| factious | adj. causing disagreement - syn: belligerent; contentious - ant: cooperative; united |
| ignoble | adj. dishonorable; shameful - syn: despicable; base - ant: noble; glorious |
| boor | n. a rude or impolite person - syn: buffoon; clown - ant: sophisticate |
| aegis | n. a shield; protection - syn: backing |
| perspicacity | n. keenness of judgment - syn: perceptiveness - ant: stupidity; ignorance |
| fervent | adj. eager; earnest - syn: burning; passionate - ant: apathetic |
| rectify | v. to correct; to make right - syn: remedy; resolve |
| enervate | v. to weaken - syn: devitalize; exhaust - ant: energize; strengthen |
| besiege | v. to overwhelm; to surround and attack |
| ephemeral | adj. lasting only a brief time; short-lived - syn: transient; fleeting - ant: permanent |
| altruism | n. a concern for others; generosity - syn: unselfishness; magnanimity - ant: selfishness; egoism |
| carrion | n. decaying flesh |
| erotic | adj. pertaining to sexual love |
| amorphous | adj. shapeless, formless, vague |
| opulent | adj. rich, luxurious; wealthy |
| impotent | adj. powerless; lacking strength - syn: ineffective; helpless - ant: potent; powerful |
| antithesis | n. an exact opposite; an opposite extreme - syn: converse - ant: same |
| maelstrom | n. whirlpool; turbulence; agitated state of mind |
| emendation | n. a correction - syn. improvement; amendment |
| chagrin | n. embarrassment; a complete loss of courage |
| bauble | n. a showy but useless thing - syn: trinket |
| diaphanous | adj. very sheer and light - syn: transparent; gossamer - ant: opaque |
| labyrinth | n. a complicated network of winding passages; a maze |
| gloat | v. to look at or think about with great satisfaction - syn: revel; crow |
| impediment | n. a barrier; obstruction - syn: obstacle; hindrance - ant: aid |
| bestial | adj. savage; brutal - syn: brutish; vile; cruel - ant: humane; kind |
| effete | adj. worn out; barren - syn: exhausted; spent and sterile - ant: vital; vigorous |
| shard | n. a fragment |
| bland | adj. mild; tasteless; dull - syn: smooth; agreeable - ant: exciting; thrilling |
| nihilism | n. a total rejection of established laws |
| pedestrian | adj. ordinary or dull - syn: commonplace; mediocre - ant: imaginative; compelling |
| bona fide | adj. in good faith - syn: legitimate; genuine - ant: fraudulent; phony |
| adventitious | adj. accidental; nonessential - syn: incidental |
| fecund | adj. fertile; productive - syn: prolific - ant: sterile |
| deviate | v. to turn aside from a course; to stray - syn: digress |
| obfuscate | v. to confuse; to bewilder - syn: muddle; obscure - ant: clarify; elucidate |
| impale | v. to pierce with a sharp stake through the body |
| extenuate | v. to lessen seriousness by providing partial excuses |
| parochial | adj. local; narrow; limited - syn: provincial; narrow-minded - ant: universal; catholic |
| glower | v. to stare angrily - syn: frown; scowl - ant: grin |
| edify | v. improve someone morally |
| ambiguous | adj. open to more than one interpretation - syn: unclear; uncertain; vague - ant: explicit; definite |
| cataclysm | n. a violent change - syn: disaster; catastrophe - ant: triumph; boon |
| optimum | adj. best; most favorable; ideal |
| importune | v. to ask persistently; to beg - syn: appeal; badger |
| celibate | adj. abstaining from intercourse; unmarried |
| fortuitous | adj. happening by chance or accident - syn: accidental; unexpected - ant: premeditated; intentional |
| recapitulate | v. to summarize; to repeat briefly |
| perfunctory | adj. done without care; in a routine fashion - syn: indifferent; offhand - ant: diligent; attentive |
| baroque | adj. overly decorated - syn: ornate - ant: simple |
| hedonism | n. pursuit of pleasure, especially of the senses |
| obloquy | n. strong disapproval; a bad reputation resulting from public criticism - syn: censure; rebuke - ant: acclaim; praise |
| debacle | n. a complete failure; a total collapse - syn: calamity; catastrophe - ant: success; triumph |
