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601 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Zenith |
High point, culmination |
|
Zeal |
Great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause, person, etc. Passion, ardor |
|
Wily (wiles) |
Crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks or artifice |
|
Whimsical |
Marked or motivated by whims (odd, fanciful ideas); erratic, unpredictable |
|
Whereas |
While on the contrary, considering that |
|
Wary |
Watchful, motivated by caution, on guard against danger |
|
warranted |
justified, authorized; vouch for, guarantee |
|
volatile |
varying, inconsistent, fleeting, tending to violence |
|
vituperate |
verbally abuse, rebuke or criticize harshly |
|
virtual |
existing only in the mind or by means of computer network; existing in results or in essence but not officially or in name |
|
vintage |
related to items of high quality from a previous era, old-fashioned, antique (adj.); the wine of a particular year (n.) |
|
viable |
capable of living (or growing, developing, etc.); practical, workable |
|
verbose |
wordy |
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veracity |
truthfulness, accuracy; habitual adherence to the truth |
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venerate |
revere, regard with deep respect and awe |
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vacillate |
waver in one's mind or opinions, be indecisive |
|
unseemly |
improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or politeness |
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unprecedented |
never before known or seen, without having happened previously |
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unequivocal |
unambiguous, clear, absolute; having only one possible meaning |
|
unearth |
dig up, expose, uncover |
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underscore |
emphasize |
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undermine |
weaken, cause to collapse by digging away at the foundation (of building or an argument)l injure or attack in a secretive or underhanded way |
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ubiquitous |
existing everywhere at the same time |
|
trite |
lacking freshness and originality, lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliche |
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trifling (trifle) |
trivial, not very important; so small as to be unimportant; frivolous, shallow |
|
transitory |
temporary, short-lived, not lasting |
|
tractable |
easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded |
|
torrid |
very hot, parching, burning; passionate |
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torpor |
sluggishness, lethargy, or apathy; a period of inactivity |
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tirade |
bitter, abusive criticism or verbal attack |
|
timorous |
timid, fearful |
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timely |
well-timed, happening at a suitable time |
|
tenuous |
flimsy, having little substance; long and thin, slender |
|
temperance |
moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other pleasures/desires; total abstinence from alcohol |
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tangential |
only slightly relevant, going off-topic |
|
taciturn |
not talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation |
|
tacit |
understood without being directly said; implied, not stated directly |
|
table |
lay aside to discuss later, often as a way to postpone discussion indefinitely |
|
synchronous |
happening at the same time; occurring at the same rate and thus happening together repeatedly |
|
sycophant |
servile flatterer, toady |
|
surmise |
guess, infer, opine |
|
surfeit |
excess, overindulgence |
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supplicate |
pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way |
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supercede |
replace, take position of, cause to be disregarded as void or obsolete |
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succeeding |
coming after or following |
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substantiate |
support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to |
|
subside |
sink, settle down, become less active; return to a normal level |
|
subjective |
existing in the mind or relating to one's thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc; personal, individual, based on feelings |
|
stymie |
block, hinder, thwart; an obstacle |
|
stolid |
unemotional, showing little emotion, not easily moved |
|
stoic, stoical |
indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without complaint; person indifferent to pleasure or pain |
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stingy |
not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give |
|
status quo |
existing state or condition |
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static |
fixed, not moving or changing, lacking vitality |
|
stark |
complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain |
|
standing |
status, rank, reputation (n.); existing indefinitely, not movable (adj.) |
|
sportive |
playful, merry, joking around, done "in sport" |
|
sporadic |
occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations |
|
speculate |
contemplate; make a guess or education guess about; engage in a risky business transaction, gamble |
|
spectrum |
broad range of nevertheless related qualities or ideas, esp. those that overlap to create a continuous series |
|
specious |
seemingly true, but actually false; deceptively attractive |
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spearhead |
be the leader of |
|
spate |
sudden outpouring or rush; flood |
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spartan |
very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere |
|
sound
|
measure the depth of as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand
|
|
soporific |
causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj.); something that causes sleep (n.) |
|
solicitous |
concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful |
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slight |
small, not very important, slender or delicate; treat as though not very important; snub, ignore; an act of treating this way, a discourtesy |
|
slew |
a large number or quantity |
|
slack |
loose, negligent, lazy, weak (adj.); neglect to do one's duties; loosen up, relax (v.); period of little work (n.) |
|
skirt |
border, lie along the edge of, go around; evade |
|
skeptic |
person inclined to doubting or questioning generally accepted beliefs |
|
simultaneous |
at the same time |
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sentient |
conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses |
|
sedulous |
persevering, persistent, diligent in one's efforts |
|
secular |
not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things |
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scathing |
severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical |
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scant |
not enough or barely enough |
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savor |
a characteristic taste or flavor (usually pleasant); appreciate fully, taste or smell with pleasure |
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saturate |
soak or imbue thoroughly; cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance |
|
satiate/sate |
to fully satisfy |
|
sap |
energy, vitality; inner fluid of plant or any essential body fluid; a person taken advantage of (n.); undermine, weaken, tire out (v.) |
|
sanguine |
cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish, ruddy |
|
sanction |
permission or approval, something that fives support of authority to something else (n.); to allow, confirm, ratify (v.); a legal action by one or more countries again another to get it to comply (n.); to place sanctions or penalties on (v.) |
|
salubrious |
healthful, promoting health |
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sagacious |
wise, showing good judgment and foresight |
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sacrosanct |
sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism |
|
rustic |
relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive; made of rough wood; a rural or uncultured person |
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rudimentary |
elementary, relating to the basics; undeveloped, primitive |
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rife |
happening frequently, abundant, currently being reported |
|
rhetoric |
the art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing; language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little |
|
reverent |
feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe |
|
retrospective |
looking to the past or backward; applying to the past, retroactive; an art exhibit of an artist's work over a long period of time |
|
reticent |
not talking much; private, restrained, reserved |
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restive |
restless; impatient or uneasy under the control of another |
|
respectively |
in the order given |
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resolve |
find a solution to; firmly decide to do something; decide by formal vote; firmness of that purpose |
|
resolution |
the quality of being firmly determined; resolving to do something; a formal judgment |
|
rescind |
annul, repeal, make void |
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requite |
reciprocate, repay or revenge |
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repudiate |
reject, cast off, deny that something has authority |
|
reproach |
blame, disgrace; criticize, express disappointment in |
|
replete |
supplied in abundance, filled, gorged |
|
render |
give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become |
|
remedial |
providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill |
|
relegate |
send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign to someone else |
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refute |
prove to be false |
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recluse |
someone who lives in seclusion |
|
reap |
harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one's effort |
|
ranks |
personnel; a group of people considered all together |
|
quotidian
|
daily; everyday, ordinary
|
|
quibble |
make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important |
|
quandary |
uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma |
|
qualified |
modified, limited, conditional on something else |
|
pugnacious |
inclined to fight, combative |
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prudent |
wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future |
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prospective |
potential, in the future |
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proscribe |
prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish |
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prosaic |
dull, ordinary |
|
propriety |
conforming to good manners or appropriate behavior; justness |
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pronounced |
distinct, strong, clearly indicated |
|
prologue |
introductory part to a book, play, etc. |
|
proliferate |
increase or spread rapidly or excessively |
