
| emollient | something that lessens irritation; a softener |
| emolument | payment |
| empathize | to share another's emotions (n. empathy) |
| empathy | compassion |
| emphatic | highlighted; extremely expressive |
| empirical | experimental |
| emulate | to imitate; follow an example |
| enamel | covering on pottery |
| encomium | high praise |
| encumbrance | a burden |
| encyclopedic | extensive |
| endemic | indigenous; characteristic of a certain place or people |
| energize | to give energy to; to vitalize |
| enervate | to weaken |
| engender | to cause |
| enhance | to improve |
| enigma | a puzzle |
| enjoin | to command or prohibit |
| enmesh | to involve; entangle; or implicate |
| enmity | mutual hatred |
| ennui | boredom |
| enshrine | to cherish; to make sacred |
| enthrall | to hold spellbound |
| entice | to increase temptation |
| entity | something that exists separately |
| entourage | A group of attendants for a celebrity |
| entreaty | an earnest request; plea |
| enumerate | to clearly list out |
| enunciate | to articulate or pronounce |
| envisage | to visualize or imagine |
| ephemeral | short-lived; temporary in time |
| epicure | lover of luxurious living |
| epilogue | a short section added to the end of a book to provide more information |
| episodic | Limited to the duration of an episode; temporary. |
| epitaph | the writing on a tombstone |
| epithet | characterization |
| epitome | highest point |
| equable | even-tempered; serene; steady; calm; not easily disturbed |
| equanimity | calmness |
| equestrian | a horseback rider |
| equitable | just; fair |
| equity | justice |
| equivocal | deliberately vague; open to two or more interpretations and often intended to mislead; ambiguous; having more than one meaning. |
| equivocation | ambiguous and unclear language |
| eradicate | to do away with utterly; wipe out |
| eradicated | to tear down or break up; demolish. |
| erode | wear away |
| err | to make an error or a mistake |
| erratic | inconsistent; wavering; lacking a set course |
| ersatz | an unconvincing substitute ("an ersatz diamond") |
| erudite | learned; having extensive knowledge |
| eschew | to avoid; to abstain |
| eschew | to avoid; to forego |
| esoteric | hard to understand; intended for only a chosen few |
| espionage | the act or practice of spying or of using spies to obtain secret information; as about another government or a business competitor |
| espouse | to marry; to advocate (as a doctrine) |
| essay | a nonfiction literary work |
| esteemed | respected |
| estimable | admirable; deserving praise |
| estrange | to alienate; to remove from a position or relationship |
| ethics | proper conduct |
| ethnology | science of racial origins |
| ethos | list of values |
| etiquette | proper manners |
| etymology | science of word origins |
| eulogy | praise |
| euphemism | mild expression of an offensive fact |
| euphony | pleasing sound (of words) |
| euphoric | a feeling of great happiness or well-being. |
| evanescent | quickly fading; fleeting; short-lived; esp. an image |
| evasive | prone to hiding. |
| evince | to prove conclusively; to demonstrate |
| evoke | to call forth; to summon |
| exacerbate | to worsen or aggravate |
| exacerbating | irritating |
| exacting | require being exact |
| exasperation | irritation; frustration; extreme annoyance or irritation |
| excessive | lacking moderation |
| exclusive | not divided or shared with others. |
| excommunicate | to banish (usually from a church) |
| excoriate | to blame or scold severely |
| excruciating | causing pain |
| exculpate | to remove guilt or responsibility from |
| execration | curse |
| exemplary | outstanding |
| exempt | to free from duty |
| exhilaration | an expression of extreme happiness |
| exigency | pressing need |
| exonerate | clear of blame |
| exotic | strange; foreign |
| expatiate | talk or write at great length |
| expatriate | exile |
| expedient | convenient; advantageous |
| expeditious | speedy and efficient |
| expel | remove from school |
| expendable | okay to lose |
| expiate | to atone for sin |
| expletive | an exclamation; interjection; or profane oath |
| explicit | clearly expressed |
| expostulate | to reason earnestly with |
| expunge | to erase |
| expurgate | to remove offensive parts of a text |
| extant | in existence |
| extenuate | to excuse; to lessen the severity of ("extenuating circumstances") |
| extinct | no longer existing |
| extirpate | to root out |
| extraneous | irrelevant; not basic |
| extrapolate | to estimate by examining unknown values |
| extravagant | to spend a lot |
| extricating | to release from an entanglement or difficulty; disengage |
| exude | to ooze out |
| fabricate | to lie; to make something up |
| fabulist | a liar |
| facade | outward appearance |
| facet | a component or aspect |
| facetious | humorous |
| facilitate | to make happen |
| facsimile | a copy of a document |
| factious | causing dissension; divisive |
| fain | gladly |
| fallacy | a mistake in logic |
| fallow | uncultivated |
| fanatical | being crazy about something |
| fanciful | lacking pragmatism |
| fanfare | much attention; a spectacular public display. |
| fashion | to adapt; as to a purpose or an occasion; accommodate. |
| fastidious | hard to please; squeamish |
| fatuous | silly; stupid or foolish |
| fawn | To seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious behavior. |
| fealty | loyalty |
| feasible | workable |
| febrile | feverish |
| feckless | cowardly |
| fecund | highly productive; prolific |
| feign | to pretend (to deceive) |
| feisty | lively; quarrelsome |
| felicitous | appropriately expressed |
| felicity | great happiness; bliss. |
| feral | wild and uncontrolled ("feral pigs") |
| ferocity | the state or quality of being ferocious; fierceness. |
| fervent | ardent and enthusiastic |
| fetid | smelly |
| fetish | an object of irrational devotion |
| fetter | chain |
| fiasco | a ridiculous failure |
| fiat | a decree |
| fickle | changeable (as in interest) |
| fictitious | imaginary |
| fidelity | faithfulness; loyalty |
| filch | to steal |
| fir | an evergreen tree |
| fissure | a crack in the earth |
| flamboyant | showy |
| flaunt | to display (oneself or a possession) |
| flawless | difficult to improve |
| flay | to scold severely |
| fledgling | young or inexperienced |
| flee | to run away; to attempt to elude |
| fleet | moving fast ("fleeting moment") |
| flippant | disrespectful; casual; pert; showing an inappropriate disregard for decorum. |
| florid | red-colored; flushed; gaudy; ornate |
| flourish | to prosper |
| flout | to brazenly or openly break a law or tradition |
| fluctuate | waver |
| flux | ongoing flow |
| foal | baby horse |
| foible | a fault or character flaw |
| foist | to pass off something undesirable to someone through deception |
| foot | something that measures length |
| fop | a vain man who cares too much about his appearance |
| forensic | relating to public debate |
| forge | to make a fake painting |
| formidable | dreadfully powerful |
| formulate | to make |
| fortify | to increase strength |
| fortitude | strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage. |
| fortuitous | happening by luck; fortunate |
| founder | to sink |
| fracas | a noisy argument |
| fractious | unruly; troublemaking |
| fraternal | brotherly |
| frenzy | extreme excitement |
| frivolous | not important; silly; trivial |
| frugal | thrifty; not wasteful |
| fruition | a pleasure resulting from something ("fruition of years of research") |
| fulminate | to denounce loudly or forcefully |
| fulsome | repulsive |
| fumigant | something that kills insects |
| funereal | reminiscent of a funeral |
| furlough | a leave of absence from duty |
| furtive | secretive |
| futile | useless (effort) |
| gainsay | deny; to declare false |
| gait | a particular way of walk |
| gale | a very strong wind |
| gallantry | something displaying dashing bravery or chivalry |
| galvanize | To arouse to awareness or action |
| gambol | wander in a playful manner |
| gamut | the full range or extent |
| gape | to stare with open mouth |
| gargantuan | enormous |
| garland | a wreath |
| garner | to amass; gather; or accumulate |
| garret | a room on the top floor of a house; typically under a pitched roof; an attic |
| garrulous | talkative |
| gastric | of; relating to; or associated with the stomach. |
| gauche | clumsy |
| gaudy | showy; tasteless |
| gaunt | haggard; thin |
| gauntlet | a challenge |
| gazelle | graceful animal |
| gelid | very cold |
| genial | kindly or pleasant in disposition ("a genial attitude") |
| genteel | refined; elegant; having social superiority (Queen Elizabeth) |
| gentry | those claiming high birth |
| geochronologist | someone who tries to establish the chronology of the earth's history by analyzing terrestrial materials. |
| germane | relevant |
| gestation | inception and creation |
| gesticulate | to use gestures |
| gibberish | unintelligible or nonsensical talk or writing. |
| gibe | to mock; scoff; or make fun of |
| gird | to fasten; to encircle; to empower |
| glib | fluent |
| gloat | to show excessive satisfaction |
| globular | shaped like a globe; spherical |
| gnash | to grind or strike (the teeth; for example) together. |
| goad | to prod or urge into action |
| gorge | to excessively feed |
| gormandize | to eat in a greedy; ravenous manner |
| gossamer | light; thin; gauzy (cloth; cobweb) |
| gourmet | a great cook |
| graceful | showing grace of movement; form; or proportion |
| gradation | a progression in stages |
| graft | 1) insertion of a part of one plant into another where it grows permanently 2) taking advantage of one's position for personal gain |
| graft | something put on skin to fix it |
| grandeur | the quality of being grand; extravagance in scale or appearance |
| grandiloquence | pompous speech or expression; bombast |
| grandiose | grand; imposing |
| gratuitous | 1) uncalled-for 2) given or granted without charge |
| greenhorn | someone who is inexperienced |
| gregarious | sociable |
| grimace | a facial expression; usually of disgust |
| grisly | horrible; gruesome; ghastly |
| grope | to reach about blindly |
| grove | a group of trees |
| grovel | to be subservient; to beg |
| guile | cunning; treacherous deceit |
| guileless | naive; without cunning |
| gullible | easily convinced |
| gustatory | pertaining to taste |
| hackneyed | clichéd; worn out by overuse |
| hackneyed | overused; trite |
| haggard | thin; gaunt |
| halcyon | peaceful; prosperous; carefree |
| hallmark | a distinctive event |
| hallow | make holy |
| hamper | a type of basket; to prevent the free movement; action; or progress of. |
| haphazard | irregular; governed by chance |
| hapless | luckless; unfortunate |
| harangue | a scolding; especially a lengthy one delivered in public |
| harbinger | something foreshadowing a future event |
| harlequin | a clown |
| haughty | arrogant; lacking humility; scornfully proud |
| havoc | destruction |
| headstrong | lacking restraint |
| hedonist | lover of pleasure; seeker of gratification |
| hegemony | strong influence |
| heinous | atrocious; evil; reprehensible |
| hemp | stuff rope is made of |
| herbicide | a chemical that kills plants |
| herculean | strong and powerful |
| heresy | unorthodox doctrine |
| heretic | someone going against traditional beliefs |
| hermetic | airtight |
| hermit | an antisocial person; someone who seeks solitude |
| heterogeneous | from various sources; not uniform; different |
| hiatus | an interruption; intermission; or break |
| hibernal | wintery |
| hierarchy | a formal chain of command |
| hilarious | boisterously merry |
| hirsute | hairy; bearded |
| histrionic | theatrical |
| hoax | rumor designed to deceive the public |
| holistic | emphasizing wholeness |
| holocaust | destruction by fire |
| homage | display of special respect or honor |
| homily | sermon |
| homogeneous | uniform; lacking variation |
| homonym | a word that sounds the same as another word |
| hone | to sharpen a knife |
| hoodwink | to deceive |
| hortatory | urging or inciting to action |
| hot-spur | a quick-tempered; impulsive person |
| hour | something that measures duration |
| hubris | excess pride |
| humid | damp |
| hybrid | of mixed breed |
| hyperbole | excessive exaggeration |
| hypothesis | assumption; guess or theory requiring proof |
| iconoclast | one who attacks established beliefs |
| idiosyncrasy | whim; eccentricity |
| ignoble | dishonorable in nature |
| ignominious | shameful or disgraceful |
| illicit | illegal |
| illusory | not actual |
| illustrious | distinguished; bright |
| imbibe | to drink |
| imbue | to absorb; to permeate |
| immaculate | spotless |
| immaterial | not relevant |
| immolate | to kill as if as a sacrifice; especially by fire |
| immutable | unchangeable |
| impalpable | vague; not understandable |
| imparity | inequality; disparity |
| impasse | barrier; a situation where no one is willing to compromise |
| impassive | lacking emotion |
| impeccable | flawless |
| impecunious | without money |
| impede | to slow down |
| impediment | obstruction |
| imperative | essential; very necessary |
| imperceptible | unnoticeable |
| imperious | haughty; urgent |
| impermeable | not penetrable (by water) |
| impertinent | rude; brash |
| impervious | not penetrable ("raincoats are impervious to water") |
| impetuous | impulsive; marked by sudden action are emotion |
| impetus | a stimulus |
| impinge | to collide |
| impious | lacking reverence; not pious |
| implacable | not easily pacified |
| implausible | difficult to believe; not plausible. |
| implement | to put a plan into effect |
| implicit | implied; understood though not stated |
| implore | to beseech or beg for fervently |
| imponderable | incapable of being weighed or evaluated precisely |
| importune | to plead with |
| imposing | grandest; very large |
| imprecation | to curse |
| impregnable | unconquerable |
| impromptu | without previous preparation; an informal speech |
| impropriety | incorrectness; a misdeed |
| impugn | accuse; attack as false or questionable; challenge in argument |
| impunity | freedom from punishment or penalty |
| impute | to attribute an action to a certain person or group; to charge with; ascribe |
| inadvertent | thoughtless; unintentional |
| inane | pointless; foolish |
| inarticulate | unable to speak clearly |
| inauguration | a ceremony that inducts a president |
| incarcerate | to imprison |
| incarnate | in human form |
| inception | the beginning |
| incessant | continuous |
| incessantly | continuing without interruption |
| inchoate | incomplete; just beginning |
| incipient | just beginning |
| incisive | sharp in analysis; keen; penetrating |
| incite | to increase instigation |
| inclement | merciless; harsh |
| incognito | of concealed identity |
| incompatible | opposed in nature; not able to live or work together |
| inconceivable | doesn't seem possible |
| incongruous | inconsistent; inharmonious |
| inconsequential | unimportant; trivial |
| inconspicuous | hard to find; not obvious |
| incontrovertible | impossible to dispute; unquestionable |
| incorporeal | lacking form |
| incorrigible | bad beyond correction |
| incredible | unbelievable |
| incubus | an oppressive weight |
| inculcate | to instill (learning) by means of repetition or instruction |
| inculpate | to incriminate |
| incumbent | an office-holder |
| indefatigable | not easily tired |
| indelible | not able to be erased; permanent |
| indemnify | to repay for a loss |
| indigenous | native; not foreign |
| indigent | poor |
| indignant | aroused to anger by injustice |
| indiscriminate | not picky |
| indispensable | essential |
| indistinct | something that lacks clarity; is not easily visible |
| indoctrinate | to instruct in a body of doctrine or principles |
| indolent | lazy as a way of life |
| indomitable | unconquerable |
| induce | to cause persuasion |
| inebriated | intoxicated; drunk |
| ineffable | indescribable; inexpressible |
| ineffectual | not effective |
| ineluctable | unavoidable; inevitable; impossible to overcome |
| inept | incompetent (n. ineptitude) |
| inert | motionless |
| inevitable | certain; unavoidable |
| inexorable | pitiless; unyielding |
| inexplicable | difficult to explain |
| infallible | not making mistakes; flawless |
| infer | to gather by reasoning |
| infernal | fiendish; devilish |
| infidel | unbeliever |
| infinitesimal | very small |
| infrastructure | foundation; underlying base |
| ingenious | having genius; brilliant; skillful |
| ingenuous | simple; innocent |
| ingrate | one who is ungrateful |
| ingrate | ungrateful person |
| ingratiate | work oneself into another's good graces |
| inherent | inborn; intrinsic; basic |
| inhibit | restrain |
| inimical | like an enemy; hostile |
| iniquitous | wicked |
| iniquity | injustice; immoral action |
| initiation | a ceremony that inducts a member |
| injunction | a strong request |
| innate | genetic; naturally inherent; having since birth ("innate talent") |
| innkeeper | someone that provides lodging |
| innocuous | harmless |
| innuendo | a hint; an indirect statement; insinuation |
| inoculate | to buildup resistance to a disease with a special injection |
| inordinate | excessive |
| inroad | an opening or entry for a new idea or undertaking |
| inscrutable | incomprehensible; difficult to decipher |
| insidious | sly; treacherous; more dangerous than seems apparent |
| insipid | flat; tasteless; dull |
| insolent | rude; arrogant |
| insouciant | carefree |
| insubordinate | disobedient to authority |
| insular | detached; isolated |
| insurgence | revolt; uprising |
| insurrection | revolt against government |
| intangible | cannot be touched ("goodwill"); vague |
| integral | being an important part |
| integrity | decency; honesty; wholeness |
| intemperance | lack of temperance; especially with alcohol |
| intercession | the act of pleading in behalf of another |
| interdict | to forbid |
| interim | the meantime ("in the interim") |
| interlude | anything that fills time between two events (often in a performance) |
| interment | burial |
| interminable | endless |
| intermittent | stopping and starting at intervals; periodic |
| internment | imprisonment; incarceration |
| interpret | to explain the meaning of |
| intransigent | uncompromising; unyielding |
| intrepid | fearless; adventurous |
| intrigue | conspiracy |
| intrinsic | basic; inherent part of |
| introspective | examining oneself |
| intruder | someone who trespasses |
| intuitive | instinctive; untaught |
| inundate | to put too much water on; to flood (n. inundation) |
| inure | to harden; to become accustomed to |
| invalidate | to render void |
| invective | harsh accusation |
| inveigh | to protest strongly |
| inveigle | to persuade by flattery |
| inveterate | deeply rooted |
| invidious | arousing envy |
| invigorate | to increase energy |
| inviolable | not to be violated; indestructible |
| invocation | call to a higher power (usually a god) for help |
| irascible | irritable |
| iridescent | having changing; rainbow-like colors |
| irrational | lacking logic |
| irrefutable | unable to be disproved |
| irrevocable | unable to be withdrawn |
| itemize | to detail item by item; to list |
| itinerant | traveling |
| jaunty | showy; gay |
| jejune | dull or empty |
| jeopardize | to endanger |
| jettison | to throw overboard |
| jingoist | someone with extreme nationalism |
| jocose | humorous |
| jocular | joking; facetious |
| jocund | cheerful; genial |
| jostle | to bump or push; as in a crowd |
| jubilation | joy; celebration; exultation |
| judge | someone who presides over a trial |
| judicature | the authority of a court of law |
| junta | council; conniving group |
| jurisprudence | the science of law |
| juxtapose | to place side by side for comparison |
| kaleidoscopic | constantly changing in scene |
| keynote | the basic idea or theme ("keynote speaker") |
| kibosh | the act of halting or squelching |
| kinetic | pertaining to motion |
| knell | to ring; signalizing death |
| kudos | honor or accolades |
| labyrinthine | intricate; perplexing; confusing |
| lacerate | to tear roughly |
| lachrymose | tearful |
| lackadaisical | indifferent; lacking liveliness |
| lackey | a servile attendant |
| laconic | of few words |
| lacteal | milky |
| laggard | one who lags behind or loiters; a slow person |
| laggardly | lacking speed |
| laissez faire | non-interference |
| laity | persons unrelated to a particular profession |
| lambaste | to reprimand sharply or attack verbally |
| lambent | radiant |
| lamentable | regrettable |
| lamentation | an expression of mourning; major regret |
| lampoon | sharp satire |
| languid | Lacking energy or vitality; weak; sluggish; listless |
| larceny | theft |
| largess | generous gift |
| lascivious | indecent; lustful |
| lassitude | sluggishness |
| latent | hidden; not apparent |
| laud | to give praise to; glorify; acclaim |
| laudatory | giving praise |
| laureate | honored as a result of achievements |
| league | a group of teams |
| legislation | something delivered by a senator |
| lenient | merciful; mild |
| lethal | deadly |
| lethargic | sluggish |
| levity | humor; lack of seriousness |
| lexicon | dictionary for a specific group; language; something made up of words |
| liability | a bad thing; something that can hurt you |
| liaison | a connection |
| libation | a drink |
| licentious | highly immodest; lustful |
| limpid | transparently clear |
| linguist | someone who studies language |
| lissome | supple; bending easily |
| lithe | nimble; bending easily |
| litigious | overly inclined to engage in lawsuits |
| liturgy | a church ritual |
| livid | extremely angry; infuriated |
| lobbyist | person who seeks to influence political events |
| localized | a limited area |
| locution | style of speaking |
| logistics | the essential details of how something is to be accomplished. |
| longevity | long life |
| loquacious | extremely talkative |
| lucid | clear; intelligible |
| lucrative | producing wealth; profitable |
| lucrative | profitable |
| ludicrous | absurd to the point of being laughable. |
| lugubrious | mournful in the extreme |
| luminary | shining light |
| lurid | gruesome; shocking |
| lustrous | radiant; shining |
| macabre | horrifying; gruesome |
| machination | a conniving plot |
| macrocosm | a representation on a large scale |
| maelstrom | a violent whirlpool |
| magisterial | authoritative |
| magnanimous | benevolent |
| magnate | an industrial leader |
| maladaptive | not easily adaptable |
| malady | an illness or unwholesome condition |
| malediction | a malicious saying; curse |
| maleficent | evil; harmful |
| malevolent | wishing harm to others; malicious; spiteful |
| malice | the desire to commit harmful or unfair acts |
| malign | to slander |
| malignant | very harmful |
| malinger | to avoid work by making up excuses |
| malleable | easily shaped; flexible |
| manacle | handcuff; fetter |
| mandate | authoritative command |
| maniacal | insane |
| manifest | apparent; clear; obvious |
| maraud | to raid |
| marginal | of lower quality or ability |
| marionette | a type of puppet |
| marshy | pertaining to a swamp |
| martial | appropriate to wartime |
| martinet | strict disciplinarian |
| martyrdom | death or suffering for one's beliefs ("martyr") |
| masochist | one who enjoys his own pain |
| masticate | to chew |
| matriarch | a woman who presides over a family or group |
| matriarchal | society run by women |
| maudlin | overly sentimental |
| maverick | nonconformist |
| mawkish | overly emotional or sentimental |
| meander | to wander in a aimless manner |
| meddle | to intrude into other people's affairs or business; interfere |
| mediator | one who intervenes to help solve a conflict |
| medley | a mix from various sources (usually referred to songs) |
| megalomania | delusions of wealth and/or power |
| melancholy | sadness or depression |
| mélange | a mixture |
| melee | noisy fight |
| mellifluous | smooth and sweet |
| melodious | pleasant to the ear |
| melodramatic | Exaggeratedly emotional or sentimental; histrionic |
| menagerie | a mix of different things |
| mendacity | lying |
| mendicant | begging |
| mentor | a counselor or teacher |
| mephitic | smelly |
| mercenary | motivated solely by money |
| mesmerize | to hypnotize |
| metamorphosis | a transformation |
| meticulous | finicky; fastidious; extremely picky; careful |
| mettle | courage |
| microcosm | a model that reflects a larger thing |
| middling | mediocre |
| mien | appearance; manner |
| millennium | a thousand years |
| mimicry | the act; practice; or art of mimicking |
| mirage | optical illusion |
| mirth | happiness |
| miry | muddy |
| misanthrope | someone who hates people |
| misanthropic | not trusting (esp. of people); n. misanthropy |
| misconstrue | to misinterpret |
| miscreant | villain |
| miserly | cheap like someone who won't let you borrow money |
| misnomer | wrong name |
| misogamy | hatred of marriage |
| misogyny | hatred of women |
| missile | projectile weapon |
| missive | letter |
| mitigate | to lessen the severity of; moderate; soften; lessen |
| mnemonic | a trick to help one remember a lengthy set of information; meant to aid in memory |
| moderator | someone who presides over a discussion |
| modicum | a small quantity of measure |
| modulate | to vary |
| mollify | to soften; to appease |
| momentous | highly important; of great significance or consequence |
| monochromatic | of a single color |
| monograph | a scholarly article or essay on a certain topic |
| monolithic | huge |
| montage | something made up of a bunch of pictures laid side by side. |
| moot | debatable |
| morass | bog; swamp |
| morbid | unwholesome |
| mordant | biting |
| mores | customs |
| moribund | dying |
| morose | frightening or gloomy |
| morsel | a small bit of food |
| mortify | to humiliate; to practice self-denial |
| mosaic | something created by laying tile side by side |
| motion | a formal proposal |
| motley | mixture of diverse elements |
| muffle | to make something quiet |
| multifaceted | having dimensions |
| multifarious | having many components |
| mundane | worldly; ordinary; everyday |
| munificent | generous |
| murky | dark; gloomy; not clear |
| muse | to meditate |
| mushroom | to multiply quickly |
| mute | without sound |
| myopic | nearsighted |
| myriad | innumerable; of massive quantity |
| nabob | wealthy person who is accustomed to luxury |
| nadir | lowest point |
| naive | unsophisticated; simple; lacking wisdom |
| narcissistic | possessed by self-love |
| nascent | emerging; coming into being |
| nebulous | unclear; vague |
| necrology | a list of people who have recently died |
| necromancy | magic |
| nefarious | wicked; evil |
| nemesis | an opponent motivated by revenge |
| neophyte | beginner; a recent convert |
| nepotism | favoritism toward relatives in professional matters |
| nether | lower ("the nether regions of the ocean") |
| nexus | a link or connection |
| niggardly | stingy |
| nihilism | the belief that existence is meaningless |
| nirvana | a point or state of spiritual perfection |
| nocturnal | pertaining to the night |
| nomadic | wandering |
| nomenclature | system of names for purposes of organization |
| nominal | in name only |
| nonchalant | indifferent; calm; casual; seeming unexcited |
| nonentity | nobody; of little importance |
| nonfeasance | failure to perform (a given duty) |
| nonpareil | unequaled |
| nonpartisan | unbiased; not taking sides |
| novel | new; innovative |
| novice | apprentice; beginner |
| noxious | harmful; injurious |
| nubile | sexually mature and or prepared for marriage |
| nugatory | worthless or in vain |
| numismatics | coin collecting |
| nuptial | relating to marriage; connubial |
| obdurate | stubborn |
| obeisance | submission |
| obese | fat |
| obfuscate | to confuse |
| obligatory | binding; required |
| oblique | angled; indirect |
| obliterate | destroy utterly |
| oblivious | not mindful |
| obloquy | abusive criticism |
| obnoxious | offensive |
| obsequious | compliant and servile to superiors |
| obsession | the overdoing of something |
| obsolete | out-of-date |
| obstinate | stubbornly adhering to an attitude; opinion; or course of action; unyielding |
| obtrusive | to enter without invitation |
| obtuse | not sharp |
| obviate | to make unnecessary |
| occidental | western |
| occlude | to obstruct; to block out (n. occlusion) |
| occult | mysterious |
| odious | arousing hatred |
| odometer | instrument used to measure distance |
| odyssey | a long journey that entails danger or adventure |
| officious | meddlesome |
| ogle | to flirt |
| olfactory | pertaining to smell |
| ominous | threatening; forecasting evil |
| omnipotent | all-powerful |
| omniscient | all-knowing |
| omnivorous | accustomed to eating both animal and vegetable food items |
| onerous | burdensome; troublesome |
| onus | the burden |
| opaque | impenetrable to light; not transparent |
| opera | a type of drama |
| opine | to make one's opinion known |
| opportune | timely |
| opportunist | one who seeks opportunity (n. opportunism) |
| opprobrium | disgrace; infamy |
| optimal | best; favored |
| opulent | wealthy |
| opus | a major work (or art or literature) |
| oracle | a means by which prophetic wisdom is imparted |
| orator | lecturer; speaker |
| orderly | to be in order |
| orifice | opening |
| ornate | overwrought or decorated elaborately |
| orthodoxy | traditional beliefs |
| orthography | correct spelling |
| oscillate | waver; undulate |
| ossify | to harden; to become bonelike |
| ostensible | apparent |
| ostentatious | showy; excessive; pretentious |
| ostracize | to exclude or banish |
| overhaul | to completely revise |
| overt | open; manifest |
| overture | an introduction to a play |
| ovoid | egg-shaped |
| pacifistic | opposing conflict |
| pacify | to calm down |
| palatable | pleasant to taste |
| palaver | a parley or conference |
| palliate | to lessen the severity |
| pallid | pale |
| palpable | capable of being felt or touched; tangible |
| pamper | to excessively gratify |
| panacea | a cure-all |
| pandemic | widespread |
| pandemonium | chaos |
| panegyric | an expression of praise |
| papal | of or pertaining to the pope |
| paradigm | an example; a model |
| paradox | a seemingly self-contradictory statement that may be true |
| paragon | a model of perfection |
| paralysis | loss or damage of movement ability |
| paramount | supreme |
| paraphernalia | equipment |
| paraphrase | rephrase |
| parched | dried up; shriveled |
| pardon | to free from penalty |
| parenthetical | a comment departing from the theme of discourse; a digression |
| pariah | an outcast |
| parlance | a way of speaking |
| parochial | limited to a small area; related to a church |
| paroxysm | outburst of emotion |
| parsimonious | stingy |
| pastoral | pertaining to the country |
| patch | something put on fabric to fix it |
| patent | clear; obvious |
| pathos | something that pity or sympathy |
| patriarch | head of a tribe or family |
| patrimony | inherited right |
| patron | someone who gives money as a donation or sponsorship |
| patronize | to act in an offensively condescending way towards |
| paucity | lack of; smallness of number |
| paucity | scarcity; dearth |
| peccadillo | a minor fault |
| pecuniary | pertaining to money |
| pedagogue | educator or teacher. (n. pedagogy, the art of teaching) |
| pedantic | making a display of learning |
| pediatric | the branch of medicine that deals with the care of infants and children and the treatment of their diseases |
| peerless | something difficult to surpass |
| pejorative | insulting |
| pellucid | very clear |
| penance | sorry for sin |
| penchant | strong inclination |
| pensive | thoughtful |
| penultimate | next-to-last |
| penurious | miserly; stingy |
| penury | extreme poverty |
| perambulate | to walk around; stroll; or saunter |
| peremptory | final; decisive |
| perennial | lasting a long time; indefinitely |