| quasi- | adj. resembling; seeming; half |
| besmirch | v. to make dirty; to stain - syn: soil; sully; smear - ant: cleanse |
| imperative | adj. extremely necessary; vitally important |
| sacrosanct | adj. extremely holy - syn: divine; angelic |
| sadistic | adj. deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others - syn: barbarous; perverse - ant: civilized; humane |
| demeanor | n. behavior; manner of conducting oneself - syn: deportment |
| facetious | adj. comical; jocular; flippant - syn: joking; witty: jocose - ant: solemn; serious |
| fop | n. an excessively fashion-conscious man - syn: dandy |
| imprecation | n. a curse - syn: condemnation; anathema - ant: blessing |
| non sequitur | n. something that does not logically follow - syn: fallacy; misconception |
| sanguine | adj. cheerful; optimistic |
| bowdlerize | v. to remove offensive passages of a play, novel, etc. - syn: censor |
| impair | v. to weaken; to cause to become worse - syn: damage; deteriorate - ant: enhance |
| panegyric | n. an expression of praise - syn: tribute; extolment - ant: denunciation |
| quandary | n. a puzzling situation; a dilemma - syn: predicament |
| ebullient | adj. enthusiastic - syn: exuberant; lively - ant: dejected; dispirited |
| deference | n. respect; consideration |
| carnal | adj. relating to physical appetite, especially sexual - syn: erotic - ant: chaste; modest |
| nebulous | adj. hazy; vague; uncertain - syn: cloudy; indistinct; obscure - ant: distinct; precise |
| rakish | adj. dashingly stylish and confident - syn: dapper; jaunty - ant: slovenly; disheveled |
| elegy | n. a sad or mournful poem - syn: dirge; lament |
| pedantic | adj. tending to show off one's learning - syn: bookish |
| antipathy | n. an intense dislike - syn: aversion - ant: affinity |
| elucidate | v. to make clear - syn: explain; clarify - ant: obscure |
| imminent | adj. likely to happen; threatening - syn: impending; approaching - ant: distant; delayed |
| banal | adj. common, ordinary - syn: trivial; insipid - ant: original; fresh |
| obdurate | adj. stubborn; hardhearted - syn: inflexible; obstinate - ant: compliant; amenable |
| peruse | v. to read carefully; scrutinize |
| bedlam | n. a noisy uproar; a scene of wild confusion - syn: mayhem; chaos |
| affluence | n. wealth; richness - syn: fortune |
| scurrilous | adj. coarsely abusive; vulgar - syn: indecent - ant: respectable |
| parody | n. a work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner - syn: caricature; burlesque; lampoon |
| sedulous | adj. hard working; diligent - syn: studious; assiduous - ant: lazy; lax |
| onerous | adj. burdensome; heavy; hard to endure - syn: crushing; distressing |
| amoral | adj. lacking a sense of right and wrong - syn: corrupt; evil - ant: innocent; virtuous |
| eschew | v. to keep away from; to avoid; to shun - ant: embrace; welcome |
| denouement | n. an outcome; result - syn: conclusion |
| adroit | adj. skillful; clever - syn: dexterous; apt - ant: clumsy ; awkward |
| macroscopic | adj. visible to the naked eye - ant: microscopic |
| fatuous | adj. foolish; inane - syn: silly - ant: sensible; wise |
| bovine | adj. pertaining to cows or cattle |
| ferret | v. to search or drive out |
| affectation | n. a phony attitude; pose - syn: insincerity; sham - ant: sincerity; genuineness |
| knell | n. a sound made by a bell, often rung slowly for a death or funeral |
| dichotomy | n. a division into two parts |
| callow | adj. young and inexperienced - syn: immature - ant: mature; sophisticated |
| laconic | adj. using few words; short; concise - syn: pithy; taciturn - ant: verbose; loquacious |
| quiddity | n. an essential quality - syn: essence |
| patent | adj. evident or obvious - syn: indisputable; apparent |
| peccadillo | n. a minor offense; a misdeed |
| sagacious | adj. wise; having keen perception and sound judgment - syn: shrewd; intelligent - ant: obtuse; fatuous |
| rationalize | v. to make an excuse for - syn: justify |
| deride | v. to ridicule; to mock - syn: scorn - ant: praise |
| censure | v. to criticize sharply - syn: condemn; reproach - ant: praise; applaud |
| gambol | v. to frolic; to romp about playfully - syn: play; caper; rollick |
| immolate | v. to kill someone as a sacrificial victim, usually by fire |
| recondite | adj. difficult to understand; profound |
| martinet | n. a strict disciplinarian; taskmaster |
| quagmire | n. a swamp; a difficult or inextricable situation |
| gibe | v. to scoff; to ridicule - syn: jeer; taunt; sneer - ant: compliment; praise |
| agape | adj. open-mouthed; surprised; agog - syn: astonished |
| carcinogen | n. causing cancer |
| olfactory | adj. pertaining to smell |
| imperious | adj. domineering; haughty - syn: overbearing; arrogant; masterful - ant: servile; submissive |
| grotesque | adj. absurd; distorted |
| neologism | n. a new word or expression - syn: coinage |
| hackneyed | adj. commonplace; overused - syn: trite; banal - ant: fresh; imaginitive |
| machination | n. an evil design or plan - syn: scheme; plot |
| pejorative | adj. having a negative effect; insulting - syn: disparaging; derogatory - ant: complimentary |
| harbinger | n. an omen or sign - syn: warning; portent |
| nubile | adj. suitable for marriage in age and physical development, referring to a female |
| sapient | adj. wise; full of knowledge - syn: sagacious - ant: fatuous; inane |
| chimerical | adj. imaginary; fantastic - syn: absurd; illusionary - ant: practical |
| masochist | n. one who enjoys his or her own pain and suffering |
| finesse | n. diplomacy; tact; artful management - syn: skill; cunning - ant: tactlessness |
| heterogeneous | adj. different; dissimilar - syn: diverse; varied - ant: homogeneous; similar |
| eclectic | adj. choosing from various sources - syn: selective - ant: narrow |
| grandiose | adj. impressive; showy; magnificent - syn: stately; imposing - ant: humble |
| raiment | n. clothing; garments |
| blanch | v. to whiten; to make pale |
| hybrid | n. anything of mixed origin |
| idiosyncrasy | n. a peculiar personality trait - syn: eccentricity; quirk |
| idolatry | n. excessive or blind adoration; worship of an object |
| adulterate | v. to make impure; to contaminate - syn: taint; corrupt - ant: refine; refined |
| emanate | v. to come forth; to send forth - syn: rise; emerge |
| garish | adj. tastelessly gaudy - syn: showy; glaring; flashy - ant: sedate; conservative |
| immutable | adj. unchangeable; fixed - syn: enduring - ant: flexible; changeable |
| diadem | n. a crown |
| bucolic | adj. pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic - syn: pastoral - ant: urban |
| redolent | adj. having a pleasant odor; suggestive or evocative - syn: aromatic - ant: acrid |
| impecunious | adj. without money; penniless - syn: destitute; indigent - ant: affluent; prosperous |
| sedition | n. rebellion or resistance against the government - syn: treachery; disloyalty |
| defile | v. to pollute; to corrupt |
| gratuitous | adj. unnecessary or uncalled for |
| onus | n. a burden; a responsibility - syn: obligation |
| impious | adj. disrespectful toward God - syn: irreligious; profane - ant: devout; pious |
| caveat | n. a warning - syn: admonition; caution |
| elixir | n. a supposed remedy for all ailments - syn: medicine; panacea |
| desiccated | adj. dried up |
| cessation | n. a stopping; a discontinuance - syn: ceasing; end - ant: beginning; commencement |
| juxtapose | v. to place side-by-side for comparison - syn: measure; examine |
| kinetic | adj. pertaining to motion |
| garrulous | adj. talkative - syn: loquacious; verbose - ant: taciturn |
| fetish | n. an object that receives respect or devotion - syn: charm; talisman |
| scintillate | v. to sparkle; to twinkle; to sparkle intellectually |
| lachrymose | adj. tearful, weepy |
| fissure | n. an opening; a groove; a split |
| epitome | n. a typical example - syn: embodiment; archetype |
| languid | adj. sluggish; drooping from weakness - syn: listless; feeble; drooping - ant: robust; vigorous |