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prohibitive |
tending to forbid something, or serving to prevent something |
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profuse |
abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely |
|
profound |
very insightful, penetrating deeply into a subject; pervasive, intense, "down to the very bottom"; at the very bottom |
|
profligate |
completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful |
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prodigious |
extraordinarily large, impressive, etc. |
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prodigal |
wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish |
|
probity |
honesty, integrity |
|
pristine |
in an original, pure state; uncorrupted |
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principled |
having high moral standards |
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pretentious |
claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off, creating a deceptive, false show of worth |
|
presumptuous |
too bold or forward; going beyond that which is proper |
|
presumptive |
based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief |
|
preempt |
prevent; take place of, supplant; take before someone else can |
|
predisposed |
having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible |
|
precursor |
something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way |
|
precarious |
unstable, insecure, dangerous |
|
preamble |
introductory statement, preface |
|
pragmatic |
practical; dealing with actual facts and reality |
|
potentate |
ruler, person of great power |
|
posthumous |
happening or continuing after death |
|
ponderous |
heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored |
|
polarized |
divided into sharply opposed groups |
|
plummet |
plunge, fall straight down |
|
plausible |
believable; having the appearance of truth |
|
plastic |
able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced |
|
placid |
peaceful, calm, tranquil |
|
placate |
satisfy or calm down (an angry/dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures |
|
pith |
core, essence; significance or weight |
|
pious |
devout; religiously reverent and dutiful |
|
phony |
fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine |
|
philanthropy |
efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money |
|
pervasive |
tending to spread throughout |
|
permeate |
spread or penetrate throughout |
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peripheral |
relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance, fringe |
|
perfidious |
disloyal, treacherous, violating one's trust |
|
penchant |
liking or inclination |
|
pedestrian |
ordinary, dull, commonplace |
|
peccadillo |
small sin or fault |
|
paucity |
scarcity, the state of being small in number |
|
patronizing |
condescending, having a superior manner, treating as an inferior |
|
pathological |
relating to or caused by disease; relating to compulsive bad behavior |
|
patent |
obvious, glaring, apparent |
|
partisan |
devoted to a particular group, cause, etc. (adj.); fervent supporter of a group, party, idea, etc.; guerrilla fighter (n.) |
|
partial |
biased, prejudiced, favoring one over others; having a special liking for something or someone |
|
pariah |
social outcast, untouchable |
|
paradox |
contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true |
|
paradigm |
model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc. |
|
overshadow |
cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important |
|
outstrip |
surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind |
|
oscillate |
swing back and forth; waver, change one's mind |
|
orthodox |
adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted |
|
optimal/optimum |
best, most desirable or favorable |
|
opaque |
not translucent; not allowing light, heat, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear, or stupid |
|
onerous |
burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure |
|
offset |
counteract, compensate for (v.); a counterbalance |
|
officious |
excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy |
|
offhand |
casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought; rude in a short way, brusque |
|
occult |
the supernatural (n.); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj.); to hide, shut off from view (v.) |
|
obviate |
prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary |
|
obstinate |
stubborn or hard to control |
|
obsolete |
out of date, no longer in use |
|
obsequious |
servile, very compliant, fawning |
|
objective |
factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased |
|
nuance |
a subtle different in tone, meaning, expression, etc. |
|
novel |
new, fresh, original |
|
notoriety |
ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful reason |
|
nevertheless/nonetheless |
however, even so, despite that |
|
net |
remaining after expenses or other factors have been deducted; ultimate (adj.); to bring in as profit, or to catch as in a net (v.) |
|
negate |
deny or refute; make void or cause to be ineffective |
|
nascent |
coming into existence, still developing |
|
naive |
simple and unsophisticated, unsuspecting, lacking worldly and critical jud |
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mundane |
common, ordinary, everyday |
|
mores |
customs, manners, or morals of a particular group |
|
moreover |
besides; in addition to what was just stated |
|
monotony |
sameness or repetitiousness to the point of being boring; lack of variation, uniformity, esp. repetition in sound |
|
mollify |
calm or soothe (an angry person); lessen or soften |
|
modest |
humble; simple rather than showy; decent (esp. "covering up" in terms of dress); small, limited |