| perfidious | faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy |
| perfidy | treachery |
| perfunctory | routine; boring |
| perilous | dangerous |
| peripatetic | wandering |
| peripheral | off to the side |
| periphery | border |
| perjure | to lie or give false and misleading testimony |
| permafrost | permanently frozen subsoil; occurring throughout the polar regions and locally in perennially frigid areas. |
| permeate | spread; to penetrate |
| pernicious | causing great harm; destructive; deadly; dangerous |
| perpetuate | to make everlasting |
| perquisites | a payment or profit received in addition to a regular wage or salary |
| persnickety | fussy about small details; snobbish |
| perspicacity | sharp perception |
| perspicuity | clear and easy to understand |
| pertinacity | persistency |
| pertinent | relevant |
| perturb | make uneasy |
| peruse | to read through with attention |
| pervasive | widespread; everywhere |
| perverse | corrupt |
| petulant | highly irritable |
| philanthropy | generosity |
| philatelist | stamp collector |
| philistine | lacking refinement |
| philology | study of languages |
| phlegmatic | sluggish; unemotional |
| physiognomy | the human face |
| picayune | petty |
| piebald | of various colors |
| piety | devotion; religious reverence |
| pilfer | steal |
| pillage | to loot |
| pinnacle | the topmost point |
| piquant | seasoned; racy; lively; exciting |
| pique | to irritate or arouse |
| pitch | a characteristic of sound |
| pithy | meaningful; terse; to the point |
| placate | to appease; calm |
| placebo | a harmless; phony medicine |
| placid | calm |
| plagiarism | stealing another's ideas |
| plague | a broad-based affliction |
| platitude | a commonplace or useless remark |
| platonic | free from sexual desire |
| plaudit | approval; praise |
| plausible | seemingly trustworthy or reasonable |
| playwright | a dramatist; one who write; produces or acts in plays |
| plebeian | common; relating to the common people |
| plebiscite | vote by the people |
| plentitude | abundance |
| plethora | excessive oversupply |
| pliant | supple |
| plight | predicament |
| plumage | the outer covering of a bird |
| plummet | to drop very quickly; decline quickly |
| plutocracy | rule by rich |
| poignant | appealing to the emotions; touching |
| polarize | to separate into opposite groups |
| polemic | (polemical) controversial |
| pollster | person whose work is collecting public opinion polls |
| polyglot | a person who speaks a number of languages |
| ponderous | weighty |
| pontificate | to issue authoritative decrees |
| porous | being full of holes; like a sponge |
| portend | to suggest or foretell |
| portentous | prophetic of evil |
| posit | to stipulate |
| posterity | future generations |
| posthumous | occurring after death |
| postulate | hypothesis |
| potable | drinkable |
| potent | powerful |
| potentate | a powerful person |
| powerful | to have influence |
| pragmatic | practical |
| precarious | dangerously uncertain; insecure; lacking stability |
| precedent | the first for an example; tradition established by time |
| precept | a formal rule |
| precipice | a cliff |
| preclude | prevent; render ineffectual or impossible; forestall; impede |
| precocious | unusually advanced or talented at an early age (esp. mental aptitude) |
| precursor | forerunner |
| predation | the capturing of prey as a means of maintaining life. |
| predatory | plundering |
| predilection | strong inclination; partiality |
| preemptive | acting on a prior right |
| prehensile | grasping |
| premise | a statement from which a conclusion is drawn. |
| premonition | a warning |
| prerogative | unquestioned right |
| presage | to foretell or indicate or warn in advance |
| prescience | foreknowledge |
| presentiment | feeling of something to come |
| presently | soon |
| presentment | presentation |
| presupposes | to suppose or presume beforehand |
| pretense | an instance of pretending |
| pretentious | pretending to be important; intelligent or cultured |
| prevaricate | to lie |
| priggishness | a smugly proper or prudish attitude |
| primordial | original |
| pristine | unspoiled; primitive; uncorrupted; in its original state |
| probity | honesty |
| proboscis | nose |
| proclivity | inclination |
| procrastinate | to unnecessarily delay; postpone; put off |
| procure | to obtain |
| prodigal | wasteful or extravagant |
| prodigious | vast |
| prodigy | a person possessing extraordinary skill or talent |
| profligate | extremely wasteful or immoral |
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