 | Term | Definition |
| |
Abate |
subside or moderate |
| |
Aberrant |
abnormal or deviant |
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Abrasive |
rubbing away, tending to grind down |
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Abridge |
condense, shorten |
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Absolute |
complete, totally unlimited, certain |
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Abstemious |
sparing in eating and drinking, temperate |
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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 |
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Acknowledge |
recognize, admit |
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Acquiesce |
assent, agree without protesting |
| |
Acrimonious |
bitter in words or manner |
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Acute |
quickly perceptive, keen, brief, severe |
| |
Address |
direct a speech to, deal with or discuss |
| |
Adherent |
supporter, follower |
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Adjacent |
neighboring, adjoining |
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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 |
