| Term | Definition |
|---|
| advocate (AD-vuh-kayt) | push for something, plead for or argue in favor of |
| delegate(DEL-uh-gayt) | to entrust with authority or power |
| unprecedented (uhn-PRES-uh-den-tid) | unheard-of, novel, new, nothing like before |
| poignant (POYN-yint) | piercing, sharp, biting, penetrating, keen |
| nebulous (NEB-yuu-lus) | unclear, vague, obscure, hazy, indefinite |
| clandestine (klan-DES-tin) | kept secret, done in secrecy |
| tirade (TY-rayd or ty-RAYD) | a long drawn-out speech |
| recur (ri-KUR or ree-KUR) | to happen again, occur again at intervals |
| tacit (TAS-it) | unspoken, silent, implied or understood without words |
| allegation (AL-uh-GAY-shin) | an assertion or declaration made without proof |
| gullible (GUHL-uh-buul) | easily deceived, fooled, or cheated |
| benign (buh-NYN, rhymes with a sign) | kindly, good-natured; favorable; mild, not deadly |
| peripheral (puh-RIF-uh-rul) | external, outer; irrelevant |
| rebuff (ri-BUF or ree-BUF) | refuse bluntly, reject sharply |
| animosity (AN-i-MAH-si-tee) | ill will, hostility, antagonism |
| tenuous (TEN-yoo-us) | thin, slender, slight, flimsy, weak |
| complacent (kum-PLAY-sint) | self-satisfied, smug, overly pleased with oneself |
| acme (AK-mee) | the peak, highest point, summit, zenith |
| defunct (di-FUNGKT or dee-FUNGKT) | dead, extinct, obsolete, no longer in use |
| abet (uh-BET) | to encourage, support, aid |
| haggard (HAG-urd) | worn out, tired, gaunt, emaciated |
| waive (like wave) | to relinquish voluntarily, give up, forgo |
| carnal (KAHR-nul) | bodily, pertaining to the flesh |
| sanction (SANGK-shin, be sure to pronounce the C) | to approve, allow, permit, authorize |
| ambiguous (am-BIG-yoo-us) | uncertain, have more than one possible meaning |
| spendthrift (pronounced as spelled, stress on spend) | wasteful, spending extravagantly or foolishly |
| mollify (MAH-li-fy) | to calm, soothe, pacify, appease, soften |
| unequivocal (UHN-i-KWIV-uh-kul) | clear and direct, definite, straightforward, unambiguous |
| malleable (MAL-ee-uh-buul or MAL-yuhbuul) | capable of being shaped, able to be molded |
| verbose (vur-BOHS) | wordy, having too many words, long-winded |
| transient (TRAN-shint) | temporary, lasting only a short while |
| nettle (NET'l) | to irritate, annoy, vex, pester |
| repudiate (ri-PYOO-dee-ayt) | to reject, deny, cast off, renounce |
| impetuous (im-PETCH-oo-us) | hasty, rash, overeager |
| frugal (FROG-gul) | spending carefully and wisely, thrifty |
| incongruous (in-KAHNG-groo-us) | out of place, inappropriate, inconsitent |
| assuage (uh-SWAYJ) | to relieve, ease, allay, mitigate |
| corroborate (kuh-RAHB-uh-rayt) | to confirm, support, make more certain or believable |
| embellish (em-BEL-ish) | to decorate, dress up, adorn |
| avaricious (AV-uh-RISH-us) | greedy, money-grubbing, miserly |
| cursory (KUR-suh-ree or KUR-sur-ee) | quick, hasty, not methodical, done rapidly with little attention to detail |
| vacillate (VAS-i-layt) | to waver, fluctuate, be indecisive |
| clement (KLEM-int) | mild, calm, tranquil, moderate |
| lucrative (LOO-kruh-tiv) | profitable, producing wealth, money-making |
| allocate (AL-uh-kayt or AL-oh-kayt) | to assign, designate, earmark |
| reconcile (REK-un-syl or rek-un-SYL) | to make friendly again |
| paragon (PAR-uh-gahn) | a model of excellence, perfect example |
| analogous (uh-NAL-uh-gus) | similar, akin, comparable |
| diurnal (dy-URN-'l) | active during the day; daily, recurring each day |
| pretext (PREE-tekst) | an excuse, ostensible reason or motive |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace