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486 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abase
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verb: to humble; disgrace
syn: demean, humiliate |
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abate
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verb: to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
syn: ebb; lapse; let up; moderate; relent; slacken; subside; wane |
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abdicate
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verb: to give up a position, right, or power
syn: cede; relinquish; resign; quit; yield |
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aberrant
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adjective: deviating from what is normal or expected
syn: abnormal; anomalous; deviant; divergent; errant; irregular |
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abeyance
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noun: temporary suppression or suspension
syn: deferral; delay; dormancy; postponement; remission |
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abjure
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verb: to reject; abandon formally
the spy abjured his allegiance to the U.S. syn: forswear; recall; recant; retract; take back |
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abscond
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verb: to leave secretly
syn: decamp; escape; flee |
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abstain
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verb: to choose not to do something
syn: forbear; refrain; withhold |
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abstemious
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adjective: moderate in appetite
syn: abstinent; continent; self-restraining; sober; temperate |
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abyss
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noun: an extremely deep hole
syn: chasm; void |
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accretion
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noun: a growth in size; an increase in amount
syn: accumulation; buildup |
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acidulous
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adjective: sour in taste or manner
the acidulous taste of the spoiled milk syn: acerbic; acetose; biting; piquant; pungent; tart |
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acme
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noun: highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable
syn: apex; peak; summit |
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adulterate
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verb: to make impure
syn: debase; doctor; load |
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advocate
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verb: to speak in favor of
syn: back; champion; support |
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aerie
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noun: a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded dwelling
high among the trees, the eagle's aerie was filled w/ eggs syn: perch; stronghold |
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aesthetic
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adjective: concerning the appreciation of beauty
syn: artistic; tasteful |
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affected
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adjective: phony; artificial
syn: insincere; pretentious; put-on |
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aggrandize
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verb: to increase in power, influence and reputation
syn: amplify; augment; elevate |
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alacrity
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noun: promptness; cheerful readiness
syn: eagerness, swiftness |
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alleviate
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verb: to ease, to make more bearable
syn: lessen; lighten; mitigate; relieve |
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amalgamation
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noun: a merger, a uniting of elements
the amalgamation of mr and game formed browntown syn: compound; fusing |
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ambiguous
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adjective: doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways
syn: obscure; unclear; vague |
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ameliorate
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verb: to make better; improve
syn: pacify; upgrade; make more tolerable |
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amortize
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verb: to diminish by installment payments
i must amortize my student loans after graduating pt school. |
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amulet
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noun: ornament worn as a charm againts evil spirits
syn: fetish; talisman |
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anachronism
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noun: something out of place in time
syn: archaism; incongruity |
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juncture
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noun: point of time, especially where two things are joined
syn: confluence; convergence; crisis; crossroads; moment |
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keen
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adjective: having a sharp edge; intellectually sharp, perceptive
syn: acute; canny; quick |
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kindle
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verb: to set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire
syn: arouse; awaken; light; spark |
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kinetic
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adjective: relating to motion; characterized by movement
the kinetic sculpture moved back and forth syn: active; dynamic; mobile |
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knell
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noun: sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure
people heard the knell from the church belfry, they knew that superman died syn: chime; peal; toll |
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kudos
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noun: fame; glory; honor
the actress accepted kudos from the press syn: acclaim; accolade; encomium; homage; praise |
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lachrymose
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adjective: tearful
Jenilee and I no longer get lachrymose when saying goodbye. syn: teary; weepy |
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laconic
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adjective: using few words
ray is laconic; he doesnt talk much syn: concise; curt; pithy; taciturn; terse |
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lament
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verb: to express sorrow, to grieve
lament the death of simon syn: bewail; deplore; grieve; mourn |
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lampoon
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verb: to ridicule with satire
syn: tease |
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languid
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adjective: lacking energy, slow; indifferent; not giving a fuck
syn: faineant; lackadaisical; listless; sluggish; weak |
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lapidary
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adjective: relating to precious stones or the art of cutting them
since my dad works at sterling, he must be familiar with lapidary work. |
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larceny
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noun: theft of property
stealing a wallet is petty larceny syn: burglary; robbery; stealing |
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largess
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noun: generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior
Clara cu w/ her sweet hybrid camry lives off her rich parents' largess syn: benevolence; boon; compliment; favor; present |
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lassitude
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noun: a state of diminished energy
syn: debilitation; enervation; fatigue; languor; listlessness; tiredness; weariness |
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latent
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adjective: potential that is not readily apparent
syn: concealed; dormant; inert; potential; quiescent |
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laud
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verb: to give praise, to glorify
syn: acclaim; applaud; commend; compliment; exalt; extol; hail; praise |
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lavish
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adjective: extremely generous or extravagant
syn: extravagant; exuberant; luxuriant; opulent; prodigal; profuse; superabundant |
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leery
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adjective: suspicious
syn: distrustful; guarded; wary |
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legerdemain
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noun: trickery
syn: chicanery; conjuring |
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lethargic
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adjective: acting in an indifferent, i dont give a fuck, or slow, sluggish manner
the asshole clerk was so lethargic that even when business was slow, he always had a long line in front of him syn: apathetic; lackadaisical; languid; listless; torpid |
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levity
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noun: an inappropriate lack of seriousness, overly casual
the joke added levity to the serious meeting syn: amusement; humor |
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liberal
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adjective: tolerant, broad-minded; generous, lavish
syn: bounteous; latitudinarian; munificent; permissive; progressive |
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libertine
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noun: a free thinker, often used in a bad way; one without moral restraint
the libertine took pleasure in gambling away his family's money syn: hedonist |
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licentious
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adjective: immoral; unrestrained by society
syn: lewd; wanton |
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limpid
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adjective: clear, transparent
syn: lucid; pellucid; serene |
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lionize