| delineate | v. to describe, to depict |
| legerdemain | n. sleight of hand; deception |
| libertine | n. one who leads an immoral life - syn: hedonist; glutton; epicurean |
| halcyon | adj. calm; pleasant - syn: tranquil; unruffled - ant: troubled; tumultuous |
| fastidious | adj. hard to please; fussy - syn: meticulous; exacting - ant: casual; lax |
| badinage | n. playful, teasing talk - syn: chaff; joshing |
| malapropism | n. a word humorously misused |
| garner | v. to gather; to acquire - syn: harvest |
| kismet | n. destiny; fate; fortune (one's lot in life) |
| hegira | n. flight; escape |
| paradigm | n. a model; an example |
| debauchery | n. corruption; self-indulgence - syn: excess; dissipation |
| milieu | n. environment; setting |
| regress | v. to move backward |
| bilious | adj. bad tempered; cross |
| necromancy | n. magic, especially that practiced by witches - syn: black magic; conjuring |
| gumption | n. courage and initiative; common sense - syn: enterprise; aggressiveness; drive |
| blandishment | n. flattery - syn: overpraise; bootlicking |
| nirvana | n. a condition of great peace or happiness |
| salutary | adj. healthful; wholesome - syn: beneficial - ant. pernicious |
| despicable | adj. contemptible; hateful - syn: vile; base - ant: laudable; worthy |
| harlequin | n. a clown |
| empathy | n. an understanding of another's feelings - syn: appreciation; compassion |
| brevity | n. briefness; short duration - syn: terseness; conciseness - ant: lengthiness |
| savant | n. a person of extensive learning; an eminent scholar |
| obsequious | adj. excessively submissive or overly attentive - syn: servile; fawning - ant: domineering; haughty |
| redundant | adj. repetitious; using more words than needed - syn: wordy; excessive; unnecessary - ant: essential |
| offal | n. garbage; waste parts |
| hoi polloi | n. the common people; the masses |
| sentient | adj. conscious; capable of feeling or perceiving - syn: alert; alive; cognizant |
| impinge | v. to encroach; to trespass - syn: infringe; intrude |
| cataract | n. a large waterfall |
| animosity | n. hatred - syn: ill-will; hostility - ant: friendliness; congeniality |
| bombast | n. impressive but meaningless language |
| orthography | n. correct spelling |
| paleontology | n. a science dealing with prehistoric life, through the study of fossils |
| recoil | v. to retreat; to draw back |
| panache | n. self-confidence; a showy manner - syn: charisma; spirit |
| saturnine | adj. gloomy; sluggish - syn: sullen; morose - ant: genial |
| endemic | adj. confined to a particular country or area - syn: native; indigenous - ant: alien; foreign |
| mendacious | adj. lying; false; deceitful - syn: duplicitous - ant: truthful |
| obviate | v. to prevent; to get around - syn: circumvent |
| paroxysm | n. a sudden outburst; a fit - syn: outburst; commotion |
| aggrandize | v. (1) to increase the range of; to expand - syn: enlarge; augment; enrich - ant: decrease; diminish (2) to make appear larger - syn: exaggerate; embellish - ant: belittle; devalue |
| deign | v. to lower oneself before an inferior - syn: stoop; condescend |
| flaunt | v. to show off - syn: boast; exhibit - ant: conceal |
| shibboleth | n. a word or pronunciation that distinguishes someone as of a particular group |
| elicit | v. to draw forth; to call forth - syn: evoke; extract - ant: cover; suppress |
| orifice | mouth; opening |
| hallow | to make holy |
| perdition | damnation; ruin; hell |
| chaff | worthless matter |
| aesthetic | pertaining to beauty |
| empirical | based on practical experience rather than theory |
| germane | relevant; fitting |
| hermetic | tightly sealed |
| meretricious | attractive in a cheap, flashy way |
| querulous | complaining; grumbling |
| flaccid | flabby |
| hospice | a shelter for travelers, orphans, or the ill or destitute |
| egregious | remarkably bad; outrageous |
| ratiocinate | to reason; to think |
| foment | to stir up; to incite |