|
mitigate |
make less severe; lessen or moderate (damage, grief, pain, etc) |
|
meticulous |
taking extreme care in regards to details; precise, fussy |
|
metamorphosis |
a complete change or transformation |
|
mercurial |
quickly and unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty |
|
mendacious |
lying, habitually dishonest |
|
maverick |
rebel, individualist, dissenter |
|
malleable |
able to be bent, shaped, or adapted |
|
makeshift |
a temporary, often improvised, substitute (n.); improvised for temporary use (adj.) |
|
lull |
soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (v.); a period of calm or quiet (n.) |
|
lucid |
clear, easy to understand; rational, sane, clear-headed |
|
loquacious |
talkative, wordy |
|
log |
keep a record of, write down; travel for or at a certain distance or speed (v.); a written record (n.) |
|
likewise |
also, in addition to; similarly, in the same way |
|
libertine |
morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion) |
|
liberal |
favorable to progress or reform; believing in maximum possible individual freedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous (adj.); a person with such beliefs or practices (n.) |
|
levy |
collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service (v.); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (n.) |
|
levity |
lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lack of seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriate way |
|
layperson |
a person who is not a member of the clergy or not a member of a particular profession (such as medicine, law, etc.) |
|
lavish |
abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess (adj.); give very generously (v.) |
|
laudable |
worthy of praise |
|
lassitude |
tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference |
|
languid |
drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit |
|
landmark |
object (such as a building) that stands out and can be used to navigate by; a very important place, event, etc. |
|
lampoon |
a harsh satire (n.); ridicule or satirize (v.) |
|
lament |
mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret (v.); an expression of grief, esp. as a song or poem (n.) |
|
laconic |
using few words, concise |
|
lackluster |
not shiny; dull, mediocre; lacking brilliance or vitality |
|
kudos |
praise, honor, congratulations |
|
keen |
sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense (of a feeling) |
|
juncture |
critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together |
|
judicious |
using good judgment; wise, sensible |
|
jocular |
joking or given to joking all of the time; jolly, playful |
|
jargon |
vocabulary specific to a group or occupation; convoluted or unintelligible language |
|
intrinsic |
belonging to the essential nature of a thing |
|
intrepid |
fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity |
|
intractable |
difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn |
|
intelligible |
able to be understood, clear |
|
innocuous |
harmless, inoffensive |
|
inherent |
existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic |
|
ingrained |
deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber |
|
ingenuous |
genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive |
|
inform |
inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be the characteristic quality of |
|
indifferent |
not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial |
|
indeterminate |
not fixed or determined, indefinite; vague |
|
incorporate |
include, take in; combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to |
|
inconsequential |
insignificant, unimportant; illogical |
|
incongruous |
out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious |
|
incipient |
just beginning; in a very early stage |
|
inchoate |
just begun, undeveloped, unorganized |
|
incentive |
something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward |
|
incendiary |
setting on fire, pertaining to arson; arousing strife, rebellion, etc.; "inflaming" the senses |
|
inasmuch |
in like manner, considering that |
|
inadvertent |
unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless |
|
implode |
burst inward; fall apart |
|
implicit |
implied, not stated directly; involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable |
|
implication |
act of implying or that which is implied; close connection, esp. in an incriminating way |
|
impede |
hold back, obstruct the progress of |
|
impartial |
unbiased, fair |
|
impair |
make worse, weaken |
|
imminent |
ready to occur, impending |
|
illiberality |
narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity |
|
idiosyncrasy |
characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirk |
|
hyperbole |
deliberate exaggeration for effect |
|
homogenous |
of the same kind; uniform throughout |
|
hodgepodge |
mixture of different kinds of things, jumble |
|
hierarchy |
a ranked series; a classification or people according to rank, ability, etc.; a ruling body |
|
heterogeneous |
different in type, incongruous; composed of different types of elements |
|
hedonist |
person devoted to pleasure |
|
hearken |
listen, pay attention to |
|
haven |
harbor or port; refuge, safe place |
|
hardy |
bold, brave, capable or withstanding hardship, fatigue, cold, etc. |
|
hackneyed |
so commonplace as to be stale; not fresh or original |
|
guile |
clever deceit, cunning, craftiness |
|
gregarious |
sociable, pertaining to a flock or crowd |
|
gradation |
a progression, a process taking place gradually, in stages; one of these stages |
|
goosebumps |
the "bumps" created by hairs standing up on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc. |
|
glib |
fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity |
|
gist |
main idea, essence |
|
germane |
relevant and appropriate, ontopic |
|
gawky |
physically awkward |
|
gauche |
tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude |
|
garrulous |
talkative, wordy, rambling |
|
gainsay |
declare false, deny; oppose |
|
futile |
producing no useful result, ineffective; trivial or unimportant |
|
frugal |
economical, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive |
|
fringe |
on the margin, periphery (adj.); the people in a group who hold the most extreme views (n.) |
|
fortify |
strengthen, invigorate, encourage |
|
forfeit |
surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation |
|
foreshadow |
indicate or suggest beforehand, presage |
|
foment |
incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part |
|
fleeting |
passing quickly, transitory |
|
flag |
get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop |
|
finesse |
extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacy in handling a sensitive situation or in a performance or skill (n.); use tact or diplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (v.) |
|
figurative |
metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); relating to portraying human or animal figures, as opposed to abstract objects |
|
fidelity |
faithfulness, loyalty; strict observance of duty; accuracy in reproducing a sound or image |
|
feasible |
possible; logical or likely; suitable |
|
fathom |
measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand |
|
fanciful |
whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality |
|
fanatical |
excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or zealous in an uncritical way |
|
fallacious |
containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic; logically unsound; deceptive |
|
facilitate |
make easier, help the progress of |
|
facetious |
joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things |
|
extrapolate |
conjecture about an unknown by projecting information about something known; predict by projecting past experience |
|
extraneous |
irrelevant; foreign, coming from without, not belonging |
|
exponent |
person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate, or representative |
|
explicit |
direct, clear, fully revealed; clearly depicting sex or nudity |
|
exhaustive |
comprehensive, thorough, exhausting a topic or subject, accounting for all possibilities; draining, tending to exhaust |
|
exculpate |
clear from guilt or blame |
|
exacting |
very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention |
|
exacerbate |
make worse (more violent, severe, etc.), inflame; irritate or embitter |
|
eulogy |
speech of praise or written work of praise, esp. a speech given at a funeral |
|
estimable |
worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be estimated |
|
esoteric |
understood by or intended for only a few; secret |
|
eschew |
shun, avoid, abstain from |
|
erudite |
scholarly, knowledgeable; possessing deep, often systematic, knowledge |
|
erroneous |
mistaken, in error; improper, morally incorrect |
|
erratic |
inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed course |
|
equitable |
fair, equal, just |
|
ephemeral |
lasting only a short time, fleeting |
|
enumerate |
count or list; specify one-by-one |
|
entitlement |
having the right to certain privileges; believing, sometimes without a cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges |
|
enigma |
puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or contradictory person |
|
enhance |
raise to a higher value, desirability, etc. |
|
enervate |
tire out; weaken |
|
emulate |
copy in an attempt to be equal or be better than |
|
empirical |
coming from, based on, or able to be verified by experience or experimentation; not purely based on theory |
|
eminent |
prominent, distinguished, of high rank |
|
embellish |
decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a story) with fictional or fanciful details |
|
eloquent |
marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive, emotionally moving |
|
elicit |
call forth, bring out, evoke |
|
elevate |
raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a higher rank or status or raise up to a higher spiritual or intellectual plane |
|
elated |
very happy, in high spirits |
|
egregious |
extraordinarily or conspicuously bad; glaring |
|
egalitarian |
related to belief in the equality of all people |
|
efficacy |
the quality of being able to produce the intended effect |
|
eclipse |
the obscuring of one thing by another, such as the sun by the moon or a person by a more famous or talented person (n.); to obscure, darken, make less important (v.) |
|
eclectic |
selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources |
|
eccentric |
peculiar, off, deviating from the norm, esp. in a whimsical way |
|
e.g. |
for example, such as |
|
dubious |
doubtful, questionable, suspect |
|
dormant |
asleep, inactive, on a break |
|
dogma |
a system of principles laid down by an authority; established belief |
|
document |
support with evident, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of |
|
divine |
discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive by insight |
|
divest |
deprive or strip of rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell of holdings (opposite of invest) |
|
diverge |
differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path |
|
distill |
purify; extract the essential elements of |
|
dissonance |
harsh, inharmonious sound; cacophony; disagreement |
|
dissent |
disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view |
|
disseminate |
scatter, spread about, broadcast |
|
disquieting |
disturbing, causing anxiety |
|
disposition |
a person's general or nature mood, tendency |
