English Sat Vocabulary

Front 1

Abate

Back 1

to reduce or become less in value, amount or intensity.

Front 2

Aberration

Back 2

a deviation or departure from what is usual,normal or expected

Front 3

Abet

Back 3

to assist or encourage,especially in wrongdoing

Front 4

Abeyance

Back 4

a state of temporary disuse or suspension

Front 5

Abstemious

Back 5

not self indulgent especially when it comes to eating and drinking

Front 6

Abstruse

Back 6

very hard to understand, deep, complicated
Adjective

Front 7

Acrimonious

Back 7

angry and bitter, normally describing speech
Adjective

Front 8

Acumen

Back 8

the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, normally in a particular domain
"business" acumen

Front 9

Adamant

Back 9

stubborn, unyielding, inflexible
Adjective

Front 10

Aesthetic

Back 10

of or pert. to beauty, showing appreciation of or sensitivity to beauty in art or nature,tasteful, artistic
Adjective

Front 11

Affable

Back 11

Easy to talk to, pleasant, courteous,
Adjective

Front 12

Aggravate

Back 12

make a problem or injury worse
Verb

Front 13

Agnostic

Back 13

a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in god.
Noun

Front 14

Alacrity

Back 14

EAGER willingness, and promptness, speed, quickness
Noun

Front 15

Allegory

Back 15

a story or play with a symbolic meaning. Intended to teach a moral lesson.

Front 16

Alleviate

Back 16

to make easier to bear,lessen the intensity or severity of something
Verb

Front 17

Altercation

Back 17

an angry , loud dispute; vehement quarrel
Noun

Front 18

Altruistic

Back 18

unselfishly concerned with or interested in the welfare of others.
Adjective

Front 19

Amity

Back 19

a friendly relationship
Noun

Front 20

Anachronism

Back 20

something out of its proper historical place
Noun

Front 21

Analogy

Back 21

a comparison between two things, especially for clarification

Front 22

Anathema

Back 22

something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
Noun

Front 23

Apathy

Back 23

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Front 24

Apostate

Back 24

a person who renounces religious or political belief or principle
noun

Front 25

Apropos

Back 25

with reference to or concerning
Preposition

Front 26

Arbitrary

Back 26

based on ones own feelings or will, not based on reason or law

Front 27

Aroma

Back 27

a distinctive typically pleasant smell
Noun

Front 28

Ascetic

Back 28

characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe-self discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

Front 29

Askance

Back 29

with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval
adverb

Front 30

Askew

Back 30

at an angle
adverb and adjective

Front 31

Asperity

Back 31

harshness of tone or manner
Noun

Front 32

Assiduous

Back 32

showing careful, constant attention
Adjective

Front 33

Assuage

Back 33

to make less sever or intense
Verb

Front 34

Atavism

Back 34

relating to or characterized by return to something ancient or ancestral
Adjective

Front 35

Augment

Back 35

make something greater by adding to it, increasing
Verb

Front 36

Auspicious

Back 36

conducive to success favorable
Adjective

Front 37

Austere

Back 37

severely simple and plain, without ornament or luxury
Adjective

Front 38

Authentic

Back 38

of undisputed origin, genuine
Adjective

Front 39

Avarice

Back 39

extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Noun

Front 40

Averse

Back 40

having a strong dislike of or opposition to something

Front 41

Avid

Back 41

having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something : an avid reader of science fiction | she took an avid interest in the project.
Adjective

Front 42

Banal

Back 42

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring : songs with banal, repeated words.
Adjective

Front 43

Bellicose

Back 43

demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight : a group of bellicose patriots. See note at hostile .
Adjective

Front 44

Benign

Back 44

1 gentle; kindly : her face was calm and benign | his benign but firm manner.
• (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable
• not harmful to the environment : [in combination ] an ozone-benign refrigerant.
Adjective

Front 45

Bigoted

Back 45

obstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of one's own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold different opinions : a bigoted group of reactionaries.
Adjective

Front 46

Auspicious

Back 46

conducive to success favorable
Adjective

Front 47

Austere

Back 47

severely simple and plain, without ornament or luxury
Adjective

Front 48

Authentic

Back 48

of undisputed origin, genuine
Adjective

Front 49

Avarice

Back 49

extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Noun

Front 50

Averse

Back 50

having a strong dislike of or opposition to something

Front 51

Avid

Back 51

having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something : an avid reader of science fiction | she took an avid interest in the project.
Adjective

Front 52

Banal

Back 52

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring : songs with banal, repeated words.
Adjective

Front 53

Bellicose

Back 53

demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight : a group of bellicose patriots. See note at hostile .
Adjective

Front 54

Benign

Back 54

1 gentle; kindly : her face was calm and benign | his benign but firm manner.
• (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable
• not harmful to the environment : [in combination ] an ozone-benign refrigerant.
Adjective

Front 55

Bigoted

Back 55

obstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of one's own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold different opinions : a bigoted group of reactionaries.
Adjective

Front 56

Bucolic

Back 56

of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life : the church is lovely for its bucolic setting.
Adjective

Front 57

Bumptious

Back 57

self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree : these bumptious young boys today. See note at bold .
Adjective

Front 58

Cadaverous

Back 58

resembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony : he had a cadaverous appearance.
Adjective

Front 59

Cajole

Back 59

to persuade (an unwilling person) with gentle urging, teasing, and flattery

Front 60

Callous

Back 60

showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others : his callous comments about the murder made me shiver.
Adjective

Front 61

Calumny

Back 61

the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation; slander.
• a false and slanderous statement.
Noun

Front 62

Candid

Back 62

open and direct
Adjective

Front 63

Canine

Back 63

of, relating to, or resembling a dog or dogs : canine distemper virus.
• Zoology of or relating to animals of the dog family.
Adjective

Front 64

Cantankerous

Back 64

quick to dispute or quarrel, argumentative
Adjective

Front 65

Capricious

Back 65

subject to whim, fickle
Adjective

Front 66

Captious

Back 66

tending to find fault with or raise petty objections about people
JUDGEMENTAL
Adjective

Front 67

Caustic

Back 67

sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way : the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing.
Adjective

Front 68

Chaos

Back 68

complete disorder and confusion
Noun

Front 69

Charlatan

Back 69

a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill.
FRAUD
Noun

Front 70

Chastise

Back 70

to criticize or scold harshly
verb

Front 71

Chimerical

Back 71

fantastical, unbelievable

Front 72

Circumspect

Back 72

cautious, careful, considering all conditions before acting
Adjective

Front 73

Circumvent

Back 73

find a way around an obstacle
Verb

Front 74

Cite

Back 74

quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, esp. in a scholarly work.
Verb

Front 75

Clandestine

Back 75

kept secret or done secretively, esp. because illicit : she deserved better than these clandestine meetings. See note at secret .
Adjective

Front 76

Clement

Back 76

mild or merciful
Adjective

Front 77

Coerce

Back 77

persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats : they were coerced into silence.

Front 78

Cogent

Back 78

believable,persuasive,convincing, strongly appealing to the mind

Front 79

Cognizant

Back 79

having knowledge or being aware of : statesmen must be cognizant of the political boundaries within which they work
Adjective

Front 80

Collaborate

Back 80

work jointly on an activity, esp. to produce or create something : he collaborated with a distinguished painter on the designs.
Verb

Front 81

Comely

Back 81

(typically of a woman) pleasant to look at; attractive.
Adjective

Front 82

Compatible

Back 82

(of two things) able to exist or occur together without conflict : the fruitiness of Beaujolais is compatible with a number of meat dishes.
Adjective

Front 83

Complacent

Back 83

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements : you can't afford to be complacent about security.
Adjective

Front 84

Concur

Back 84

1 be of the same opinion; agree : the authors concurred with the majority | they concurred in the creation of the disciplinary procedures | “That's right,” the chairman concurred.
Verb

Front 85

Condolence

Back 85

an expression of sympathy, esp. on the occasion of a death : we offer our sincere condolences to his widow | letters of condolence.

Front 86

Condone

Back 86

accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue : the college cannot condone any behavior that involves illicit drugs.
Verb

Front 87

Conducive

Back 87

making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible : the harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.
Adjective

Front 88

Conjecture

Back 88

an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information : conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied | the purpose of the opening in the wall is open to conjecture.
Noun

Front 89

Connive

Back 89

secretly allow (something considered immoral, illegal, wrong, or harmful) to occur : you have it in your power to connive at my escape.
Verb

Front 90

Connoisseur

Back 90

an expert judge in matters of taste : a connoisseur of music.
Noun

Front 91

Construe

Back 91

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way : his words could hardly be construed as an apology. See note at clarify .
Verb

Front 92

Consummate

Back 92

make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse : his first wife refused to consummate their marriage.
Verb

Front 93

Contrite

Back 93

filled with regret, sorrow, or guilt
Adjective

Front 94

Convivial

Back 94

festive,merry, often referring to eating drinking, and good company

Front 95

Copious

Back 95

profuse, abundant (Copious amounts of Snapple were imbibed in the cafeteria.)
Adjective

Front 96

Corroborate

Back 96

to support with evidence (Luke’s seemingly outrageous claim was corroborated by witnesses.)

Front 97

Coterie

Back 97

a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people : a coterie of friends and advisers.
Noun

Front 98

Credence

Back 98

1 belief in or acceptance of something as true : psychoanalysis finds little credence among laymen.

Front 99

Credulous

Back 99

overly willing or eager to believe or trust
Adjective

Front 100

Culinary

Back 100

of or for cooking : culinary skills | savor the culinary delights of the region.
Adjective

Front 101

Culminate

Back 101

reach a climax or point of highest development : the tensions and disorders which culminated in World War II.
Verb

Front 102

Culpable

Back 102

deserving blame : sometimes you're just as culpable when you watch something as when you actually participate.
Adjective

Front 103

Cumbersome

Back 103

large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy : cumbersome diving suits.

Front 104

Haggard

Back 104

1 looking exhausted and unwell, esp. from fatigue, worry, or suffering : I trailed on behind, haggard and disheveled.
Adjective

Front 105

Halcyon

Back 105

denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful : the halcyon days of the mid-1980s, when profits were soaring
Adjective

Front 106

Harbinger

Back 106

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another : witch hazels are the harbingers of spring.
Noun

Front 107

Heinous

Back 107

(of a person or wrongful act, esp. a crime) utterly odious or wicked : a battery of heinous crimes.
Adjective

Front 108

Heresy

Back 108

• opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted : cutting capital gains taxes is heresy | the politician's heresies became the conventional wisdom of the day.
Noun

Front 109

Hibernate

Back 109

(of an animal or plant) spend the winter in a dormant state.
• figurative (of a person) remain inactive or indoors for an extended
Verb

Front 110

Hilarious

Back 110

extremely amusing : a hilarious dialogue from characters we never meet again.
• boisterously merry : an old man was in hilarious conversation with three young men.
Adjective

Front 111

Histrionic

Back 111

overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style : a histrionic outburst.
• formal of or concerning actors or acting : histrionic talents.
• Psychiatry denoting a personality disorder marked by shallow, volatile emotions, and attention-seeking behavior.
Adjective

Front 112

Hoax

Back 112

a humorous or malicious deception : they recognized the plan as a hoax | [as adj. ] he was accused of making hoax calls.
Noun

Front 113

Hoodwink

Back 113

deceive or trick (someone) : an attempt to hoodwink the public.
Verb

Front 114

Humid

Back 114

marked by a relatively high level of water vapor in the atmosphere : a hot and humid day.
Adjective

Front 115

Hybrid

Back 115

a thing made by combining two different elements; a mixture : the final text is a hybrid of the stage play and the film.
Noun

Front 116

Hyperbole

Back 116

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Noun

Front 117

Idiosyncrasy

Back 117

a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual : one of his little idiosyncrasies was always preferring to be in the car first.
Noun

Front 118

Ignominy

Back 118

public shame or disgrace : the ignominy of being imprisoned.
Noun

Front 119

Immaculate

Back 119

(esp. of a person or their clothes) perfectly clean, neat, or tidy : an immaculate white suit.
Adjective

Front 120

Immutable

Back 120

unchanging over time or unable to be changed : an immutable fact.

Front 121

Impale

Back 121

pierce or transfix with a sharp instrument : his head was impaled on a pike and exhibited for all to see.
Verb

Front 122

Impasse

Back 122

a situation in which no progress is possible, esp. because of disagreement; a deadlock : the current political impasse.
Noun

Front 123

Impeccable

Back 123

(of behavior, performance, or appearance) in accordance with the highest standards of propriety; faultless : a man of impeccable character.
Adjective

Front 124

in·ex·o·ra·ble

Back 124

1. unyielding; unalterable: inexorable truth; inexorable justice.
2. not to be persuaded, moved, or affected by prayers or entreaties: an inexorable creditor.

Front 125

in·ex·pli·ca·ble

Back 125

not explicable; incapable of being accounted for or explained.

Front 126

in·fer·ence

Back 126

. the act or process of inferring.

Front 127

in·gen·ious

Back 127

. free from reserve, restraint, or dissimulation; candid; sincere.
2. artless; innocent; naive.

Front 128

inimical

Back 128

.adjective
tending to obstruct or harm : actions inimical to our interests.
• unfriendly; hostile : an inimical alien power.

Front 129

Inordinate

Back 129

unusually or disproportionately large; excessive : a case that had taken up an inordinate amount of time.

Front 130

Inscrutable

Back 130

adjective
impossible to understand or interpret : Guy looked blankly inscrutable.

Front 131

Ingratiate

Back 131

bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them : a social climber who had tried to ingratiate herself with the city gentry.

Front 132

Insidious

Back 132

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects : sexually transmitted diseases can be insidious and sometimes without symptoms.

Front 133

Insipid

Back 133

adjective
lacking flavor : mugs of insipid coffee.
• lacking vigor or interest : many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works.

Front 134

Interminable

Back 134

adjective
endless (often used hyperbolically) : we got bogged down in interminable discussions. See note at eternal .

Front 135

Intrepid

Back 135

fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect) : our intrepid reporter. See note at bold .

Front 136

Intrinsic

Back 136

adjective
belonging naturally; essential : access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life. See note at inherent .

Front 137

inundate

Back 137

verb [ trans. ] (usu. be inundated)
flood : the islands may be the first to be inundated as sea levels rise.
• figurative overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with : we've been inundated with complaints from listeners.

Front 138

Invalidate

Back 138

verb [ trans. ]
1 make (an argument, statement, or theory) unsound or erroneous.
2 deprive (an official document or procedure) of legal efficacy because of contravention of a regulation or law : a technical flaw in her papers invalidated her nomination. See note at void .

Front 139

Inveigh

Back 139

speak or write about (something) with great hostility : Marx inveighed against the evils of the property-owning classes.

Front 140

Inveigle

Back 140

verb [ trans. ]
persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery : we cannot inveigle him into putting pen to paper. See note at tempt .
• ( inveigle oneself or one's way into) gain entrance to (a place) by using such methods.

Front 141

Inveterate

Back 141

adjective [ attrib. ]
having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change : he was an inveterate gambler.
• (of a feeling or habit) long-established and unlikely to change.

Front 142

Irascible

Back 142

adjective
(of a person) easily made angry.
• characterized by or arising from anger : their rebukes got progressively more irascible.

Front 143

Irony

Back 143

noun ( pl. -nies)
the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect : “Don't go overboard with the gratitude,” he rejoined with heavy irony. See note at wit .
• a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result : [with clause ] the irony is that I thought he could help me.
• (also dramatic or tragic irony) a literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character.

Front 144

Irrefutable

Back 144

adjective
impossible to deny or disprove : irrefutable evidence.

Front 145

Irrevocable

Back 145

adjective
not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered; final : an irrevocable step

Front 146

Jaunty

Back 146

adjective ( -tier, -tiest)
having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner : there was no mistaking that jaunty walk.

Front 147

Jeopardize

Back 147

verb [ trans. ]
put (someone or something) into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or failure : a devaluation of the dollar would jeopardize New York's position as a financial center.

Front 148

lach·ry·mose

Back 148

: given to tears or weeping : tearful
2
: tending to cause tears : mournful

Front 149

la·con·ic

Back 149

: using or involving the use of a minimum of words : concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious

Front 150

lam·bent

Back 150

1
: playing lightly on or over a surface : flickering
2
: softly bright or radiant
3
: marked by lightness or brilliance especially of expression

Front 151

la·tent

Back 151

: present and capable of emerging or developing but not now visible, obvious, active, or symptomatic <a latent infection>
2
:a fingerprint (as at the scene of a crime) that is scarcely visible but can be developed for study —called also latent fingerprint, latent print

Front 152

laud·able

Back 152

: worthy of praise : commendable

Front 153

le·nient

Back 153

: exerting a soothing or easing influence : relieving pain or stress
2
: of mild and tolerant disposition; especially : indulgent