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verb: to treat as a celebrity
sacha said that arkansas football players were lionized by the town, b/c they were the only good sports team in the state. syn: feast; honor; ply; regale |
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lissome
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adjective: easily flexed, limber, agile
the lissome yoga instructor the lissome gymnastics hottie the lissome gator cheerleader syn: graceful; lithe; supple |
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listless
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adjective: lacking energy and enthusiasm
syn: faineant; indolent; languid; lethargic; sluggish |
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livid
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adjective: discolored from a bruise; pale; reddened with anger
syn: ashen; black-and-blue; furious; pallid |
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loquacious
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adjective: talkative
syn: effusive; garrulous; verbose |
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lucid
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adjective: clear and easily understood
syn: clear; coherent; explicit; intelligible; limpid |
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lugubrious
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adjective: sorrowful, mournful; dismal
lugubrious funeral services syn: funereal; gloomy; melancholy; somber; woeful |
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lumber
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verb: to move slowly and awkwardly
the bear lumbered toward the trashcan smelling of food syn: galumph; hulk; lurch; stumble |
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luminous
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adjective: bright, brilliant, glowing
syn: incandescent; lucent; lustrous; radiant; resplendent |
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machination
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noun: plot or scheme
syn: cabal; conspiracy; design; intrigue |
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maelstrom
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noun: whirpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind
the maelstrom of war syn: Charybdis; eddy; turbulence |
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magnate
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noun: powerful or influencial person
the sports magnate bought two football teams syn: dignitary; luminary; nabob; potentate; tycoon |
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malediction
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noun: a curse; a wish of evil upon another
fall in love with the Beast to end the witch's malediction syn: anathema; imprecation |
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malinger
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verb: to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
people try to avoid the draft by malingering - pretending to be sick or retarded so the army doesnt take you syn: shirk; slack |
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malleable
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adjective: capable of being shaped
syn: adaptable; ductile; plastic; pliable; pliant |
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mannered
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adjective: artificial or stilted in character
Lola norma's mannered behavior in public makes me think she's a phony. syn: affected; unnatural |
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mar
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verb: to damage, deface; spoil
streetlights mar the beauty of the woods around hudson, ohio syn: blemish; disfigure; impair; injure; scar |
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martinet
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noun: strict disciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules
syn: dictator; stickler; tyrant |
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maudlin
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adjective: overly sentimental
the death scene was supposed to be sad, but instead was maudlin, so it made people cringe syn: bathetic; mawkish; saccharine; weepy |
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mendacious
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adjective: dishonest
When jenilee told raymond that she won the lottery, raymond knew she was being mendacious syn: deceitful; false; lying; untruthful |
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mendicant
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noun: beggar
syn: panhandler; pauper |
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mercurial
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adjective: quick, shrewd, and upredictable
her mercurial personality made it difficult to guess how she would react to the bad news. syn: clever; crafty; volatile; whimsical |
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meretricious
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adjective: gaudy; falsely attractive
the casino's meretricious decor syn: flashy; insincere; loud; specious; tawdry |
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metaphor
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noun: figure of speech comparing two different things
syn: allegory; analogy; simile; symbol |
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meticulous
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adjective: extremely careful, fastidious, painstaking
syn: finicky; fussy; picky; precise; punctilious; scrupulous |
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militate
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verb: to operate againts, work againts
syn: influence; affect; change |
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mirth
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noun: frivolity, gaiety, laughter
jokes contributed to the mirth at the dinner party syn: glee; hilarity; jollity; merriment |
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misanthrope
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noun: a person who dislikes others
ray is a misanthrope and the grinch syn: curmudgeon |
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missive
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noun: a written note or letter
when we first started going out, jenilee wrote me a missive for a christmas give syn: message |
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mitigate
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verb: to soften, to lessen
the judge mitigated the sentence b/c the black dude was beating up a guy from the kkk syn: allay, alleviate, assuage, mollify, palliate, temper |
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mollify
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verb: to calm or make less severe
syn: appease, assuage, conciliate, pacify |
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molt
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verb: to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically
the snake's molted skin syn: cast; defoliate; desquamate |
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monastic
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adjective: extremely plain or secluded as in a monastery
The monk lived in a monastic house. syn: austere, contemplative, disciplined, regimented, self-abnegating |
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monotony
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noun: no variation, tediously the same
syn: drone, tedium |
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mores
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noun: fixed customs or manners, moral attitudes
The mores in Catholicism state that premarital sex is bad. syn: conventions, practices |
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multifarious
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adjective: diverse
FSA is multifarious; It has many different cultures. syn: assorted, indiscriminate, heterogeneous, legion, motley, multifold, multiform, multiplex, multivarious, populous, varied, variegated |
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myopic
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adjective: lacking forsight (not looking ahead), having a narrow view or long range perspective
The myopic freshman thought that he could have fun his freshman year, and worry about grades and volunteering later. syn: short-sighted, unthinking |
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nadir
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noun: lowest point
Britney getting fat and marrying K-Fed was the nadir of her career. syn: bottom, depth, pit |
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naive
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adjective: lacking sophistication or experience
Jenilee was naive during the first day of her audiological assistant job. syn: artless, guileless, credulous, ingenuous, simple, unaffected, unsophisticated |
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nascent
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adjective: starting to develop, coming into existence
When Cat got pregnant, Maddy was in the nascent stage. syn: embryonic, emerging, inchoate, incipient |
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neologism
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noun: new word or expression
I created a neologism for Raymond's pee pee which is Mr. Beluga. syn: slang |
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neophyte
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noun: novice, beginner
The first year I played flag football, I was a neophyte. syn: apprentice, greenhorn, tyro |
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nettle
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verb: to irritate
When Jenilee swings her hands back and forth while holding hands, she nettles me. syn: annoy, vex |
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noisome
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adjective: stinking, putrid
Raymond's fart give off a noisome odor. syn: disgusting, foul, malodorous |
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nominal
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adjective: existing in name only, negligible
Raymond is a nominal member of Golden Key. syn: minimal, titular |
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nuance
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noun: a subtle expression of meaning or quality
syn: gradations, subtlety, tone |
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numismatics
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noun: coin collecting
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obdurate
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adjective: stubborn, resistant to persuasion
Raymond is obdurate about one thing, no talking while watching Lost. syn: inflexible, intransigent, recalcitrant, tenacious, unyielding |
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oblique
