| Abate | subside or moderate |
| Aberrant | abnormal or deviant |
| Abrasive | rubbing away, tending to grind down |
| Abridge | condense, shorten |
| Absolute | complete, totally unlimited, certain |
| Abstemious | sparing in eating and drinking, temperate |
| Abstract | theoretical, not concrete, nonrepresentational |
| Abstruse | obscure, profound, difficult to understand |
| Accessible | easy to approach, obtainable |
| Acclaim | applaud, announce with great approval |
| Accolade | award of merit |
| Acknowledge | recognize, admit |
| Acquiesce | assent, agree without protesting |
| Acrimonious | bitter in words or manner |
| Acute | quickly perceptive, keen, brief, severe |
| Address | direct a speech to, deal with or discuss |
| Adherent | supporter, follower |
| Adjacent | neighboring, adjoining |
| Adroit | skillful, nimble |
| Adulation | flattery, admiration |
| Adversary | opponent |
| Adverse | unfavorable, hostile |
| Advocate | urge, plead for |
| Aesthetic | artistic, dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful |
| Affable | easily approachable, warmly friendly |
| Affinity | natural liking, kinship, similarity |
| Affirmation | positive assertion, confirmation, solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath |
| Aggressor | attacker |
| Alienate | make hostile, separate |
| Alleviate | relieve |
| Aloof | apart, reserved, standoffish |
| Altruistic | unselfishly generous, concerned for others |
| Ambiguous | unclear of doubtful in meaning |
| Ambivalence | the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes |
| Ameliorate | improve, make more satisfactory |
| Amend | correct, change, generally for the better |
| Amorphous | formless, lacking shape or definition |
| Ample | abundant |
| Analogy | similarity, parallelism |
| Anarchist | person who seeks to overturn the established govt, advocate of abolishing authority |
| Anecdote | short account of an amusing or interesting event |
| Animosity | active enmity |
| Antagonistic | hostile, opposed |
| Antidote | medicine to counteract a poison or disease |
| Antiquated | old-fashioned, obsolete |
| Antithesis | contrast, direct opposite of or to |
| Apathy | lack of caring, indifference |
| Apocryphal | untrue, made up |
| Appease | pacify or soothe, relieve |
| Appreciate | be thankful for, increase in worth, be thoroughly conscious of |
| Apprehension | fear, discernment, capture |
| Arable | fit for growing crops |
| Arbitrary | unreasonable or capricious |
| Archaic | antiquated |
| Ardor | heat, passion, zeal |
| Arid | dry, barren |
| Arrogance | pride, haughtiness |
| Articulate | effective, distinct |
| Artifact | object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced |
| Artisan | manually skilled worker, craftsman, as opposed to artist |
| Ascendancy | controlling influence |
| Ascetic | practicing self-denial, austere |
| Aspire | seek to attain, long for |
| Assuage | ease or lessen (pain), satisfy (hunger), soothe (anger) |
| Astute | wise, shrewd |
| Atrophy | waste away |
| Attentive | considerate, thoughtful, paying attention |
| Attribute | ascribe, explain |
| Audacious | daring, bold |
| Augment | increase, add to |
| Austerity | sternness, severity, strict economy, lack of luxuries |
| Authentic | genuine |
| Authoritarian | favoring or exercising total control, nondemocratic |
| Autonomous | self-governing |
| Aversion | firm dislike |
| Banal | hackneyed, commonplace, trite |
| Bane | cause of ruin |
| Belie | contradict, give a false impression |
| Belittle | disparage, make fun of |
| Belligerent | quarrelsome |
| Benevolent | generous, charitable |
| Benign | kindly, favorable, not malignant |
| Bequeath | leave to someone by a will, hand down |
| Biased | slanted, prejudiced |
| Bland | soothing, mild, dull |
| Blasphemy | irreverence, sacrilege, cursing |
| Bolster | support, reinforce |
| Braggart | boastful person |
| Brawn | muscular strength, sturdiness |
| Brevity | conciseness, briefness |
| Buttress | support, prop up |
| Cacophonous | discordant, inharmonious |
| Cajole | coax, wheedle |
| Calculated | deliberately planned, likely |
| Candor | frankness |
| Capricious | fickle, incalculable |
| Caricature | distortion, burlesque |
| Censorious | critical |
| Censure | blame, criticize |
| Certitude | certainty |