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88 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abash to embarrass |
disconcert, discomfit, faze, mortify |
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Abate to decrease, reduce |
dwindle, ebb, recede, flag, wane |
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Aberration something different from the usual |
anomaly, irregularity, abnormality, deviation |
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Abet to aid, accomplice |
help, succor, assist |
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Abject miserable, pitiful |
pathetic, lamentable, sorry |
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Abridge to condense, shorten |
abbreviate, cut, prune |
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Abscond to depart secretly |
flee, decamp, fly, bolt |
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Abstemious marked by restraint, consumption of food or alcohol |
moderate, temperate, sparing |
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accede to express approval, agree to |
assent, acquiesce, consent, concur |
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accolade praise, distinction |
praise, acclaim, approbation, commendation, kudos |
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accretion growth in size or increase in amount |
buildup, accumulation, accrual |
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acerbic bitter, sharp in taste or temper |
tart, biting, caustic, cutting |
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acme highest point, summit |
apex, crown, peak, pinnacle, zenith |
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acquiesce to agree, comply quietly |
accede, consent, submit |
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acrid harsh, bitter |
sharp, pungent, caustic |
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acrimony bitterness, animosity |
choler, spleen, rancor, asperity, anitpathy |
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acumen sharpness of insight |
sagacity, discernment, shrewdness |
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adage old saying or proverb |
apothem, aphorism, maxim |
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admonish to caution or reprimand |
reprove, chide, upbraid, berate, rebuke |
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adroit skillful, accomplished, highly competent |
deft, dexterous, proficient, accomplished, adept |
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adulation high praise |
admiration, flattery, accolade |
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adulterate to corrupt or make impure |
contaminate, dilute |
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aesthetic pertain to beauty or art |
artistic, tasteful |
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alacrity cheerful readiness, promptness in response |
celerity, promptness, dispatch, enthusiasm |
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allusion indirect reference |
intimation, suggestion |
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altruism unselfish concern for others' welfare |
benevolence, generosity, kindness |
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amalgamate to mix, combine |
integrate, assimilate, merge, incorporate, league |
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ambivalence attitude of uncertainty, conflicting emotions |
indecision, vacillation |
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ameliorate to make better, improve |
amend, better, reform |
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amulet ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits |
talisman, fetish |
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anachronistic outdated |
anomalous, inconsistent, inappropriate |
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anathema ban, curse; something shunned or disliked |
execration; horror, abomination |
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ancillary accessory, subordinate, helping |
adjunct, additional, auxiliary, supplemental |
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anecdote short, usually funny account of an event |
story, joke |
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anomaly irregularity or deviation from the norm |
oddity, aberration, deviance, peculiarity, abnormality |
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antediluvian prehistoric, ancient beyond measure |
old, archaic, antagonism |
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antipathy dislike, hostility, extreme opposition or aversion |
enmity, malice, antagonism |
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antithesis exact opposite or direct contrast |
contrary, reverse |
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apex highest point, summit |
acme, crown, zenith, peak, crest |
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aphorism old saying or short, pithy statement |
adage, apothegm, maxim, proverb |
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apocryphal not genuine, fictional |
erroneous, fictitious, fraudulent, false |
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apostate one who renounces a religious faith |
renegade, turncoat, deserter |
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appropriate to take possession of |
usurp, arrogate, commandeer
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arable suitable for cultivation |
farmable, fertile |
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arcane secret, obscure, known only to a few |
esoteric, mysterious |
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arch mischievous, roguish |
impish, waggish, saucy, ironic |
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archipelago large group of islands |
cluster, scattering |
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arrogate to demand, claim arrogantly |
appropriate, usurp, seize, commandeer, assume |
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ascetic self-denying, abstinent, austere |
continent, temperate, abstemious |
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ascribe to attribute, assign |
accredit, impute, refer |
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ashen resembling ashes; deathly pale |
blanched, pallid, pasty, win |
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aspersion false rumor, damaging report, slander |
allegation, insinuation, reproach |
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assiduous diligent, persistent, hard working |
industrious, steadfast, thorough |
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assonance resemblance in sound, especially in vowel sounds, partial rhyme |
repetition, similarity, echo |
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assuage to make less severe, ease, relieve |
mitigate, alleviate, ease, appease, mollify |
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asylum refuge, sanctuary |
haven, shelter |
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atrophy to waste away, wither from disuse |
deteriorate, degenerate |
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attenuate to make thin or slender, weaken |
reduce, rarefy, diminish |
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augury prophecy, prediction of events |
omen, auspices, portent, harbinger, presage |
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august dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable |
grand, majestic, admirable, awesome |
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auspicious having favorable prospects, promising |
encouraging, propitious, hopeful, positive |
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austere stern, strict, unadorned |
dour, bare, ascetic |
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autocrat dictator |
tyrant, authoritarian, despot, totalitarian |
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autonomous separate, independent |
sovereign, self-governed, free |
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avarice greed |
cupidity, rapacity |
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aver to declare to be true, affirm |
assert, attest |
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aviary large enclosure housing birds |
birdhouse, zoo |
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awry crooked, askew, amiss |
aslant, wrong |
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axiom premise, postulate, self-evident truth |
adage, apothegm, aphorism, maxim, rule |
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baleful harmful, with evil intentions |
dark, sinister |
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balk to refuse, shirk, prevent |
stop; check, thwart, frustrate |
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banal trite, overly common |
hackneyed, shopworn, inane |
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bane something causing death, destruction, ruin |
curse, scourge, poison |
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banter playful conversation |
chatter, palaver, prattle |
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bastion fortification, stronghold |
bulwark, defense, haven |
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bawdy obscene, lewd |
vulgar, risque, rude, coarse |
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bay to bark, deep prolonged way |
howl, ululate, wail, keen |
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belabor to insist repeatedly or harp on |
dwell upon, harp upon |
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bellicose warlike, aggressive |
belligerent, hostile, combative, pugnacious |
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belligerent hostile, tending to fight |
bellicose, hostile, combative, pugnacious |
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benighted unenlightened |
ignorant, unschooled, illiterate |
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best to get the better of, beat |
defeat, trounce, vanquish, rout, worst |
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bevy group |
band, gang, bunch, pack, troop |
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bilk to cheat, defraud |
swindle, dupe, fleece |
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blandish to coax with flattery |
cajole, charm, seduce, wheedle |
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blasphemous cursing, profane, irreverent |
sacrilegious, impious |
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blithe joyful, cheerful, without appropriate thought |
glad, happy, carefree, insouciant |
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