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adjective: indirect, evasive, misleading, devious
syn: glancing, slanted, tangential |
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obsequious
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adjective: overly submissive and eager to please
syn: compliant; deferential; servile; subservient |
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obstinate
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adjective: stubborn, unyielding
syn: intransigent; mulish; persistent; pertinacious; stubborn; tenacious |
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obviate
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verb: to prevent; to make unnecessary
syn: forestall; preclude; prohibit |
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occlude
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verb: to stop up, prevent the passage of
syn: barricade; block; close; obstruct |
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officious
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adjective: too helpful, meddlesome
syn: eager; intrusive; unwanted |
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onerous
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adjective: troublesome and oppresive; burdensome; really hard
syn: arduous; backbreaking; burdensome; cumbersome; difficult; exacting; formidable, hard; laborious; oppresive; rigorous; taxing; trying |
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opaque
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adjective: impossible to see through, preventing the passage of light
syn: obscure |
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opine
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verb: to express an opinion
raymond opined that he deserved to be on wolfpack more than matt and his butt buddies syn: point out; voice |
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opprobrium
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noun: public disgrace
after the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter opprobrium. syn: discredit; disgrace; dishonor; disrepute; ignominy; infamy; obloquy; shame |
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orotund
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adjective: pompous
Jarrod's orotund babble about he's an "all-star" at every football position makes me sick. syn: aureate; bombastic; declamatory; euphuistic; flowery; grandiloquent; magniloquent; oratorical; overblown; sonorous |
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ossify
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verb: to change into bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern
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ostensible
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adjective: apparent
the ostensible reason for ray observing longer at university hospital was to do more observation hours, but he secretly wanted to spend more time with Kellie. syn: represented; supposed; surface |
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ostentation
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noun: excessive showiness
the ostentation of the french kings showed in their huge and lavish and luxurious chateus syn: conspicuousness; flashiness; pretentiousness; showiness |
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overwrought
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adjective: agitated, overdone
the lawyer's overwrought voice on the phone made her clients worry about the outcome of their case syn: elaborate; excited; nervous; ornate |
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palatial
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adjective: relating to a palace; magnificent
syn: grand; stately |
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palliate
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verb: to make less serious; ease
the crime was so vicious that the defense lawyer could not palliate it for the jury syn: alleviate; assuage; extenuate; mitigate |
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pallid
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adjective: lacking color or liveliness
syn: ashen; blanched; ghostly; pale; wan |
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panache
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noun: flamboyance or dash in style and action; verve
Sarah has such panache when planning parties, even when they're last-minute affairs. syn: flair |
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panegyric
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noun: elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
the director's panegyric for the donor who kept his charity going was heart warming. syn: compliment; homage |
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panoply
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noun: impressive array
Ryan Balmes' application to PT school indicates a panoply of skills and accomplishments. syn: array; display; range |
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paradox
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noun: a contradiction or dilemma
it is a paradox that those in most need of medical attention are often those least able to obtain it. syn: ambiguity; incongruity |
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paragon
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noun: model of excellence or perfection
syn: apotheosis; ideal; quintessence; standard |
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pare
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verb: to trim off excess; reduce
the cook pared hundreds of potatoes for the banquet. syn: clip; peel |
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pariah
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noun: an outcast
he was banished and lived the life of a pariah pariah sang "hey-ya" syn: castaway; derelict; leper; offscouring; untouchable |
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parley
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noun: discussion, usually between enemies
syn: debate; dialogue; negotiations; talks |
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parry
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verb: to ward off or deflect, especially by a quick-witted answer
kari parried every question the army officers fired at her, much to their frustration syn: avoid; evade; repel |
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pastiche
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noun: piece of literature or music imitating other works
weird al sings a lot of pastiches syn: medley; spoof |
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pathogenic
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adjective: causing disease
syn: infecting; noxious |
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peccadillo
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noun: minor sin or offense
Raymond tends to harp on his RJ's peccadillos and never lets him live them down. syn: failing; fault; lapse; misstep |
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pedant
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noun: someone who shows off learning
syn: doctrinaire; nit-picker; pedagogue; scholar; schoolmaster; sophist |
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pejorative
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adjective: having bad connotations; disparaging
the teacher scolded mark for his unduly pejorative comments about his classmate's presentation. syn: belittling; dismissive; insulting |
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penury
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noun: an oppressive lack of resources (as money); severe poverty
syn: destitution; impoverishment |
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peregrinate
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verb: to wander from place to place; to travel, especially on foot
we enjoyed peregrinating the city of paris last summer. syn: journey; traverse; trek |
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perfidious
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adjective: willing to betray one's trust
syn: disloyal; faithless; traitorous; treacherous |
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perfunctory
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adjective: done in a routine way; indifferent
the machine-like teller gave the customer a perfunctory smile we say goodnight in a perfunctory manner syn: apathetic; automatic; mechanical |
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peripatetic
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adjective: wandering from place to place, especially on foot
Raymond's peripatetic meanderings took him all over london. syn: itinerant; nomadic; wayfaring |
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permeate
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verb: to penetrate
the new cleaning fluid is able to permeate stains syn: imbue; infuse; pervade; suffuse |
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perspicacious
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adjective: shrewd, astute; keen-witted
the inspector used his perspicacious mind to solve mysteries. syn: insightful; intelligent; sagacious |
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pervade
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verb: to be present throughout; to permeate
garlic pervade almost every dish tito sonny makes syn: imbue; infuse; penetrate; permeate; suffuse |
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phalanx
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noun: a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things
a phalanx of guards stood outside the prime minister's home syn: legion; mass |
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philanthropy
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noun: charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
syn: altruism; humanitarianism |
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philistine
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noun: a person who is guided by materialism and is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values
The philistine cared more about how much money the rare violin was worth, instead of appreciating how artistically beautiful it was. syn: boor; bourgeois; capitalist; clown; lout; materialist; vulgarian |
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phlegmatic
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adjective: calm and unemotional in temperament
the phlegmatic demolition expert remained calm as he dismantled the bomb |
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pithy
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adjective: profound, substantial; concise, succinct, to the point
Ray's pithy comments during the interview must have been impressive because she got the job. syn: brief; compact; laconic; terse |
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placate
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verb: to soothe or pacify
syn: appease; conciliate; mollify |
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plastic