Front 154

leth·ar·gy

Back 154

1
: abnormal drowsiness
2
: the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish, or indifferent

Front 155

lev·i·ty

Back 155

1
: excessive or unseemly frivolity
2
: lack of steadiness : changeableness

Front 156

lon·gev·i·ty

Back 156

1
a : a long duration of individual life b : length of life <a study of longevity>
2
: long continuance : permanence, durability

Front 157

lo·qua·cious

Back 157

1
: full of excessive talk : wordy
2
: given to fluent or excessive talk : garrulous

Front 158

lu·cid

Back 158

1
a : suffused with light : luminous b : translucent <snorkeling in the lucid sea>
2
: having full use of one's faculties : sane
3
: clear to the understanding : intelligible

Front 159

lu·cra·tive

Back 159

: producing wealth : profitable

Front 160

lu·gu·bri·ous

Back 160

1
: mournful; especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful <dark, dramatic and lugubrious brooding — V. S. Pritchett>
2
: dismal <a lugubrious landscape>

Front 161

lu·mi·nary

Back 161

: a person of prominence or brilliant achievement
2
: a body that gives light; especially : one of the celestial bodies

Front 162

lu·rid

Back 162

1
a : causing horror or revulsion : gruesome b : melodramatic, sensational; also : shocking <paperbacks in the usual lurid covers — T. R. Fyvel>
2
a : wan and ghastly pale in appearance b : of any of several light or medium grayish colors ranging in hue from yellow to orange
3
: shining with the red glow of fire seen through smoke or cloud

Front 163

mag·nan·i·mous

Back 163

1
: showing or suggesting a lofty and courageous spirit <the irreproachable lives and magnanimous sufferings of their followers — Joseph Addison>
2
: showing or suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind <too sincere for dissimulation, too magnanimous for resentment — Ellen Glasgow>

Front 164

1man·a·cle

Back 164

1
: a shackle for the hand or wrist : handcuff —usually used in plural
2
: something used as a restraint
1
: to confine (the hands) with manacles
2
: to make fast or secure : bind; broadly : to restrain from movement, progress, or action

Front 165

maud·lin

Back 165

1
: drunk enough to be emotionally silly
2
: weakly and effusively sentimental

Front 166

men·dac·i·ty

Back 166

1
: the quality or state of being mendacious (mendacious=given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth <mendacious tales of his adventures> )

Front 167

men·di·cant

Back 167

: beggar 1
2
often capitalized : a member of a religious order (as the Franciscans) combining monastic life and outside religious activity and originally owning neither personal nor community property : friar

Front 168

mer·ce·nary

Back 168

: one that serves merely for wages; especially : a soldier hired into foreign service

Front 169

meta·mor·pho·sis

Back 169

1
a : change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means b : a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances
2
: a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching

Front 170

me·tic·u·lous

Back 170

: marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details <a meticulous researcher

Front 171

mis·no·mer

Back 171

: the misnaming of a person in a legal instrument
2
a : a use of a wrong or inappropriate name b : a wrong name or inappropriate designation

Front 172

mis·sile

Back 172

an object (as a weapon) thrown or projected usually so as to strike something at a distance <stones, artillery shells, bullets, and rockets are missiles>
1
: capable of being thrown or projected to strike a distant object
2
: adapted for throwing or hurling missiles

Front 173

mis·sive

Back 173

: a written communication : letter

Front 174

mit·i·gate

Back 174

transitive verb
1
: to cause to become less harsh or hostile : mollify <aggressiveness may be mitigated or … channeled — Ashley Montagu>
2
a : to make less severe or painful : alleviate

Front 175

mol·li·fy

Back 175

transitive verb
1
: to soothe in temper or disposition : appease <mollified the staff with a raise>
2
: to reduce the rigidity of : soften
3
: to reduce in intensity : assuage, temper

Front 176

Moot

Back 176

1
: a deliberative assembly primarily for the administration of justice; especially : one held by the freemen of an Anglo-Saxon community
2
obsolete : argument, discussion
1
archaic : to discuss from a legal standpoint : argue
2
a : to bring up for discussion : broach b : debate
1
a : open to question : debatable b : subjected to discussion : disputed
2
: deprived of practical significance : made abstract or purely academic

Front 177

mor·bid

Back 177

1
a : of, relating to, or characteristic of disease <morbid anatomy> b : affected with or induced by disease <a morbid condition> c : productive of disease <morbid substances>
2
: abnormally susceptible to or characterized by gloomy or unwholesome feelings
3
: grisly, gruesome <morbid details> <morbid curiosity>

Front 178

1mot·ley

Back 178

1
: variegated in color <a motley coat>
2
: composed of diverse often incongruous elements <a motley crowd>
1
: a woolen fabric of mixed colors made in England between the 14th and 17th centuries
2
: a garment made of motley; especially : the characteristic dress of the professional fool
3
: jester, fool
4
: a mixture especially of incongruous elements

Front 179

mun·dane

Back 179

1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the world
2
: characterized by the practical, transitory, and ordinary : commonplace <the mundane concerns of day-to-day life>

Front 180

mu·nif·i·cent

Back 180

1
: very liberal in giving or bestowing : lavish
2
: characterized by great liberality or generosity

Front 181

Murky

Back 181

1
: characterized by a heavy dimness or obscurity caused by or like that caused by overhanging fog or smoke
2
: characterized by thickness and heaviness of air : foggy, misty
3
: darkly vague or obscure <murky official rhetoric>

Front 182

na·dir

Back 182

1
: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer
2
: the lowest point

Front 183

na·ive

Back 183

1
: marked by unaffected simplicity : artless, ingenuous
2
a : deficient in worldly wisdom or informed judgment; especially : credulous b : not previously subjected to experimentation or a particular experimental situation <made the test with naive rats>; also : not having previously used a particular drug (as marijuana) c : not having been exposed previously to an antigen <naive T cells>
3
a : self-taught, primitive b : produced by or as if by a self-taught artist <naive murals>

Front 184

neb·u·lous

Back 184

1
: of, relating to, or resembling a nebula (any of numerous clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space or galaxy): nebular
2
: indistinct, vague

Front 185

ne·far·i·ous

Back 185

: flagrantly wicked or impious : evil

Front 186

nig·gard·ly

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1
: grudgingly mean about spending or granting : begrudging
2
: provided in meanly limited supply

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noc·tur·nal

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1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night <a nocturnal journey>
2
: active at night <a nocturnal predator>

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no·mad·ic

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1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of nomads <a nomadic tribe>
2
: roaming about from place to place aimlessly, frequently, or without a fixed pattern of movement

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nom·i·nal

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1
: of, relating to, or being a noun or a word or expression taking a noun construction
2
a : of, relating to, or constituting a name b : bearing the name of a person
3
a : existing or being something in name or form only <nominal head of his party> b : of, being, or relating to a designated or theoretical size that may vary from the actual : approximate <the pipe's nominal size> c : trifling, insignificant <his involvement was nominal> <charged only nominal rent>
4
of a rate of interest a : equal to the annual rate of simple interest that would obtain if interest were not compounded when in fact it is compounded and paid for periods of less than a year b : equal to the percentage by which a repaid loan exceeds the principal borrowed with no adjustment made for inflation
5
: being according to plan : satisfactory <everything was nominal during the launch>
1
a word or word group functioning as a noun

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non·cha·lance

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: the quality or state of being nonchalant (having an air of easy unconcern or indifference)

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non·en·ti·ty

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1
: something that does not exist or exists only in the imagination; nonexistence
2
: a person or thing of little consequence or significance
See nonentity defined for English-language learners »
See nonentity defined for kids »

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nov·ice

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1
: a person admitted to probationary membership in a religious community
2
: beginner, tyro

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ob·du·rate

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1
a : stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing b : hardened in feelings
2
: resistant to persuasion or softening influences

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Obese

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: having excessive body fat

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oblit·er·ate

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1
a : to remove utterly from recognition or memory b : to remove from existence : destroy utterly all trace, indication, or significance of c : to cause to disappear (as a bodily part or a scar) or collapse (as a duct conveying body fluid) : remove 4 <a blood vessel obliterated by inflammation>
2
: to make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or wearing away
3
: cancel 4

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obliv·i·on

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1
: the fact or condition of forgetting or having forgotten; especially : the condition of being oblivious
2
: the condition or state of being forgotten or unknown

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ob·lo·quy

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1
: a strongly condemnatory utterance : abusive language
2
: the condition of one that is discredited : bad repute