|
disperse |
scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish |
|
dispatch |
speed, promptness; send off or deal with in a speedy way |
|
dispassionate |
unbiased, not having a selfish or person motivation; calm, lacking emotion |
|
dismiss |
allow to disperse or leave; fire from a job; put aside or reject, especially after only a brief consideration |
|
disjointed |
disconnected, not coherent, jerky |
|
disinterested |
unbiased, impartial; not interested |
|
disingenuous |
insincere, not genuine |
|
discriminating |
judicious, discerning, having good judgment or insight (as an adj., positive; as a v. negative) |
|
discrepancy |
difference or inconsistency |
|
discredit |
injure the reputation of, destroy credibility of or confidence in |
|
discerning |
having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish mentally |
|
disabuse |
free someone from a mistake in thinking |
|
din |
loud, confused noise, esp. for a long period of time |
|
digress |
go off-topic when speaking or writing |
|
didactic |
intended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson |
|
diatribe |
bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant |
|
deterrent |
something that restrains or discourages |
|
detached |
impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof |
|
desiccate |
thoroughly dried up, dehydrated |
|
derivative |
derived from something else; not original |
|
deride |
mock, scoff at, laugh at contemptuously |
|
denote |
stand as a name or symbol for; indicate (contrasts with "connote" which describes what something implies beyond its literal meaning) |
|
denigrate |
belittle, attack the reputation of |
|
delineate |
mark the outline of; sketch; describe in detail |
|
deleterious |
harmful, unhealthful |
|
deflect |
cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a straight course; avoid |
|
deference |
respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of antoerh |
|
default |
failure to act, neglect (n.); fail to fulfill an obligation, esp. a financial one |
|
defamatory |
slanderous, injurious to someone's reputation |
|
deface |
vandalize, mar the appearance of |
|
deem |
judge; condsider |
|
decorous |
behaving with propriety and good taste; polite |
|
debunk |
expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims |
|
debase |
degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality |
|
daunt |
discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of |
|
cynical |
thinking the worst of others' motivations; bitterly pessimistic |
|
culminate |
read the highest point or final stage |
|
crescendo |
steady increase in force, intensity, or the loudness of a musical passage; a climactic moment or peak (n.); to rise in volume or intensity (v.) |
|
credulous |
gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or without enough evidence |
|
credibility |
believability, trustworthiness |
|
craven |
cowardly, lacking courage |
|
crafty |
cunning, skillful in deception or underhanded schemes |
|
covert |
secret, veiled, undercover |
|
counterproductive |
defeating the purpose; preventing the intended goal |
|
counterpoint |
contrasting item, opposite; a complement; the use of contrast or interplay in a work of art |
|
counterintuitive |
against what one would intuitively expect |
|
countenance |
facial expressions or face (n.); approve or tolerate (v.) |
|
cosmopolitan |
belonging to the entire world, at home globally; free from local or national prejudices or attachments |
|
corroborate |
support, add evidence to |
|
copious |
plentiful, bountiful |
|
convoluted |
twisted; very complicated |
|
conversely |
in an opposite way; on the other hand |
|
conversant |
knowledgeable about or experienced with |
|
converge |
move towards one another or towards a point; unite |
|
conundrum |
a riddle; any mystery |
|
contextualize |
place in context, such as by giving the background or circumstances |
|
contentious |
controversial; prone to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones |
|
construe |
interpret or translate |
|
constrict |
squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom of |
|
consolidate |
unite, combine, solidify, make coherent |
|
console |
lessen the suffering or grief of (v.); a control panel, or small table or cabinet (n.) |
|
connoisseur |
expert, especially in the fine arts; person of educated, refined tastes |
|
confer |
consult, compare views; bestow or give |
|
condone |
overlook, tolerate, regard as harmless |
|
concur |
approve, agree |
|
conciliatory |
reconciling, appeasing, attempting to make the peace |
|
concede |
give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing a war) |
|
compliant |
obeying, submissive; following the requirements |
|
complementary |
completing; fitting together well; filling mutual needs |
|
complacent |
self-satisfied, smug; overly content (and therefore lazy, neglectful, or some other bad quality) |
|
commensurate |
the same in size, extent, etc., equivalent; proportional |
|
cogent |
very convincing, logical |
|
coalesce |
come together, unite; fuse together |
|
clinch |
make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together |
|
clamor |
noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous noise |
|
chronological |
arranged in or relating to time order |
|
chauvinism |
fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc. |
|
censure |
strong disapproval or official reprimand (n.); to issue such disapproval or reprimand (v.) |
|
caustic |
capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or sarcastic |
|
catalyst |
causer of change |
|
castigate |
criticize severely; punish in order to corret |
|
cartography |
mapmaking |
|
capricious |
acting on impulse, erratic |
|
canonical |
authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of accepted rules, standards, or artistic works |
|
candid |
open, sincere, honest |
|
cacophony |
harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds |
|
bygone |
past, former (adj.); that which is in the past (usually plural noun) |
|
buttress |
support or encourage (v.); a support or prop, esp. projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (n.) |
|
burgeon |
grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant) |
|
bureaucracy |
government characterized by many bureaus and petty administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements |
|
buffer |
something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions |
|
boor |
rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country bumpkin |
|
bolster |
strengthen or support |
|
bogus |
fake, fraudulent |
|
benign |
harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not cancerous |
|
belie |
contradict or misrepresent |
|
base |
morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit |
|
balk |
refuse to proceed or to do something |
|
avid |
enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirious |
|
aver |
declare or confirm with confidence, say |
|
autonomous |
self-governing, independent |
|
austere |
severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined, ascetic; without luxury or easel sober or serious |
|
augment |
make larger |
|
audacious |
very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way; extremely original |
|
assuage |
make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm |
|
ascetic |
abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj.); a person who leads an austere and simple life without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for religious reasons (n.) |
|
ascertain |
find out with certainty |
|
artless |
free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured |
|
artifact |
any object made by humans, esp. those from an earlier time, such as those excavated by archaeologists |
|
articulate |
using language in a clear, fluent way (adj.); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (v.) |
|
arduous |
very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure |
|
archaic |
characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive |
|
arcane |
known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret |
|
arbitrary |
based entirely on one's discretion; capricious, unreasonable, or having no basis |
|
appreciable |
enough to be perceived, considerable |
|
appease |
pacify, satisfy, relieve; concede to belligerent demands, sometimes at the expense of principles |
|
apocryphal |
of questionable authenticity; false |
|
apathy |
not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern |
|
antipathy |
deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance, sometimes without reason |
|
antagonize |
make hostile or unfriendly |
|
anomaly |
deviation from what is common; inconsistency |
|
anoint |
rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by a ceremony that includes applying oil to someone |
|
anarchy |
absence of law or government; chaos, disorder |
|
analogous |
comparable, corresponding in some particular way (making a good analogy) |
|
ambivalent |
uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once |
|
ambiguous |
not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations |
|
alleviate |
lessen, make easier to endure |
|
alienate |
cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant |
|
alacrity |
cheerful or speedy willingness |
|
aggregate |
gather together, amount to (v.); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj.) |
|
aggrandize |
make greater; exaggerate |
|
affectation |
fake behavior (such as in speech or dress); adopted to give a certain impression |
|
affable |
warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable |
|
aesthetic |
concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste, pertaining to the science of what is beautiful (adj.); a set of principles or tastes guiding an artistic practice (n.) |
|
advocate |
speak or argue in favor of (v.); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (n.) |
|
adverse |
opposing, harmful |
|
admonish |
mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something |
|
adhere |
stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief |
|
activism |
the practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations |
|
acme |
summit, peak, highest point |
|
abstain |
hold back, refrain (esp. from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote |
|
abridge |
condense or curtail; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea |
|
abrasive |
rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance |
|
abjure |
give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (esp. formally or under oath) |
|
abhor |
detest, regard with disgust |
|
aberrant |
abnormal, deviant |
|
abdicate |
formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility) |
|
abate |
reduce, diminish |
|
abase |
degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem |
|
abeyance |
temporary suspension, inactivity |
|
abreast |
side-by-side (with "of"); keeping up with, staying aware of, or remaining equal in progress with |
|
abscission |
cutting off; sudden termination; the separation of leaves, petals, or other parts from a plant or animal |
|
abscond |
depart suddenly and secretively |
|
abyss |
a deep and vast space or cavity; anything profound or infinite |
|
accede |
agree, give consent; assume power (with "to") |
|
accretion |
gradual increase; an added part or addition |
|
acerbic |
sour; harsh or severe |
|
acidulous |
slightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic |
|
acumen |
keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment |
|
adulterate |
make impure by adding inappropriate or inferior ingredients |
|
adumbrate |
give a rough outline of; foreshadow; reveal only partially; obscure |
|
aerie |
dwelling or fortress built on a high place; the nest of a bird of prey |
|
albeit |
although, even though |
|
aloof |
distant physically or emotionally; reserved; indifferent |
|
amalgamate |
blend, merge, or unite |
|
ameliorate |
improve; make better or more bearable |
|
amortize |
gradually pay off a debt, or gradually write off an asset |
|
anachronism |
something that is not in its correct historical time; a mistake in chronology, such as by assigning a person or event to the wrong time period |
|
analgesia |
pain relief; inability to feel pain |
|
annul |
make void or null, cancel, abolish |
|
anodyne |
medicine that relieves pain (n.); soothing, relieving pain (adj.) |
|
antedate |
be older than, precede in time; assign to an earlier date |
|
antithetical |
directly opposed, opposite; involving antithesis |
|
apostate |
person who deserts a party, cause, etc. |
|
apostle |
pioneer of a reform movement |
|
apposite |
highly appropriate, suitable, or relevant |
|
apprise |
inform, give notice to |
|
approbation |
praise or approval, especially formal approval |
|
appropriate |
set aside or authorize (such as money) for a particular purpose; take for one's own use |
|
arbiter |
judge, umpire, person empowered to decide matters at hand |
|
ardent/ardor |
very passionate, devoted, or enthusiastic |
|
arrogate |
claim or take presumptuously or without the right to do so |
|
ascribe |
assign or credit to a certain cause or source |
|
aseptic |
free from germs |
|
asperity |
rigor, severity; harshness or sharpness of tone; roughness of surface |
|
aspersions |
damaging remarks, defamation, slander |
|
assail |
attack violently, assault |
|
assiduous |
persevering, diligent, constant |
|
attenuate |
weaken or thin out |
|
attuned |
in harmony; in sympathetic relationship |
|
augury |
telling the future, such as through supernatural means |
|
august |
venerable, majestic; inspiring admiration |
|
avarice |
insatiable greed; a miserly desire to hoard wealth |
|
axiom |
self-evident truth requiring no proof; universally or generally accepted principle |
|
balloon |
swell or puff out; increase rapidly |
|
banal |
lacking freshness and originality; cliche |
|
bane |
something that ruins or spoils |
|
baying |
howling in a deep way, like a dog or wolf |
|
beneficient |
doing good |
|
bent |
personal inclination or tendency |
|
besiege |
attack, overwhelm, crown in on or surround |
|
bevy |
group of birds or other animals that stay together; any large group |
|
bifurcate |
to fork into two branches or divide into two halves |
|
bilk |
cheat or defraud |
|
blight |
disease that kills plant rapidly, or any cause of decay or destruction (n.); ruin or cause to wither (v.) |
|
blithe |
joyous, merry; excessively carefree (so as to ignore more important concerns) |
|
bombastic |
(of speech or writing) far too showy and dramatic than is appropriate; pretentious |
|
bonhomie |
friendliness, open and simple good heartedness |
|
brandish |
shake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon |
|
brook |
suffer or tolerate |
|
bucolic |
suggesting a peaceful and pleasant view of rural life |
|
burnish |
polish, make something smooth and lustrous |
|
calumny |
malicious lie intended to hurt someone's reputation; the act of telling such lies |
|
canard |
rumor, a false or baseless story |
|
cardinal |
chief, most important |
|
catholic |
universal, broad-minded |
|
chicanery |
trickery, deception by knowingly false arguments |
|
circumscribe |
strictly limit a role, range of activity, or area; in math, to be constructed around so as to touch as many points as possible |
|
circumspect |
cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances and consequences |
|
clamber |
climb awkwardly or with difficulty, scramble |
|
cloying |
disgustingly or distastefully sweet |
|
coagulate |
cause a liquid to become solid or semisolid |
|
coda |
final part of a musical composition; an ending, esp. one that sums up what has come before |
|
coffer |
chest for storing valuables; financial resources, a treasury |
|
collude |
conspire; cooperate for illegal or fraudulent purposes |
|
compendium |
concise but complete summary; a list or collection |
|
complaisant |
eager to please; cheerfully complying |
|
confound |
confuse, frustrate; mix up or make worse |
|
connote |
suggest or imply in addition to the precise literal meaning |
|
contraries |
things that are opposing; either of two opposite things |
|
contrite |
remorseful; feeling sorry for one's offenses or sins |
|
contumacious |
rebellious; stubbornly disobedient |
|
convoke |
call together, as to a meeting |
|
cosset |
treat as a pet, pamper |
|
coterie |
close or exclusive group, clique |
|
cupidity |
greed, great or excessive desire |
|
curmudgeon |
bad-tempered, difficult person; grouch |
|
declaim |
speak in an impassioned, pompous, or oratorical manner; give a formal speech |
|
declivity |
downward slope |
|
delimit |
fix, mark, or define the boundaries of |
|
demagogue |
a leader who lies and gains power by arousing the passions and especially prejudices of the people |
|
demur |
show reluctance or object, esp. for moral reasons |
|
desultory |
lacking consistency or order, disconnected, sporadic; going off topic |
|
diaphanous |
very sheer, fine, translucent |
|
dichotomy |
division into two parts or into two contradictory groups |
|
dictum |
formal or authoritative pronouncement; saying or proverb |
|
diffident |
lacking confidence, shy |
|
diffuse |
spread widely, disseminate (v.); dispersed, widely spread out, or wordy and going off-topic |
|
|
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