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adjective: able to be molded, altered, or bent
the material was very plastic and could be formed into products of vastly different shape syn: adaptable; ductile; malleable; pliant |
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plebian
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adjective: crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners
the graduate settled in for a weekend of plebian socializing and television watching syn: conventional; unrefined |
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plethora
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noun: excess
syn: glut; overabundance; superfluity; surfeit |
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plucky
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adjective: courageous; spunky
the plucky young raymond told jenilee that he liked her that one night on the bench outside 1425. syn: bold; brave; gutsy |
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polemic
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noun: controversy, argument; verbal attack
the candidate's polemic againts his opponent was vicious and small-minded rather than convicing and well-reasoned syn: denunciation; refutation |
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politic
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adjective: shrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic
she explained he problem to the judge in a respectful and politic manner. syn: tactful |
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polyglot
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noun: a speaker of many laguages
Raymond was impressed by auntie conchita and the hot red head mom, both polyglots. |
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posit
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verb: to assume as real or conceded; propose as an explanation
we need to posit that x and y are real numbers syn: suggest |
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potentate
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noun: a monarch or ruler with great power
Alex was much kinder before he assumed the role of potentate. syn: dominator; leader |
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pragmatic
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adjective: practical, as opposed to idealistic
pragmatic gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked againts them. syn: rational; realistic |
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prattle
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noun: meaningless, foolish talk
her husband's mindless prattle drove heidi insane; sometimes she wished he would just shut up. syn: babble; blather; chatter; drivel; gibberish |
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precipitate
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verb: to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
Bob and edna's whirlwind courtship precipitated their hasty nuptials. syn: hurl; rush |
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precis
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noun: short summary of facts
Farah wrote a precis of her thisis on the epic poem syn: summation |
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prescient
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adjective: having foresight
Filiman's decision to sell the condo seemed to be a prescient on, as its value soon dropped by half. syn: augural; divinatory; mantic; oracular; premonitory |
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prevaricate
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verb: to lie or deviate from the truth
syn: equivocate; lie; perjure |
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pristine
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adjective: fresh and clean, uncorrupted
since looting was prevented, the archeological site was still pristine when the researchers arrived. since the shirt is so expensive, ray wanted to get a gator polo in pristine condition. syn: innocent; undamaged |
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probity
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noun: complete honesty and integrity
syn: integrity; morality; rectitude; uprightness; virtue |
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proclivity
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noun: a natural inclination or predispostion
her childhood love of acting indicated a proclivity for the theater later in life. syn: bias; leaning; partiality; penchant; prediliction; predisposition; prejudice; propensity |
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prodigal
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adjective: lavish; wasteful
the prodigal son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on luxurious stuff. syn: extravagant; lavish; profligate; spendthrift; wasteful |
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profligate
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adjective: corrupt, degenerate
it was the Roman's decadent, profligate behavior that led to the decline of the Roman empire syn: dissolute; extravagant; improvident; prodigal; wasteful |
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proliferate
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verb: to increase in number quickly
syn: breed; multiply; procreate; propagate; reproduce; spawn |
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propitiate
|
verb: to conciliate, to appease
the vikings propitiated their angry gods with many sacrifices syn: appease: conciliate; mollify; pacify; placate |
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propriety
|
noun: the quality of behaving in a proper manner, obeying rules and customs
the aristocracy maintained a high level of propriety, adhering to event he most minor social rules syn: appropriateness; decency; decorum; modesty |
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prudence
|
noun: wisdom, caution, or restraint
the college student exhibited prudence by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resume. syn: astuteness; circumspection; discretion; frugality; judiciousness; providence; thrift |
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puerile
|
adjective: childish, immature, silly
The boss in the show The Office has funny puerile antics; he acts like a five year old! syn: infantile; jejune; juvenile |
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pugilism
|
noun: boxing
syn: fighting; sparring |
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pulchritude
|
noun: beauty
I gazed in admiration of Kellie, stunned by her incredible pulchritude. syn: comeliness; gorgeousness; handsomeness; loveliness; prettiness |
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pungent
|
adjective: sharp and irritating to the senses
syn: acrid; caustic; piquant; poignant; stinging |
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pusillanimous
|
adjective: cowardly, without courage
syn: cowardly; timid |
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querulous
|
adjective: inclined to complain, irritable
Jenilee is especially querulous when she's either on her period or hungry. syn: peevish; puling; sniveling; whiny |
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quiescent
|
adjective: motionless
many animals are quiescent over the winter months syn: dormant; latent |
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quixotic
|
adjective: overly idealistic; impractical
quixotic plans to build a roller coaster in the back yard syn: capricious; impulsive; romantic; unrealistic |
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quotidian
|
adjective: occuring daily; commonplace
the sight of people performing on the street is so quotidian in many tourist areas in london and france syn: everyday; normal; usual |
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raconteur
|
noun: witty, skillful storyteller
the raconteur entertained us with his stories syn: anecdotalist; monologist |
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rarefy
|
verb: to make thinner or sparser
the atmosphere rarefies as altitude increases syn: attenuate; thin |
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redress
|
noun: relief from wrong or injury
seeking redress for the injuries she had received in the accident, Doreen sued the driver of the truck that hit her. syn: amends; indemnity; quittance; reparation; restitution |
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rejoinder
|
noun: response
patrick tried desperately to think of a clever rejoinder to Mary's joke, but he couldn't syn: retort; riposte |
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repast
|
noun: meal or mealtime
ravi prepared a delicious repast of chicken tikka and naan. syn: banquet; feast |
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replete
|
adjective: abundantly supplied, complete
super walmart is replete with consumer products of every kind syn: abounding; full |
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repose
|
noun: relaxation; leisure
after a hard work week, Ray finds his repose on weekends watching Florida football and sleeping. syn: calmness; tranquility |
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repudiate
|
verb: to reject the validity of
the old woman's claim that she was russian royalty was repudiated when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them. syn: deny; disavow; disclaim; disown; renounce |
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requite
|
verb: to return or repay
Thanks UF for offering to lend me 3,000 dollars, but I know i'll never be able to requite your generosity. syn: compensate; reciprocate |
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restive
|
adjective: impatient; uneasy; restless
the passengers waiting in line behind us at the airport in Brussels became restive after waiting in line for a long time, b/c the system couldn't check in 5 people. syn: agitated; anxious; fretful |
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reticent
|
adjective: silent, reserved
syn: cool; introverted; laconic; standoffish; taciturn; undemonstrative |
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rhetoric
|
noun: effective writing or speaking
lincoln's talent for rhetoric was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg Address. syn: eloquence; oratory |
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ribald
|
adjective: humorous in a vulgar way
That retarded kids fart was ribald. the jester's ribald brand of humor delighted the uncouth king. syn: coarse; gross; indelicate; lewd; obscene |
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rococo
|
adjective: very highly ornamented
the ornate furniture reminded tilly of the rococo style syn: intricate; ornate |
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rustic
|
adjective: rural
the rustic cabin was an ideal setting for a vacation in the country syn: bucolic; pastoral |
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sacrosanct
|
adjective: extremely sacred; beyond criticism
many people considered mother teresa to be sacrosanct and would not tolerate any criticism of her. syn: holy; inviolable; off-limits |
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sagacious
|
adjective: shrewd, wise
owls have a reputation for being sagacious, b/c their eyes look like glasses syn: astute, judicious; perspacacious; sage; wise |
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salient
|
adjective: prominent, of notable significance
auntie conchita's most salient characteristic is her being officious syn: marked; noticeable; outstanding |
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salubrious
|
adjective: healthful
rita hoped that the fresh mountain air would have a salubrious effect on her health syn: bracing; curative; medicinal; therapeutic; tonic |
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sanguine
|
adjective: ruddy; cheerfully optimistic
a sanguine person thinks the glass is half full syn: confident; hopeful, positive; rosy; robicund |
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sardonic
|
adjective: cynical; scornfully mocking
Isabella was offended by the sardonic way in which her date made fun of her ideas and opions. syn: acerbic; caustic; sarcastic; satirical |
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satiate
|
verb: to satisfy fully or overindulge
syn: cloy; glut; gorge; surfeit |
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scintilla
|
noun: trace amount
the poison is so powerful that no more than a scintilla of it is needed to kill a horse. syn: atom; iota; mote; spark; speck |
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sedition
|
noun: behavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder againts the state
syn: conspiracy; insurrection |
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sentient
|
adjective: aware; conscious, able to perceive
The dumb girl who wanted to be hypnotized was still sentient when turk cut her open. dumbass syn: feeling; intelligent; thinking |
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seraphic
|
adjective: angelic, sweet
selena's seraphic appearance belied her nasty, bitter personality syn: cherubic; heavenly |
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|
sinecure
|
noun: a well-payig job or office that requires little or no work
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slake
|
verb: to calm down or moderate
in order to slake his want of a new gator polo, ray went ahead and bought one. syn: moderate; quench; satisfy |
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sobriquet
|
noun: nickname
Raymond's sobriquet among his lax friends in high school was "smiley". syn: alias; pseudonym |
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solecism
|
noun: grammatical mistake; blunder in speech
we tried to correct Earl's solecism every time he said the word "ain't" syn: blooper; faux pas; vulgarism |
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soporific
|
adjective: causing sleep or lethargy
syn: hypnotic; narcotic; slumberous; somnolent |
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spartan
|
adjective: highly self-disciplined; frugal, austere
the athlete prefered to live in a spartan room so he could shut out all distractions syn: restrained; simple |
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specious
|
adjective: deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious; looks good, but is actually false
the student's specious excuse for being late sounded legitimate, but was proved otherwise when his teacher called his home. syn: illusory; ostensible; plausible; sophistic; spurious |
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sportive
|
adjective: frolicsome, playful
syn: frisky; merry |
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|
stasis
|
noun: a state of balance or equilibrium; stagnation
The rusty, ivy-covered World War II tank had obviously been in stasis for years. syn: inertia, standstill |
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stentorian
|
adjective: extremely loud
syn: clamorous, noisy |
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stigma
|
noun: a mark of shame or discredit
syn: blemish, blot; opprobrium; stain; taint |
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stolid
|
adjective: unemotional, lacking sensitivity
The prisoner appeared stolid and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence. syn: apathetic, impassive, indifferent; phlegmatic; stoical; unconcerned |
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stratagem
|
noun: trick designed to deceive an enemy
syn: artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, while |
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|
sublime
|
adjective: lofty or grand
The music was so sublime that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place. syn: august, exhaulted, glorious, grand, magnificent, majestic, noble, resplendent, superb |
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sully
|
verb: to tarnish, taint
With the help of a public relations firm, he was able to restore his sullied reputation. syn: besmirch, defile |
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supplant
|
verb: to replace another by force; to take the place of
a new leader to supplant the tyrannical former one syn: displace; supersede |
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surfeit
|
noun: excessive amount
b/c of the surfeit of pigs, pork prices are really cheap syn: glut; plethora; repletion; superfluity; surplus |
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|
surly
|
adjective: rude and bad-tempered
when asked to clean the windshield, the surly gas station attendant tossed a dirty rag at the customer and walked away. syn: gruff; grumpy; testy |
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sybarite
|
noun: a person devoted to pleasure and luxury
the french kings, w/ their huge castles, were sybarites. syn: hedonist; pleasuremonger; sensualist |
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sycophant
|
noun: a self-serving flatterer, yes-man
she called everyone other than dr. cox a sycophant syn: bootlicker; fawner; lickspittle; toady |
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symbiosis
|
noun: cooperation, mutual helpfulness
the rhino and the tick-eating bird live in symbiosis syn: association; interdependence |
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|
syncopation
|
noun: temporary irregularity in musical rhythm
the jazz enthusiast uses syncopation in his music |
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|
tacit
|
adjective: done without using words
syn: implicit; implied; undeclared; unsaid; unuttered |
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|
taciturn
|
adjective: silent, not talkative
the clerk's taciturn nature earned him the nickname Silent Bob. syn: laconic; reticent |
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|
tangential
|
adjective: digressing, diverting
your argument is tangential to the matter at hand, so lets get back to the point syn: digressive; extraneous; inconsequential; irrelevant; peripheral |
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|
tawdry
|
adjective: gaudy, cheap, showy
syn: flashy; loud; meretricious |
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|
terrestrial
|
adjective: earthly; down-to-earth, commonplace
syn: earthbound; mundane; sublunary; tellurian; terrene |
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|
tirade
|
noun: long, harsh speech or verbal attack
syn: diatribe; fulmination; harangue; obloquy; revilement; vilification |
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|
toady
|
noun: one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
the chief of medicine was surrounded by toadies syn: parasite; sycophant |
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|
tome
|
noun: a book, usually large and academic
syn: codex; volume |
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|
torpor
|
noun: extreme mental and physical sluggishness
syn: apathy; languor |
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|
transitory
|
adjective: temporary, lasting a brief time
the reporter lived in transitory lodgings, staying in one place only long enough to cover the current story syn: ephemeral; evanescent; fleeting; impermanent; momentary |
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|
trenchant
|
adjective: acute, sharp, incisive; forceful, effective
Tracy's trenchant observations in class made him the professor's favorite student. syn: biting; caustic; cutting; keen |
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turgid
|
adjective: swollen as from a fluid, bloated
syn: distended |
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|
tyro
|
noun: beginner, novice
syn: apprentice; fledgling; greenhorn; neophyte; tenderfoot |
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|
umbrage
|
noun: offense, resentment
the businessman took umbrage at the security guard's accusation that he had shoplifted a packet of gum. syn: asperity; dudgeon; ire; pique; rancor |
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|
unconscionable
|
adjective: unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust
after she promised me the project, the fact that she gave it to someone else is unconscionable syn: dishonorable; indefensible |
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|
unequivocal
|
adjective: absolute, certain
the jury's verdict was unequivocal: the crime boss would be locked up for life syn: categorical; clear; explicit; express; unambiguous |
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|
upbraid
|
verb: to scold sharply
the teacher upbraided the student for painting "dont taze me bro" on the police memorial syn: berate; chide; rebuke; reproach; tax |
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|
usury
|
noun: the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
syn: loan-sharking |
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|
vacillate
|
verb: to physically sway, to be indecisive
he vacillated between vanilla and chocolate syn: dither; falter; fluctuate; oscillate; waver |
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|
variegated
|
adjective: varied; marked with different colors
the variegated foliage of the jungle syn: diversified |
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|
venerable
|
adjective: respected because of age
syn: distinguished; elderly; respectable |
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venerate
|
verb: to respect deeply
syn: adore; honor; idolize; revere |
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|
veracity
|
noun: filled with truth and accuracy
she had a reputation for veracity, so everyone trusted her description of events syn: candor; exactitude; fidelity; probity |
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|
verbose
|
adjective: wordy
syn: longwinded; loquacious; prolix; superfluous |
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|
verdant
|
adjective: green with vegetation; inexperienced
he wandered deep into the verdant woods in search of mushrooms and other edible flora syn: grassy; leafy; wooded |
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|
vernal
|
adjective: related to spring; fresh
Shea basked in the balmy vernal breezes, happy that winter is over syn: springlike; youthful |
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|
vestige
|
noun: trace, remnant
vestiges of the former tenant (jenilee) remained in arbor park, since i saw tape on the wall syn: relic; remains; sign |
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|
vex
|
verb: to annoy, irritate; puzzle, confuse
syn: annoy; bother; chafe; exasperate; irk; nettle; peeve; provoke |
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|
vicissitude
|
noun: a change or variation; ups and downs
investors must be prepared for vicissitudes in the stock market syn: inconstancy; mutability |
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|
vim
|
noun: vitality and energy
the vim with which she worked so early in the day explained why she was so productive Lo the PT had much vim. syn: force; power |
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|
viscous
|
adjective: thick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing fluid
syn: gelatinous; glutinous; thick |
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|
vituperate
|
verb: to abuse verbally; berate
syn: castigate; reproach; scold |
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|
volatile
|
adjective: easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
his volatile personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything. syn: capricious; erratic; fickle; inconsisten; inconstant; mercurial; temperamental |
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|
voluble
|
adjective: talkative, speaking easily, glib
the voluble man and his reserved wife proved the old saying that opposites attract. syn: loquacious; verbose |
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|
wan
|
adjective: sickly pale
that vampire is wan. the sick child had a wan face. some emo kids are wan and nasty. some of my neighbor's friends are wan and nasty. syn: ashen; sickly |
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|
wanton
|
adjective: undisciplined, unrestrained, reckless
people outraged by the wanton display of disrespect syn: capricious; lewd; licentious |
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waver
|
verb: to fluctuate between choices
syn: dither; falter; fluctuate; oscillate; vacillate |
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|
whimsical
|
adjective: lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
syn: capricious; erratic; flippant; frivolous |
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|
wily
|
adjective: clever, deceptive
syn: crafty; cunning; tricky |
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|
winsome
|
adjective: charming, happily engaging
kellie gave me a winsome smile syn: attractive; delightful |
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|
wizened
|
adjective: shriveled, withered, wrinkled
the wizened old man syn: atrophied; desiccated; gnarled; wasted |
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|
wraith
|
noun: a ghost or specter
gideon thought he saw a wraith late one night as he sat vigil outside his great uncle's bedroom door. syn: apparition; bogeyman; phantasm; shade; spirit |
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xenophobia
|
noun: a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers
syn: bigotry; chauvinism; prejudice |
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|
yoke
|
verb: to join together
the farmer yoked his oxen together syn: bind; harness; pair |
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|
zeal
|
adjective: passion, excitement
syn: ardency; fervor; fire; passion |
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|
zealot
|
noun: someone passionately devoted to a cause
syn: enthusiast; fanatic; militant; radical |
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|
zenith
|
noun: the point of culmination; peak
syn: acme; pinnacle |
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|
zephyr
|
noun: a gentle breeze; something airy or unsubstantial
The zephyr from the ocean made the intense heat on the beach bearable for the sunbathers. "I feel a zephyr." syn: breath; draft |
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|
analgesia
|
noun: a lessening of pain without loss of conxciousness
|
|
|
analogous
|
adjective: similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
not going to college is analogous to throwing your life away syn: alike; comparable; parallel; similar |
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|
anodyne
|
noun: something that calms or soothes pain
the anodyne massage helped remove the knots syn: opiate |
|
|
anomaly
|
noun: deviation from what is normal
albino animals may display to great an anomaly in their coloring syn: aberration; abnormality; deviation; irregularity |
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|
antagonize
|
verb: to annoy or provoke to anger
syn: clash; conflict; incite; irritate; oppose; pester; provoke; vex |
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|
antipathy
|
noun: extreme dislike
the antipathy between florida and auburn fans syn: animosity; animus; antagonism; aversion; enmity |
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|
apathy
|
noun: lack of interest or emotion
syn: disinterest; disregard; indifference; insensibility |
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|
apocryphal
|
adjective: of questionable authority or authenticity
apocryphal tales of my mom cheating syn: disputed; doubtful; ficticious; fraudulent |
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|
apostate
|
noun: one who renounces a religious faith
ricky was an apostate, getting his proof from the movie "Dogma" the king who divorced his wife declared himself an apostate syn: defector; deserter; traitor |
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|
approbation
|
noun: approval and praise
syn: acclaim; adulation; applause; commendation; compliments |
|
|
arbitrary
|
adjective: determined by chance or impulse
syn: changeable; erratic; indiscriminate; random; wayward |
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|
arbitrate
|
verb: to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
a judge was forced to arbitrate their divorce proceedings syn: adjudge; adjudicate; determine; intermediate; intervene; judge; moderate; referee; rule |
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|
archaic
|
adjective: ancient, old-fashioned
syn: obsolete; outdated; vintage |
|
|
ardor
|
noun: intense and passionate feeling
Tim's ardor for florida football syn: devotion; enthusiasm; fervency; fervidity; fervidness; fervor; fire; passion; zeal; zealousness |
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|
arrogate
|
verb: to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
her boss arrogated the credit for her brilliant work on the project, that asshole syn: appropriate; presume; take |
|
|
articulate
|
adjective: able to speak clearly and expressively
she is extremely articulate when it comes to expressing her pro-labor views syn: eloquent; expressive; fluent; lucid; silver-tongued; smooth-spoken |
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|
assail
|
verb: to attack, assault
the foreign army will try to assail our bases syn: beset; strike; storm |
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|
assuage
|
verb: to make something unpleasant less severe
ray used food to assuage his sense of loneliness syn: allay; alleviate; appease; ease; lighten; mitigate; mollify; pacify |
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|
attenuate
|
verb: to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
syn: debilitate; devitalize; dilute; enerate; enfeeble; rarefy; sap; thin; undermine; undo; unnerve; water; weaken |
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|
audacious
|
adjective: fearless and daring
syn: adventuresome; assertive; bold; brave; couragous; daring |
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|
augury
|
noun: prophecy; prediction of events
the rainbow was an augury of good things to come syn: auspices; harbinger; omen; portent; presage |
|
|
august
|
adjective: dignified; grandiose
the august view of the grand canyon syn: admirable; awesome; grand; majestic |
|
|
austere
|
adjective: severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
syn: bleak; dour; grim; hard; harsh; severe |
|
|
axiom
|
noun: premis; postulate; self-evident truth
she based her life on the axioms her lola had passed on to her syn: adage; apothegm; aphorism; maxim; rule |
|
|
banal
|
adj: predictable; cliched; boring
banal phrases like "have a nice day" syn: bland; cliched; commonplace; tired; trite; vapid; worn-out |
|
|
belfry
|
noun: bell tower; room in which a bell is hung
syn: spire; steeple |
|
|
bevy
|
noun: group
bevy of nsync fans syn: band; bunch; gang; pack; troop |
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|
bifurcate
|
verb: divide into two parts
syn: bisect |
|
|
bilk
|
verb: to cheat, defraud
the french salesperson bilked the tourist out of 20 euros |
|
|
blight
|
verb: to afflict: to destroy
the frost was able to blight the potato crops entirely syn: damage; plague |
|
|
blithe
|
adjective: joyful; cheerful, or without appropriate thought
the blithe students spent their days at the beach syn: carefree; lighthearted; merry |
|
|
bolster
|
verb: to support; to prop up
syn: brace; buttress; crutch; prop, stay; support; sustain; underpinning; uphold |
|
|
bombastic
|
adj: pompous in speech and manner
syn: bloated; declamatory; fustian; grandiloquent; grandiose; high-flown; magniloquent; orotund; pretentious; rhetorical; self-important |
|
|
bonhomie
|
noun: good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
|
|
|
boor
|
noun: crude person, one lacking manners or taste
that utter boor ruined my recital with his constant laughing. syn: clod; lout; oaf; vulgarian; yahoo |
|
|
burgeon
|
verb: to grow and flourish
syn: bloom; burgeon; flourish; prosper; thrive |
|
|
burnish
|
verb: to polish
syn: buff; luster; polish; scour |
|
|
cabal
|
noun: a secret group seeking to overturn something
the boys formed a cabal to keep girls out of their tree house. syn: camp; circle; clan; clique; coterie; in-group; mafia; mob; ring |
|
|
cacophony
|
noun: harsh, jarring noise
syn: chaos; clamor; din; discord; disharmony; noice |
|
|
calumny
|
noun: a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation
the bad politician used calumny to bring down his opponent syn: defamation; libel; slander |
|
|
canard
|
noun: a lie
the tabloid's story about a goat giving birth to a human child was clearly a canard. syn: falsehood; falsity; fib; misrepresentation; prevarication; tale; untruth |
|
|
candid
|
adjective: impartial and honest in speech
syn: direct; forthright; frank; honest; open; sincere; straight; straightforward; undisguised |
|
|
capricious
|
adjective: changing one's mind quickly and often
syn: arbitrary; chance; changeable; erratic; fickle; inconstant; mercurial; random; whimsical; willful |
|
|
castigate
|
verb: to punish or criticize harshly
syn: admonish; chastise; chide; rebuke; reprimand; reproach; reprove; scold; tax; upbraid` |
|
|
catalyst
|
noun: something that brings about a change in something else
syn: accelerator; impetus; stimulant |
|
|
catholic
|
adjective: universal; broad and comprehensive
hot tea with honey is a catholic remedy for a sore throat syn: extensive; general |
|
|
caustic
|
adjective: biting in wit
syn: acerbic; biting; mordant; trenchant |
|
|
chaos
|
noun: great disorder or confused situation
syn: disarrangement; disarray; muddle; scramble; snarl; topsy-turviness |
|
|
chauvinist
|
noun: someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
syn: biased; colored; one-sided; partial; partisan; prejudicial |
|
|
chicanery
|
noun: deception by means of craft or guile
syn: artifice; conniving; craftiness; deception; deviousness; misrepresentation |
|
|
circumspect
|
adjective: cautious; aware of potential consequences
raymond is circumspect in his language and behavior whenever around jenilee's parents syn: alert; cautious; heedful; mindful; prudent; solicitous; vigilant; wary |
|
|
cloying
|
adjective: sickly sweet; excessive
their cloying affection toward one another is fucking annoying syn: excessive; fulsome |
|
|
coalesce
|
verb: to grow together to form a single whole
syn: amalgamate; blend; coalesce; condense; consolidate; fuse; unite |
|
|
coffer
|
noun: strongbox; large chest for money
syn: chest; exchequer; treasury; war chest |
|
|
cogent
|
adjective: convincing and well-reasoned
swayed by the cogent argument of the defense syn: convincing; persuasive; solid; sound; telling; valid |
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|
collusion
|
noun: collaboration, complicity, complicity
the police chief and the mafia had a collusion in running the numbers racket syn: connivance; intrigue; machination |
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|
condone
|
verb: to overlook, to pardon, to disregard
syn: exculpate; excuse; pardon; remit |
|
|
connoisseur
|
noun: a person with expert knowledge or discriminating taste
syn: authority; epicure; gastronome |
|
|
contrite
|
adjective: deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong
syn: apologetic; regretful; remorseful |
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|
contumacious
|
adjective: rebellious
the contumacious teenager ran away syn: factious; insubordinate; insurgent; mutinous; rebellious; seditious |
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|
convoluted
|
adjective: intricate and complicated
syn: byzantine; complex; elaborate; intricate; knotty; labyrinthine; perplexing; tangled |
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|
corroborate
|
verb: to support with evidence
syn: authenticate; back; buttress; confirm; substantiate; validate; verify |
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|
cosset
|
verb: to pamper; to treat with great care
syN; cater to; cuddle; dandle; fondle; love; pamper; pet; spoil |
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|
coterie
|
noun: an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose
a coterie of fellow stamp enthusiasts syn: clique; set |
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|
craven
|
adjective: lacking courage
syn: faint-hearted; spineless; timid |
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|
credulous
|
adjective: too trusting; gullible
syn: naive; susceptible; trusting |
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|
crescendo
|
noun: steadily increasing in volume or force
syn: acme; capstone; climax; crest; culmen; culmination; meridian; peak |
|
|
cupidity
|
noun: greed; strong desire
the thief stared at the shining jewels with cupidity in his eyes syn: avarice; covetousness; rapacity |
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|
curmudgeon
|
noun: cranky person, usually old
|
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|
declivity
|
noun: downward slope
the declivity of a hill syn: decline; descent; grade; slant; tilt |
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|
decorous
|
adjective: proper, tasteful, socially correct
syn: appropriate; courteous; polite |
|
|
decorum
|
noun: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
syn: correctness; decency; etiquette; manners; MORES; propriety; SEEMLINESS |
|
|
deface
|
verb: to mar the appearance of, to vandalize
syn: disfigure; impair; spoil |
|
|
deference
|
noun: respect; courtesy
the law clerk treated the supreme court justice with the utmost deference syn: courtesy; homage; honor; obeisance; respect; reverence; veneration |
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|
deleterious
|
adjective: subtly or unexpectedly harmful
deleterious to our reputation syn: adverse; inimical; injurious; hurtful |
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|
demagogue
|
n: a leader, rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
syn: agitator; inciter; instigator |
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|
demur
|
verb: to express doubts or objections
galileo was forced to demur when all others around him claimed the planets revolved around the earth syn: dissent; expostulate; kick; protest; remonstrate |
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|
deride
|
verb: to speak of or treat w/ contempt, to mock
the gay child was often derided by his peers. syn: gibe; jeer; mock; ridicule |
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|
dessicate
|
verb: to dry out thoroughly
syn: dehydrate; dry; parch |
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|
desultory
|
adjective: jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
after changing majors 7 times, she had a desultory academic major syn: erratic; haphazard; indiscriminate; random |
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|
diaphnous
|
adjective: allowing light to show through; delicate
syn; gauzy; sheer; tenuous; translucent; transparent |
|
|
diatribe
|
noun: an abusive, condemnatory speech
she bellowed a diatribe at the fucker who cut her off syn: fulmination; harangue; invective |
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|
dictum
|
noun: authoritative statement
clean you mother fuckers, was the dictum our boss made us live by syn: adage; apothegm; aphorism; decree; edict |
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|
diffident
|
adjective: lacking self-confidence
syn: backward; bashful; coy; demure; modest; retiring; self-effacing; shy; timid |
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|
dilate
|
verb; to make larger, to expand
syn: amplify; develop; elaborate; enlarge; expand; expatiate |
|
|
dilatory
|
adj: intended to delay, procrastinating
he used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill syn: sluggish; putting off |
|
|
dilettante
|
noun: someone w/ an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
the dilettante had new jobs and hobbies every week syn: amateur; dabbler; rookie |
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|
dirge
|
noun: a funeral hymn or mournful speech
syn: elegy; lament |
|
|
disabuse
|
verb: to set right, to free from error
syn: correct; dismiss; undeceive |
|
|
disparate
|
adjective: fundamentally different; entirely unlike
the twin's personalities are disparate syn: different; dissimilar; variant |
|
|
dissemble
|
verb: to present a false appearance, to disguise one's real intentions or character
syn: camouflage; cloak; feign |
|
|
dissonance
|
noun: a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds
syn: dissension; dissent; dissidence; friction; strife; variance |
|
|
distaff
|
noun: the female branch of the family
the duty of cooking belongs to the distaff's side |
|
|
dither
|
verb: to act confusedly or without clear purpose
she dithered around her apt, uncertain how to tackle the family crisis syn: falter; hesistate; vacillate; waffle; waver |
|
|
diurnal
|
adj: existing during the day
diurnal creatures tend to become inactive during the night syn: daylight; daytime |
|
|
divine
|
v: to foretell or know by inspiration
the fortune teller divined from claire's hands that her baby is bad luck and sent her to crash on the island syn: auger; foresee; intuit; predict; presage |
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|
doctrinaire
|
adj: rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic
syn: dictatorial; inflexible |
|
|
dogma
|
noun: a firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief
syn: creed; doctrines; teaching; tenet |
|
|
dogmatic
|
adj: dictatorial in one's opinions
syn: authoritarian; bossy; doctrinaire; domineering; imperious |
|
|
droll
|
adj: amusing in a wry, subtle way
the play wasnt hilarious, but it was droll syn: comic; entertaining; funny; risible; witty |
|
|
dupe
|
verb: to deceive
syn: beguile; betray; bluff; cozen; delude; fool; hoodwink; humbug; mislead; take in trick |
|
|
dyspeptic
|
adj: suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
the dyspeptic young man cast a gloom over the party the minute he walked in. syn: acerb; melancholy; morose; solemn; sour |
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|
ebullient
|
adj: exhilarate, full of enthusiasm and high spirits
syn: ardent; avid; bubbly; zestful |
|
|
eclectic
|
adj: selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
syn: broad; catholic; selective |
|
|
edify
|
v: to instruct morally and spiritually
the guru was paid to edify the actress in the ways of buddism syn: educate; enlighten; guide; teach |
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|
efficacy
|
noun: effectivness, vigor
|
|
|
effrontery
|
noun: impudent boldness; audacity
syn: brashness; gall; nerve; presumption; temerity |
|
|
elegy
|
noun: a sorrowful poem or speech
syn: dirge; lament |
|
|
eloquent
|
adj: persuasive and moving, especially in speech
syn: articulate; expressive; fluent; meaningful; significant; smooth-spoken |
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|
embellish
|
verb: to add ornamental or fictitious details
syn: adorn; bedeck; elaborate; embroider; enhance; exaggerate |
|
|
emulate
|
v: to copy, to try to equal or excel
syn: ape; imitate; simulate |
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|
encomium
|
noun: warm praise
syn: citation; eulogy; panegyric; salutation; tribute |
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|
endemic
|
adj: belonging to a particular area; inherent
syn: indigenous; local; native |
|
|
enervate
|
verb: to reduce in strength
syn: debilitate; enfeeble; sap; weaken |
|
|
engender
|
verb: to produce, cause, or bring about
syn: beget; generate; procreate; proliferate; reproduce; spawn |
|
|
enigma
|
noun: a puzzle, mystery
syn: conundrum; perplexity |
|
|
enumerate
|
verb: to count, list, itemize
asked the waiter to enumerate the different varieties of ice cream that the restaurant carried |
|
|
ephemeral
|
adj: evanescent; fleeting; transient
|
|
|
epicure
|
noun: person w/ refined taste in food and wine
syn: bon vivant; connoisseur; gastronome; gastronomer; gastronomist; gourmand; gourmet |
|
|
equivocate
|
verb: to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
syn: hedge; waffle |
|
|
erratic
|
adj: capricious; inconstant; irresolute; whimsical
|
|
|
ersatz
|
adj: fake, artificial
ersatz lacoste shirts from new york china town syn: false; imitation |
|
|
eschew
|
verb: to shun, to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)
the filmmaker eschewed artificial light for her actors syn: avoid; elude; escape; evade |
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|
esoteric
|
adj: known or understood only by a few
syn: abstruse; arcane; obscure |
|
|
estimable
|
adj: admirable
it is estimable that mother teresa spent her life helping people syn: commendable; honorable; creditable; laudable; meritorious; praiseworthy; venerable |
|
|
ethos
|
noun: beliefs or character of a group
syn: culture; ethic; philosophy |
|
|
eulogy
|
noun: speech in praise of someone
syn: encomium; elegy; panegyric |
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|
exculpate
|
verb: absolve; acquit; clear; exonerate; vindicate
|
|
|
exigent
|
adj: urgent; requiring immediate action
it was exigent to stop the source of bleeding syn: critical; imperative; needed; urgent |
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|
explicit
|
adj: clearly stated or shown; unambiguous; unequivocal
|
|
|
exponent
|
noun: one who champions or advocates
she was an enthusiastic exponent of computer technology syn: representative; supporter |
|
|
expurgate
|
verb: to censor
government propagandists expurgated all negative references to the dictator from the film syn: cut; sanitize |
|
|
fallow
|
adj: dormant; unused
the field should lie fallow syn: idle; inactive; unseeded |
|
|
fanatical
|
adj: acting excessively enthusiastic; filled w/ extreme, unquestioned devotion
the stormtroopers were fanatical in their devotion to the Emperor syn: extremist; fiery; frenzied; zealous |
|
|
fatuous
|
adj: stupid; foolishly self-satisfied
ted's fatuous comments syn: absurd; ludicrous; preposterous; ridiculous; silly |
|
|
fawn
|
verb: to grovel; kiss ass
syn: bootlick; grovel; pander; toady |
|
|
fecund
|
adj: fertile, fruitful, productive
the fecund couple had 20 kids. syn: flourishing; prolific |
|
|
fervid
|
adj: intensely emotional, feverish
the fans of the opera singer were particularly fervid syn: burning; impassioned; passionate; vehement; zealous |
|
|
fetid
|
adj: foul-smelling, putrid
the fetid stench from the outhouse syn: funky; malodorous; noisome; rank; stinky |
|
|
flag
|
verb: to decline in vigor, strength, or interest
his strenght flagged syn: dwindle; ebb; slacken; subside; wane |
|
|
florid
|
adj: excessively decorated or embellished
the palace had been decorated in an excessively florid style; every surface had been carved and gilded syn: Baroque; elaborate; flamboyant; ornate; ostentatious; Rococo |
|
|
foment
|
verb: to arouse or incite
the rebels tried to foment revolution syn: agitate; impassion; inflame; instigate; kindle |
|
|
ford
|
verb: to cross a body of water by wading
the mayan kids were unable to ford the swollen river. syn: traverse; wade |
|
|
forestall
|
verb: to prevent, delay; anticipate
syn: avert; deter; hinder; obviate; preclude |
|
|
fortuitous
|
adj: happening by chance, fortunate
it was fortuitous that i met and worked w/ michele, b/c she hooked me up w/ a job at big shands. syn: chance; fortunate; haphazard; lucky; propitious; prosperous |
|
|
fractious
|
adj: unruly, rebellious
the general had a hard time maintaining discipline among his fractious troops. syn: contentious; cranky; peevish; quarrelsome |
|
|
frenetic
|
adj: frantic, frenzied
ray's frenetic schedule left him little time to socialize syn: corybantic; delirious; feverish; mad; rabid; wild |
|
|
frugality
|
noun: tendency to be thrifty or cheap
syn: cheapness; economy; PARSIMONY |
|
|
furtive
|
adj: secret, stealthy
Ray was furtive when he checked out nicole sheppard's boobs. syn: clandestine; covert; shifty; surreptitous; underhand |
|
|
gambol
|
verb: to dance or skip around playfully
syn: caper; cavort; frisk; frolic; rollick; romp |
|
|
garner
|
verb: to gather and store
he garnered financial backing syn: amass; acquire; glean; harvest; reap |
|
|
garrulous
|
adj: tending to talk a lot
garrulous sharky syn: effusive; loquacious sharkey is so garrulous, so effusive, so talkative |
|
|
gestation
|
noun: growth process from conception to birth
syn: development; gravidity; pregnancy |
|
|
glib
|
adj: fluent in an insincere manner; offhand, casual
he was a glib speaker,so the bad politician managed to continue gaining supporters. syn: easy; superficial |
|
|
glower
|
verb: to glare; to stare angrily and intensely
Niels glowered at his daughter for moving the 8 ball. syn: frown; lower; scowl |
|
|
gradation
|
noun: process occuring by regular degrees or stages; variation in color
target copy offers so many gradations of blue that its hard to choose among the resume paper syn: nuance; shade; step; subtlety |
|
|
gregarious
|
adj: outgoing, sociable
greg podraza is gregarious syn: affable; communicative; congenial; sociable |
|
|
grievous
|
adj: causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing
she sobbed loudly at the grievous event syn: dire; dolorous; grave; mournful |
|
|
grovel
|
verb: to humble oneself in a demeaning way
thor groveled to his ex-girlfriend, hoping she would take him back syn: bootlick; cringe; fawn; kowtow; toady |
|
|
guile
|
noun: deceit, trickery
the coyote resorted to guile in an effort to trap that stupid road runner syn: artifice; chicanery; connivery; duplicity |
|
|
hapless
|
adj: unfortunate, having bad luck
give that poor, hapless soul some food syn: ill-fated; ill-starred; jinxed; luckless; unlucky |
|
|
hegemony
|
noun: the domination of one state or group over its allies
USA claims hegemony over all its allies. syn: authority; power |
|
|
hermetic
|
adj: tightly sealed
the hermetic seal of the jar proved impossible to break syn: airtight; impervious; watertight |
|
|
heterogenous
|
adj: composed of unlike parts, different, diverse; assorted; miscellaneous; mixed; MOTLEY; varied
|
|
|
hoary
|
adj: very old; whitish or gray from age
the old man's hoary beard syn: ancient; antediluvian; antique; venerable; vintage |
|
|
husband
|
verb: to manage economically; to use sparingly; to conserve
|
|
|
hyperbole
|
noun: purposeful exaggeration for effect
syn: embellishment; inflation; magnification |
|
|
iconoclast
|
noun: one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
his lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an iconoclast syn: maverick; nonconformist; rebel; revolutionary |
|
|
idiosyncracy
|
noun: peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity
his numerous idiosyncrasies included a fondness for matching his socks with his shirt syn: humor; oddity; quirk |
|
|
ignoble
|
adj: having low moral standards, not noble in character; mean.
ignoble means not noble. the ignoble act of pick-pocketing syn: lowly; vulgar |
|
|
imbue
|
verb: to infuse; dye, wet, moisten
she tried to imbue her children with good values syn: charge; freight; impregnate; permeate; pervade |
|
|
impasse
|
noun: blocked path; dilemma w/ no solution
the rock slide produced an impasse, so no one could proceed further on the road. the wall of dead persians produced an impasse syn: cul-de-sac; deadlock; stalemate |
|
|
impecunious
|
adj: poor, having no money
the impecunious street beggar in the philippines syn: destitute; impoverished; indigent; needy; penniless |
|
|
imperturbable
|
adj: not capable of being disturbed
syn: composed; dispassionate; impassive; serene; stoical |
|
|
impervious
|
adj: impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
syn: impregnable; resistant impregnable means not able to make pregnant, not able to penetrate |
|
|
impetuous
|
adj: quick to act without thinking
it is not good for an investment banker to be impetuous, b/c he should think before making decisions syn: impulsive; precipitate; rash; reckless; spontaneous |
|
|
impious
|
adj: not devout in religion
impious means not pious syn: immoral; irreverent; profane |
|
|
implacable
|
adj: unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
After Jenilee left him for Raymond, Mike was implacable for weeks. syn: inexorable; intransigent; irreconcilable; relentless; remorseless; unforgiving; unrelenting |
|
|
imprecation
|
noun: a curse
spouting violent imprecations, hank searched for the person who had vandalized his truck syn: damnation |
|
|
impugn
|
verb: to call into question; to attack verbally
how dare you impugn my motives? syn: challenge; dispute |
|
|
incarnadine
|
adj: blood-red in color
tony's cheeks turned incarnadine with frustration syn: reddened; ruby; ruddy |
|
|
inchoate
|
adj: not fully formed, disorganized
also appear in an inchoate form in his earliest writing syn: amorphous; incoherent; incomplete; unorganized |
|
|
inculcate
|
verb: to teach, impress in the mind
parents inculcate their children with their beliefs and ideas syn: implant; indoctrinate; instill; preach |
|
|
indolent
|
adj: habitually lazy, idle
her indolent ways got her fired from many jobs syn: lethargic; slothful; sluggish |
|
|
inexorable
|
adj: inflexible, unyielding
the inexorable force of the twister swept away their house. syn: adamant; obdurate; relentless |
|
|
ingenuous
|
adj: showing innocence or childlike simplicity
syn: artless; guileless; innocent; naive; simple; unaffected |
|
|
ingrate
|
noun: ungrateful person
when jenilee didn't thank me for dinner, i thought she was an ingrate syn: cad; churl |
|
|
ingratiate
|
verb: to gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage
ray tried to ingratiate himself w/ shankar so that he might write him a letter of recommendation. syn: curry favor; flatter |
|
|
inimical
|
adj: hostile, unfriendly
even though a cease-fire had been in place for months, the two sides were still inimical to each other. syn: adverse; antagonistic; dissident; recalcitrant |
|
|
iniquity
|
noun: sin, evil act
i promise to close every den of iniquity in this town! said batman syn: enormity; immorality; injustice; vice; wickedness |
|
|
inquest
|
noun: an investigation, an inquiry
the police chief ordered an inquest to determine what went wrong. syn: probe; quest; research |
|
|
insipid
|
adj: lacking interest or flavor
syn: banal; bland; dull; stale; vapid |
|
|
insurrection
|
noun: rebellion
syn: mutiny; revolt; revolution; uprising |
|
|
inter
|
verb: to bury
matt's body was interred at his funeral syn: entomb; inhume; sepulchre; tomb |
|
|
interregnum
|
noun: interval between reigns
|
|
|
intractable
|
adj: not easily managed or manipulated
intractable for hours, the wild horse eventually let ryan pacheco to mount syn: stubborn; unruly |
|
|
intransigent
|
adj: uncompromising, refusing to be reconciled
the professor was intransigent on the deadline syn: implacable; inexorable; irreconcilable; obdurate; obstinate; remorseless; rigid; unbending; unrelenting; unyielding |
|
|
intrepid
|
adj: fearless, resolutely couragous
syn: brave |
|
|
inundate
|
verb: to overwhelm; to cover with water
syn: deluge; drown; engulf; flood; submerge |
|
|
inure
|
verb: to harden; accustom, become used to
Hassad became inured to the sirens that went off every night in Bagdad. syn: condition; familiarize; habituate |
|
|
invective
|
noun: abusive language
a stream of invectives poured from Mrs. Pratt's mouth syn: denunciation; revilement; vituperation |
|
|
investiture
|
noun: ceremony conferring authority
at napoleons investiture, he grabbed the crown from the pope's hands and placed it on his head himself. syn: inaugural; inauguration; induction; initiation; installation |
|
|
invidious
|
adj: envious, obnoxious, offensive; likely to promote ill-will
it is invidious for parents to play favorites with their children. syn: discriminatory; insulting; jaundiced; resentful |
|
|
irascible
|
adj: cantankerous; irritable; ornery; testy
|
|
|
itinerant
|
adj: wandering from place to place; unsettled
the itinerant cat came back to raymond's house often, and samo got pissed syn: nomadic; vagrant |
|
|
jargon
|
noun: argot; cant; dialect; idiom; slang
|
|
|
jettison
|
verb: to discard, to get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering
syn: dump; eject |
|
|
jingoism
|
noun: belligerent support of one's country
syn: chauvinism; nationalism |
|
|
jocular
|
adj: playful, humorous
the jocular old man syn: amusing; comical |
|
|
judicious
|
adj: sensible, showing good judgement
syn: circumspect; prudent; sagacious; sapient |
