| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Autonomy | self-government, political control |
| Aura | That which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality |
| Repudiate | to disown, reject, or deny the validity of |
| Decadence | decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence |
| Jaded | wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence) |
| Transcend | to rise above or beyond, exceed |
| Unwieldy | not easily carried, handled, or managed because or size or complexity |
| Approbation | the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval |
| Disabuse | to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking |
| Flout | to mock, treat with contempt |
| Commiserate | to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress |
| Coalition | a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose |
| Castigate | to punish severely; to criticize severely |
| Bombastic | pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas |
| Abominate | to have an intense dislike or hatred for |
| Occult | mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural |
| Aspersion | a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or deframing |
| Fetter | a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains; (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent |
| Tenuous | thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported |
| Brusque | abrupt, blunt, with no formalities |
| Salutary | beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome |
| Precept | a rule of conduct or action |
| Aplomb | poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity |
| Intrinsic | belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part |
| Epitome | a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality |
| Assuage | to make easier or milder, relieve; quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench |
| Callow | without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers |
| Irrevocable | incapable of being changed or called back |
| Reverberate | to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly |
| Petulant | peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset |
| Sinecure | a position requiring little or no work; an easy job |
| Expiate | to make amends, make up for; to avert |
| Noncommittal | not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no |
| Circuitous | roundabout, not direct |
| Lassitude | weariness of body or mind, lack of energy |
| Sedulous | persistent, showing industry and determination |
| Scourge | to whip, punish severely; (n.) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of sever punishment or criticism |
| Aggrandize | to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater |
| Heinous | very wicked, offensive, hateful |
| Provincial | pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside; (n.) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony |
| Infer | to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply |
| Expedite | to make easy, cause to progress faster |
| Precipitate | to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; (adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process |
| Sangfroid | composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances |
| Innuendo | a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense) |
| Contraband | illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal, prohibited |
| Surreptitious | stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud |
| Peculate | to steal something that has been given into one's trust; to take improperly for one's own use |
| Affable | courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to |
| Lurid | causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint |
| Drivel | saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking, nonsense; (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly |
| Scathing | bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm |
| Amnesty | a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution |
| Contrive | to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan |
| Surmise | to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof |
| Nominal | existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously |
| Querulous | peevish, complaining, fretful |
| Caveat | a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior |
| Axiomatic | self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule |
| Immutable | not subject to change, constant |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace