Sat Vocabulary Words

Front 1

abandon

Back 1

noun.
total lack of inhibition
ex. With her strict parents out of tow, Kelly danced all night with abandon.

Front 2

abate

Back 2

verb.
to decrease, to reduce
ex. My hunger abated when I saw how filthy the chef's hands were.

Front 3

abet

Back 3

verb.
to aid; to act as an accomplice
ex. While Derwin robbed the bank, Marvin abetted his friend by pulling up the getaway car.

Front 4

abjure

Back 4

verb.
to renounce under oath; to abandon forever; to abstain from
ex. After having been devout for most of his life, he suddenly abjured his beliefs, much to his family's disappointment.

Front 5

abnegate

Back 5

verb.
to give up; to deny oneself
ex. After his retirement, the former police commissioner found it difficult to abnegate authority.

Front 6

abortive

Back 6

adj.
ending w/o results
ex. Her abortive attempt to swim the full five miles left her frustrated.

Front 7

abrogate

Back 7

verb.
to annul; to abolish by authoritative action
ex. The president's job is to abrogate any laws that fosters inequality among citizens.

Front 8

abscond

Back 8

verb.
to leave quickly in secret
ex. The criminal absconded during the night with all of his mother's money.

Front 9

abstemious

Back 9

adj.
done sparingly; consuming in moderation
ex. The spa served no sugar or wheat, but the clients found the retreat so calm that they didn't mind the abstemious rules.

Front 10

accede

Back 10

verb.
to express approval, to agree to
ex. Once the mayor heard the reasonable request, she happily acceded to the proposal.

Front 11

acclivity

Back 11

noun.
an incline or upward slope, the ascending side of a hill
ex. We were so tired from hiking that by the time we reached the acclivity, it looked more like a mountain than a hill.

Front 12

accretion

Back 12

noun.
a growth in size, an increase in amount
ex. The committee's strong fund-raising efforts resulted in an accretion in scholarship money.

Front 13

acme

Back 13

noun.
the highest level or degree attainable
ex. Just when he reached the acme of his power, the dictator was overthrown.

Front 14

actuate

Back 14

verb.
to put into motion, to activate; to motivate or influence to activity
ex. The leaders rousing speech actuated the crowd into a peaceful protest.

Front 15

acuity

Back 15

noun.
sharp vision or perception characterized by the ability to resolve fine detail
ex. With unusual acuity, she was able to determine that the masterpiece was a fake.

Front 16

acumen

Back 16

noun.
sharpness of insight, mind, and understanding; shrewd judgment
ex. The investor's financial acumen helped him to select high-yield stocks.

Front 17

adamant

Back 17

adj.
stubbornly unyielding
ex. She was adamant about leaving the restaurant after the waiter was rude.

Front 18

adept

Back 18

adj.
extremely skilled
ex. She is adept at computing math problems in her head.

Front 19

adjudicate

Back 19

verb.
to hear and settle a matter; to act as a judge
ex. The principal adjudicated the disagreement between two students.

Front 20

adjure

Back 20

verb.
to appeal to
ex. The criminal adjured to the court for mercy.

Front 21

admonish

Back 21

verb.
to caution or warn gently in order to correct something
ex. My mother admonished me about my poor grades.

Front 22

adroit

Back 22

adj.
skillful; accomplished; highly competent
ex. The adroit athlete completed even the most difficult obstacle course with ease.

Front 23

adulation

Back 23

noun.
excessive flattery or admiration
ex. The adulation she showed her professor seemed insincere; I suspected she really wanted a better grade.

Front 24

adumbrate

Back 24

verb
to give a hint or indication of something to come
ex. Her constant complaining about the job adumbrated her intent to leave.

Front 25

aerie

Back 25

noun.
a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
ex. Perched high among the trees, the eagle's aerie was filled with eggs.

Front 26

affected

Back 26

adj.
phony, artificial
ex. The affected hairdresser spouted French phrases, though she had never been to France.

Front 27

aggregate

Back 27

noun.
a collective mass, the sum total
ex. An aggregate of panic-stricken customers mobbed the bank, demanding their life savings.

Front 28

algorithm

Back 28

noun.
an established procedure for solving a problem or equation
ex. The accountant uses a series of algorithms to determine the appropriate tax bracket.

Front 29

alimentary

Back 29

adj.
pertaining to food, nutrition, or digestion
ex. After a particularly good meal, Sherlock turned to his companion and exclaimed, "I fell quite good, very well fed. It was alimentary my dear Watson."

Front 30

allay

Back 30

verb.
to lessen, ease, reduce in intensity
ex. Trying to allay their fears, the nurse sat with them all night.

Front 31

amity

Back 31

noun.
friendship, good will
ex. Correspondence over the years contributed to a lasting amity between the women.

Front 32

amorphous

Back 32

adj.
having no definite form
ex. The show featured an amorphous creature that was constantly changing shape.

Front 33

animus

Back 33

noun.
a feeling of animosity or ill will
ex. Though her teacher had failed her, she displayed no animus toward him.

Front 34

anodyne

Back 34

noun.
a source of comfort; a medicine that relieves pain
ex. The sound of classical music is usually just the anodyne I need after a tough day at work.

Front 35

anomaly

Back 35

noun.
a deviation from the common rule, something that is difficult to classify
ex. Among the top-ten albums of the year was an anomaly- a compilation of polka classics.

Front 36

anthropomorphic

Back 36

adj.
suggesting human characteristics for animals and inanimate things
ex. Many children's stories feature anthropomorphic animals such as talking wolves and pigs.

Front 37

antiquated

Back 37

adj.
too old to be fashionable or useful
ex. Next to her coworker's brand-new model, Marisa's computer looked antiquated.

Front 38

aphorism

Back 38

noun.
a short statement of a principle
ex. The county doctor was given to such aphorisms as "Still waters run deep."

Front 39

aplomb

Back 39

noun.
self-confident assurance; poise
ex. For such a younger dancer, she had great aplomb, making her perfect to play the young princess.

Front 40

apostate

Back 40

noun.
one who renounces a religious faith
ex. So that he could divorce his wife, the king scoffed at the church doctrines and declared himself an apostate.

Front 41

apposite

Back 41

adj.
strikingly appropriate or well adapted
ex. The lawyer presented an apposite argument upon cross-examining the star witness.

Front 42

apprise

Back 42

verb.
to give notice to, inform
ex. "Thanks for apprising me that the test time has been changed," said Emanuel.

Front 43

appropriate

Back 43

verb.
to assign to a particular purpose, allocate
ex. The fund's manager appropriated funds for the clean-up effort.

Front 44

arable

Back 44

adj.
suitable for cultivation
ex. The overpopulated country desperately needed more arable land.

Front 45

arcane

Back 45

adj.
secret, obscure; known only to few
ex. The arcane rituals of the sect were passed down through many generations.

Front 46

archipelago

Back 46

noun.
a large group of islands.
ex. Between villages in the Stockholm archipelago, boat taxis are the only form of transportation.

Front 47

arrears

Back 47

noun.
unpaid, overdue debts and bills; neglected obligations
ex. After the expensive lawsuit, Dominic's accounts were in arrears.

Front 48

arrogate

Back 48

verb.
to claim w/o justification; to claim for oneself w/o right
ex. Lynn watched in astonishment as her boss arrogated the credit for her brilliant work on the project.

Front 49

askance

Back 49

adverb.
with disapproval; with a skeptical sideways glance
ex. She looked askance at her son's failing report card as he mumbled that he had done all the schoolwork.

Front 50

assent

Back 50

verb.
to agree, as to a proposal
ex. After careful deliberation, the CEO assented to the proposed merger.

Front 51

atavistic

Back 51

adj.
characteristic of a former era, ancient
ex. After spending three weeks on a desert island, Roger became a survivalist with atavistic skills that helped him endure.

Front 52

autocrat

Back 52

noun.
a dictator
ex. Mussolini has been described as an autocrat who tolerated no opposition.

Front 53

aver

Back 53

verb.
to declare to be true, to affirm
ex. "Yes, he was wearing a mask," the witness averred.

Front 54

avuncular

Back 54

adj.
like an uncle in behavior, especially in kindness and warmth
ex. The coach's avuncular style made him well-liked.

Front 55

awry

Back 55

adverb.
crooked, askew, amiss
ex. Something must have gone awry in the computer system because some of my files are missing.

Front 56

balk

Back 56

verb.
to stop short and refuse to go on
ex. When the horse balked at jumping over the high fence, the rider was thrown off.

Front 57

ballast

Back 57

noun.
a structure that helps to stabilize or steady
ex. Communication and honesty are the true ballasts of a good relationship.

Front 58

beatific

Back 58

adj.
displaying calmness and joy, relating to a state of celestial happiness
ex. After spending three months in India, she had a beatific peace about her.

Front 59

becalm

Back 59

verb.
to stop the progress of, to soothe
ex. The warm air becalmed the choppy waves.

Front 60

becloud

Back 60

verb.
to make less visible, to obscure, or blur
ex. Her ambivalence about the long commute beclouded her enthusiasm about the job.

Front 61

bedraggle

Back 61

adj.
soiled, wet and limp; dilapidated

Front 62

beget

Back 62

verb.
to produce, especially as an effect or outgrowth; to bring about

Front 63

behemoth

Back 63

noun.
something of monstrous size or power; huge creature

Front 64

beneficent

Back 64

adj.
pertaining to an act of kindness

Front 65

berate

Back 65

verb.
to scold harshly

Front 66

bilious

Back 66

adj.
ill-tempered, sickly, ailing

Front 67

blasphemous

Back 67

adj.
cursing, profane; extremely irreverent

Front 68

blatant

Back 68

adj.
completely obvious and conspicuous, especially in an offensive, crass manner

Front 69

blithely

Back 69

adverb.
merrily, lightheartedly cheerful; w/o appropriate thought

Front 70

bombastic

Back 70

adj.
high-sounding but meaningless; ostentatiously lofty in style

Front 71

bovine

Back 71

adj.
relating to cows; having qualities characteristic of a cow, such as sluggishness or dullness

Front 72

braggart

Back 72

noun.
a person who brags or boasts in a loud and empty manner

Front 73

broach

Back 73

verb.
to mention or suggest for the first time

Front 74

bucolic

Back 74

adj.
pastoral, rural

Front 75

burnish

Back 75

verb.
to polish; to make smooth and bright.

Front 76

bursar

Back 76

noun.
a treasurer or keeper of funds

Front 77

cache

Back 77

noun.
a hiding place; stockpile

Front 78

cacophony

Back 78

noun.
a jarring, unpleasant noise

Front 79

calumny

Back 79

noun.
a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation

Front 80

cantankerous

Back 80

adj.
having a difficult, uncooperative, or stubborn disposition

Front 81

captious

Back 81

adj.
marked by the tendency to point out trivial faults; intended to confuse in an argument

Front 82

cataclysmic

Back 82

adj.
severely destructive

Front 83

catalyst

Back 83

noun.
something that provokes or speeds up significant change, especially w/o being affected by the consequences

Front 84

caucus

Back 84

noun.
a closed committee within a political party; a private committee meeting

Front 85

caustic

Back 85

adj.
biting, sarcastic

Front 86

cede

Back 86

verb.
to surrender possession of something

Front 87

celerity

Back 87

noun.
speed, haste

Front 88

censorious

Back 88

adj.
critical; tending to blame and condemn

Front 89

certitude

Back 89

noun.
assurance, freedom from doubt

Front 90

cessation

Back 90

noun.
a temporary or complete halt

Front 91

chary

Back 91

adj.
watchful, cautious; extremely shy

Front 92

chimerical

Back 92

adj.
fanciful; imaginary, impossible

Front 93

circuitous

Back 93

adj.
indirect, roundabout

Front 94

circumvent

Back 94

verb.
to go around, avoid

Front 95

cloying

Back 95

adj.
sickly sweet; excessive

Front 96

coagulate

Back 96

verb.
to clot; to cause to thicken

Front 97

cogent

Back 97

adj.
logically forceful; compelling, convincing

Front 98

colloquial

Back 98

adj.
characteristic of informal speech

Front 99

commute

Back 99

verb.
to change a penalty to a less severe one

Front 100

complacent

Back 100

adj.
self-satisfied, smug

Front 101

compliant

Back 101

adj.
submissive, yielding

Front 102

concomitant

Back 102

adj.
existing concurrently

Front 103

concord

Back 103

noun.
agreement

Front 104

condole

Back 104

verb.
to grieve; to express sympathy

Front 105

conflagration

Back 105

noun.
big, destructive fire

Front 106

confluence

Back 106

noun.
the act of two things flowing together; the junction or meeting place where two things meet

Front 107

consanguineous

Back 107

adj.
having the same lineage or ancestry; related by blood

Front 108

consternation

Back 108

noun.
an intense state of fear or dismay

Front 109

constituent

Back 109

noun.
component, part; citizen, voter

Front 110

constraint

Back 110

noun.
something that restricts or confines within prescribed bounds

Front 111

contemptuous

Back 111

adj.
scornful; expressing contempt

Front 112

contentious

Back 112

adj.
quarrelsome, disagreeable, belligerent

Front 113

contiguous

Back 113

adj.
sharing a boundary; neighboring

Front 114

continence

Back 114

noun.
self-control, self-restraint

Front 115

convalesce

Back 115

verb.
to recover gradually from an illness

Front 116

convergence

Back 116

noun.
the state of separate elements joining or coming together

Front 117

coquette

Back 117

noun.
a flirtatious woman

Front 118

coterie

Back 118

noun.
an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose

Front 119

countervail

Back 119

verb.
to act or react with equal force

Front 120

covert

Back 120

adj.
secretive, not openly shown

Front 121

cull

Back 121

verb.
to select, weed out

Front 122

cumulative

Back 122

adj.
increasing, collective

Front 123

curt

Back 123

adj.
abrupt, shirt with words

Front 124

dearth

Back 124

noun.
a lack, scarcity, insufficiency

Front 125

debacle

Back 125

noun.
a sudden, disastrous collapse or defeat; a total, ridiculous failure

Front 126

declaim

Back 126

verb.
to speak loudly and vehemently

Front 127

defamatory

Back 127

adj.
injurious to the reputation

Front 128

demagogue

Back 128

noun.
a leader, rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice

Front 129

denizen

Back 129

noun.
an inhabitant, a resident

Front 130

deride

Back 130

verb.
to laugh at contemptuously, to make fun of

Front 131

diffuse

Back 131

verb.
to spread out widely, to scatter freely, to disseminate

Front 132

digress

Back 132

verb.
to turn aside, especially from the main point; to stray from the subject

Front 133

dilapidated

Back 133

adj.
in disrepair, run down

Front 134

diluvial

Back 134

adj.
pertaining to a flood

Front 135

discomfit

Back 135

verb.
to disconcert, to make one lose one's composure

Front 136

discrete

Back 136

adj.
individually distinct, separate

Front 137

disingenuous

Back 137

adj.
giving a false appearance of simple frankness; misleading

Front 138

disinterested

Back 138

adj.
fair-minded, unbiased

Front 139

dispassionate

Back 139

adj.
unaffected by bias or strong emotions; not personally or emotionally involved in something

Front 140

dissident

Back 140

adj.
disagreeing with an established religious or political system

Front 141

doctrinaire

Back 141

adj.
rigidly devoted to theories w/o regard for practicality; dogmatic

Front 142

dogged

Back 142

adj.
stubbornly persevering

Front 143

doleful

Back 143

adj.
sad, mournful

Front 144

dour

Back 144

adj.
sullen and gloomy; stern and severe

Front 145

effluvia

Back 145

noun.
waste; odorous fumes given off by waste

Front 146

elegy

Back 146

noun.
a mournful poem, usually about the dead

Front 147

elude

Back 147

verb.
to avoid cleverly, to escape the perception of

Front 148

emollient

Back 148

adj.
soothing, especially to the skin

Front 149

emulate

Back 149

verb.
to strive to equal or excel, to imitate

Front 150

encumber

Back 150

verb.
to weigh down, to burden

Front 151

enjoin

Back 151

verb.
to direct or impose with urgent appeal, to order with emphasis; to forbid

Front 152

epochal

Back 152

adj.
momentous, highly significant

Front 153

eponymous

Back 153

adj.
giving one's name to a place, book, restaurant

Front 154

equivocate

Back 154

verb.
to avoid committing oneself in what one says, to be deliberately unclear

Front 155

ersatz

Back 155

adj.
being an artificial and inferior substitute or imitation

Front 156

eschew

Back 156

verb.
to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)

Front 157

espouse

Back 157

verb.
to take up and support as a cause; to many

Front 158

espy

Back 158

verb.
to catch sight of, glimpse

Front 159

euphemism

Back 159

noun.
an inoffensive and agreeable expression that is submitted for one that is considered offensive

Front 160

euthanasia

Back 160

noun.
the practice of ending the life of terminally ill individuals; assisted suicide

Front 161

excoriate

Back 161

verb.
to censure scathingly; to express strong disapproval of

Front 162

exponent

Back 162

noun.
one who champions or advocates

Front 163

expound

Back 163

verb.
to explain or describe in detail

Front 164

expunge

Back 164

verb.
to erase, eliminate completely

Front 165

extirpate

Back 165

verb.
to root out, eradicate, literally or figuratively; to destroy wholly

Front 166

extrapolation

Back 166

noun.
using known data and information to determine what will happen in the future; prediction

Front 167

extrinsic

Back 167

adj.
external, unessential; originating form the outside

Front 168

extrude

Back 168

verb.
to form or shape something by pushing it out, to force out, especially through a small opening

Front 169

facetious

Back 169

adj.
witty, humorous

Front 170

facile

Back 170

adj.
easily accomplished; seeming to lack sincerity or depth; arrived at w/o due effort

Front 171

fallacious

Back 171

adj.
tending to deceive or mislead; based on a fallacy

Front 172

febrile

Back 172

adj.
feverish, marked by intense emotion or activity

Front 173

feckless

Back 173

adj.
ineffective, worthless

Front 174

feign

Back 174

verb.
to pretend, to give a false appearance of

Front 175

feral

Back 175

adj.
suggestive of a wild beast, not domesticated

Front 176

fictive

Back 176

adj.
fictional, relating to imaginative creation

Front 177

filibuster

Back 177

verb.
to use obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speech making, in order to delay something

Front 178

fitful

Back 178

adj.
intermittent, lacking steadiness; characterized by irregular bursts of inactivity

Front 179

flippant

Back 179

adj.
marked by disrespectful lightheartedness or casualness

Front 180

flout

Back 180

verb.
to scorn, to disregard with contempt

Front 181

fodder

Back 181

noun.
raw material, as for artistic creation, readily abundant ideas or images

Front 182

forego

Back 182

verb.
to precede, to go ahead of

Front 183

forgo

Back 183

verb.
to do w/o, to abstain from

Front 184

formidable

Back 184

adj.
fearsome, daunting; tending to inspire awe or wonder

Front 185

fortitude

Back 185

noun.
strength of that allows one to encounter adversity with courage

Front 186

fortuitous

Back 186

adj,
by chance, especially by favorable chance

Front 187

frenetic

Back 187

adj.
frantic, frenzied

Front 188

fulsome

Back 188

adj.
abundant; flattering in an insincere way

Front 189

furlough

Back 189

noun.
a leave of absence, especially granted to a soldier or a prisoner

Front 190

furtive

Back 190

adj.
sly, with hidden motives

Front 191

galvanize

Back 191

verb.
to shock; to arouse awareness

Front 192

gamely

Back 192

adj.
spiritedly, bravely

Front 193

gauche

Back 193

adverb.
lacking social refinement

Front 194

grandiloquence

Back 194

noun.
pompous talk; fancy but meaningless language

Front 195

gregarious

Back 195

adj.
outgoing, sociable

Front 196

grotto

Back 196

noun.
a small cave

Front 197

harangue

Back 197

verb.
to give a long speech

Front 198

hedonist

Back 198

noun.
one who pursues pleasure as a goal

Front 199

hegemony

Back 199

noun.
the domination of one state or group over its allies

Front 200

heretical

Back 200

adj.
departing from accepted beliefs or standards, oppositional

Front 201

hiatus

Back 201

noun.
a gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity

Front 202

histrionics

Back 202

noun.
deliberate display of emotion for effect; exaggerated behavior calculated for effect

Front 203

hubris

Back 203

noun.
excessive pride or self-confidence

Front 204

husband

Back 204

verb.
to manage economically; to use sparingly

Front 205

hypocrite

Back 205

noun.
one who puts on a false appearance of virtue; one who criticizes a flaw he in fact possesses

Front 206

ignoble

Back 206

adj.
having low moral standards, not noble in character; mean

Front 207

illusory

Back 207

adj.
producing illusion, deceptive

Front 208

imbibe

Back 208

verb.
to receive into the mind and take in, absorb

Front 209

impassive

Back 209

adj.
absent of any external sign of emotion, expressionless

Front 210

imperious

Back 210

adj.
commanding, domineering; urgent

Front 211

imperturbable

Back 211

adj.
unshakably calm and steady

Front 212

implacable

Back 212

adj.
inflexible; not capable of being changed or pacified

Front 213

importunate

Back 213

adj.
troublesomely urgent; extremely persistent in request or demand

Front 214

imprecation

Back 214

noun.
a curse

Front 215

impudent

Back 215

adj.
marked by cocky boldness or disregard for others

Front 216

impugn

Back 216

verb.
to call into question; to attack verbally

Front 217

impute

Back 217

verb.
to lay the responsibility or blame for, often unjust;y

Front 218

incandescent

Back 218

adj.
shining brightly

Front 219

incarnadine

Back 219

adj.
red, especially blood red

Front 220

inchoate

Back 220

adj.
being only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

Front 221

incipient

Back 221

adj.
beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage

Front 222

incorrigible

Back 222

adj.
incapable of being corrected or amended; difficult to control or manage

Front 223

incredulous

Back 223

adj.
unwilling to accept what is true, skeptical

Front 224

indomitable

Back 224

adj.
incapable of being conquered

Front 225

ingratiate

Back 225

verb.
to gain favor with another by deliberate effort, to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage

Front 226

inherent

Back 226

adj.
involving the essential character of something, built-in, inborn

Front 227

inquest

Back 227

noun.
an investigation, an inquiry

Front 228

insensate

Back 228

adj.
lacking sensibility and understanding, foolish

Front 229

insolent

Back 229

adj.
insultingly arrogant, overbearing

Front 230

insular

Back 230

adj.
characteristic of an isolated people, especially having a narrow viewpoint

Front 231

insuperable

Back 231

adj.
incapable of being surmounted or overcome

Front 232

inter

Back 232

verb.
to bury

Front 233

interlocutor

Back 233

noun.
one who takes part in a conversation

Front 234

internecine

Back 234

adj.
mutually destructive; equally devastating to both sides

Front 235

interregnum

Back 235

noun.
a temporary halting of the usual operations of a government or control

Front 236

intimation

Back 236

noun.
a subtle and indirect hint

Front 237

intractable

Back 237

adj.
not easily managed or manipulated

Front 238

intransigent

Back 238

adj.
uncompromising, refusing to abandon an extreme position

Front 239

intrepid

Back 239

adj.
fearless, resolutely courageous

Front 240

inundate

Back 240

verb.
to cover with a flood; to overwhelm as if with a flood

Front 241

inveterate

Back 241

adj.
firmly established, especially with respect to a habit or attitude

Front 242

irascible

Back 242

adj.
easily angered, hot-tempered

Front 243

ironic

Back 243

adj.
poignantly contrary or incongruous to what was expected

Front 244

irreverent

Back 244

adj.
disrespectful in a gentle or humorous way

Front 245

itinerant

Back 245

adj.
wandering from place to place; unsettled

Front 246

jettison

Back 246

verb.
to discard, to get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering

Front 247

jocular

Back 247

adj.
playful, humorous

Front 248

junta

Back 248

noun.
a small governing body, especially after a revolutionary seizure of power

Front 249

kismet

Back 249

noun.
destiny, fate

Front 250

lampoon

Back 250

verb.
to ridicule with satire

Front 251

largess

Back 251

noun.
generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior

Front 252

laudable

Back 252

adj.
deserving of praise

Front 253

lax

Back 253

adj.
not rigid, loose; negligent

Front 254

levity

Back 254

noun.
an inappropriate lack of seriousness, overly casual

Front 255

lexicon

Back 255

noun.
a dictionary; a stock of terms pertaining to a particular subject or vocabulary

Front 256

libertarian

Back 256

noun.
one who advocates individual rights and free will

Front 257

libertine

Back 257

noun.
a free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one w/o moral restraint

Front 258

licentious

Back 258

adj.
immoral; unrestrained by society

Front 259

lilliputian

Back 259

adj.
very small

Front 260

limber

Back 260

adj.
flexible, capable of being shaped

Front 261

lithe

Back 261

adj.
moving and bending with ease; marked by effortless grace

Front 262

loquacious

Back 262

adj.
talkative

Front 263

macabre

Back 263

adj.
having death as a subject; dwelling on the gruesome

Front 264

macrocosm

Back 264

noun.
the whole universe; a large-scale reflection of a part of the greater world

Front 265

malaise

Back 265

noun.
a feeling of unease or depression

Front 266

malapropism

Back 266

noun.
the accidental, often comical, use of a word which resembles the one intended, but has a different, often contradictory meaning

Front 267

malediction

Back 267

noun.
a curse, a wish of evil upon another

Front 268

malevolent

Back 268

adj.
exhibiting ill will; wishing harm to others

Front 269

malfeasance

Back 269

noun.
wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by a public official

Front 270

malleable

Back 270

adj.
easily influenced or shaped, capable of being altered by outside forces

Front 271

mannered

Back 271

adj.
artificial or stilted in character

Front 272

maverick

Back 272

noun.
an independent individual who does not go along with a group

Front 273

mawkish

Back 273

adj.
sickeningly sentimental

Front 274

megalomania

Back 274

noun.
obsession with great or grandiose performance

Front 275

mellifluous

Back 275

adj.
having a smooth, rich flow

Front 276

microcosm

Back 276

noun.
a small scale representation of a larger system

Front 277

milieu

Back 277

noun.
the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops, environment

Front 278

misanthrope

Back 278

noun.
a person who hates or distrusts mankind

Front 279

misnomer

Back 279

noun.
an error in naming a person or place

Front 280

missive

Back 280

noun.
a written note or letter

Front 281

mitigate

Back 281

verb.
to make less severe, make milder

Front 282

modicum

Back 282

noun.
a small portion, limited quantity

Front 283

mollify

Back 283

verb.
to soothe in temper or disposition

Front 284

mordant

Back 284

adj.
biting and caustic in manner and style

Front 285

mores

Back 285

noun.
fixed customs or manners; moral attitudes

Front 286

morose

Back 286

adj.
gloomy, sullen

Front 287

mote

Back 287

noun.
a small particle, speck

Front 288

mutability

Back 288

noun.
the quality of being capable of change, in form or character; susceptibility of change

Front 289

myopic

Back 289

adj.
lacking foresight, having a narrow view or long-range perspective

Front 290

nebulous

Back 290

adj.
vague, undefined

Front 291

necromancy

Back 291

noun.
the practice of communicating with the dead in order to predict the future

Front 292

nefarious

Back 292

adj.
intensely wicked or vicious

Front 293

neonate

Back 293

noun.
a newborn child

Front 294

nihilism

Back 294

noun.
the belief that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is useless; the belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable

Front 295

nomenclature

Back 295

noun.
a system of scientific names

Front 296

non sequitur

Back 296

noun.
a statement that does not follow logically from anything previously said

Front 297

novel

Back 297

adj.
new and not resembling anything formerly known

Front 298

obdurate

Back 298

adj.
stubbornly persistent, resistant to persuasion

Front 299

obfuscate

Back 299

verb.
to confuse, make obscure

Front 300

obstinate

Back 300

adj.
unreasonably persistent

Front 301

olfactory

Back 301

adj.
relating to the sense of smell

Front 302

oligarchy

Back 302

noun.
a government in which a small group exercises supreme control

Front 303

onus

Back 303

noun.
a burden, an obligation

Front 304

opine

Back 304

verb.
to express an opinion

Front 305

opportunist

Back 305

noun.
one who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve an end, with little regard for principles

Front 306

opprobrious

Back 306

adj.
disgraceful, shameful

Front 307

ornery

Back 307

adj.
having an irritable disposition, cantankerous

Front 308

oscillate

Back 308

verb.
to swing back and forth like a pendulum; to vary between opposing beliefs or feelings

Front 309

ossify

Back 309

verb.
to change into bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern

Front 310

ostracize

Back 310

verb.
to exclude from a group by common consent

Front 311

oust

Back 311

verb.
to remove from position by force; eject

Front 312

paean

Back 312

noun.
a tribute, a song or expression of praise

Front 313

palatial

Back 313

adj.
relating to a palace; magnificent

Front 314

palimpsest

Back 314

noun.
an object or place having diverse layers or aspects beneath the surface

Front 315

palpable

Back 315

adj.
capable of being touched or felt; easily perceived

Front 316

paltry

Back 316

adj.
pitifully small or worthless

Front 317

panache

Back 317

noun.
flamboyance or dash in style and action

Front 318

pandemic

Back 318

adj.
occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting a large portion of the population

Front 319

panegyric

Back 319

noun.
elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise

Front 320

paradigm

Back 320

noun.
an outstandingly clear or typical example

Front 321

paragon

Back 321

noun.
a model of excellence or perfection

Front 322

paramount

Back 322

adj.
supreme, of chief importance

Front 323

pare

Back 323

verb.
to trim off excess, reduce

Front 324

pariah

Back 324

noun.
an outcast

Front 325

patent

Back 325

adj.
obvious, evident

Front 326

pathogenic

Back 326

adj.
causing disease

Front 327

patrician

Back 327

adj.
aristocratic

Front 328

patronize

Back 328

verb.
to act as patron of, to adopt an air of condescension toward; to buy from

Front 329

peculate

Back 329

verb.
to embezzle

Front 330

pecuniary

Back 330

adj.
relating to money

Front 331

pellucid

Back 331

adj.
transparently clear in style or meaning, easy to understand

Front 332

penchant

Back 332

noun.
an inclination, a definite liking

Front 333

penitent

Back 333

adj.
expressing sorrow for sins or offenses, repentant

Front 334

penury

Back 334

noun.
an oppressive lack of resources (as money), severe poverty

Front 335

peregrinate

Back 335

verb.
to travel on foot

Front 336

phalanx

Back 336

noun.
a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things

Front 337

philistine

Back 337

noun.
a person who is guided by materialism an is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values

Front 338

philology

Back 338

noun.
the study of ancient texts and languages

Front 339

phlegmatic

Back 339

adj.
having a sluggish, unemotional temperament

Front 340

pique

Back 340

verb.
to arouse anger or resentment in; provoke

Front 341

plaintive

Back 341

adj.
expressive of suffering or woe, melancholy

Front 342

platitude

Back 342

noun.
overused and trite remark

Front 343

plebeian

Back 343

adj.
crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners

Front 344

plucky

Back 344

adj.
courageous; spunky

Front 345

politic

Back 345

adj.
shrewd and crafty in managing or dealing with things

Front 346

polyglot

Back 346

noun.
a speaker of many languages

Front 347

pore

Back 347

verb.
to read studiously or attentively

Front 348

portentous

Back 348

adj.
foreshadowing, ominous; eliciting amazement and wonder

Front 349

posit

Back 349

verb.
to assume as real or conceded; propose as an explanation

Front 350

potable

Back 350

adj.
suitable for drinking

Front 351

potentate

Back 351

noun.
a ruler; one who wields great power

Front 352

precarious

Back 352

adj.
lacking in security or stability; dependent on chance or uncertain conditions

Front 353

precipitous

Back 353

adj.
steep

Front 354

presage

Back 354

noun.
something that foreshadows; a feeling of what will happen in the future

Front 355

prestidigitation

Back 355

noun.
a cleverly executed trick or deception; sleight of hand

Front 356

preternatural

Back 356

adj.
existing outside of nature; extraordinary; supernatural

Front 357

primeval

Back 357

adj.
ancient, primitive

Front 358

prodigal

Back 358

adj.
recklessly extravagant, wasteful

Front 359

proffer

Back 359

verb.
to offer for acceptance

Front 360

progenitor

Back 360

noun.
an ancestor in the direct line, forefather; founder

Front 361

proliferate

Back 361

verb.
to grow by rapid production of new parts; increase in number

Front 362

promulgate

Back 362

verb.
to make known by open declaration, proclaim

Front 363

propensity

Back 363

noun.
a natural inclination or preference

Front 364

prosaic

Back 364

adj.
relating to prose; dull, ordinary

Front 365

proscribe

Back 365

verb.
to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful

Front 366

prostrate

Back 366

adj.
lying face downward in adoration or submission

Front 367

provincial

Back 367

adj.
limited in outlook, narrow, unsophisticated

Front 368

proxy

Back 368

noun.
a person authorized to act for someone else

Front 369

pseudonym

Back 369

noun.
a fictitious name, used particularly by writers to conceal identity

Front 370

pugilism

Back 370

noun.
boxing

Front 371

puissant

Back 371

adj.
powerful

Front 372

punctilious

Back 372

adj.
concerned with precise details about codes or conventions

Front 373

pundit

Back 373

noun.
one who gives opinions in an authoritative manner

Front 374

purloin

Back 374

verb.
to steal

Front 375

purport

Back 375

verb.
to profess, suppose, claim

Front 376

rancor

Back 376

noun.
bitter hatred

Front 377

rankle

Back 377

verb.
to cause anger and irritation

Front 378

rapacious

Back 378

adj.
taking by force; driven by greed

Front 379

rapt

Back 379

adj.
deeply absorbed

Front 380

rarefy

Back 380

verb.
to make rare, thin, or less dense

Front 381

raze

Back 381

verb.
to tear down, demolish

Front 382

reactionary

Back 382

adj.
marked by extreme conservatism, especially in politics

Front 383

recapitulate

Back 383

verb.
to review by a brief summary

Front 384

recidivism

Back 384

noun.
a tendency to relapse into a previous behavior, especially criminal behavior

Front 385

refract

Back 385

verb.
to deflect sound or light

Front 386

refute

Back 386

verb.
to contradict, discredit

Front 387

relegate

Back 387

verb.
to send into exile, banish; assign

Front 388

remission

Back 388

noun.
a lessening of intensity or degree

Front 389

remuneration

Back 389

noun.
payment for goods or services or to recompense for losses

Front 390

replete

Back 390

adj.
abundantly supplied, complete

Front 391

repose

Back 391

noun.
relaxation, leisure

Front 392

reprehensible

Back 392

adj.
blameworthy, disreputable

Front 393

reprove

Back 393

verb.
to criticize or correct, usually in a gentle manner

Front 394

requite

Back 394

verb.
to return or repay

Front 395

rescind

Back 395

verb.
to repeal, cancel

Front 396

resilient

Back 396

adj.
able to recover quickly after illness or bad luck; able to bounce back to shape

Front 397

resolute

Back 397

adj.
marked by firm determination

Front 398

resplendent

Back 398

adj.
splendid, brilliant

Front 399

revile

Back 399

verb.
to criticize with harsh language, verbally abuse

Front 400

rhetoric

Back 400

noun.
the art of speaking or writing effectively; skill in the effective use of speech

Front 401

rife

Back 401

adj.
abundant prevalent especially to an increasing degree; filled with

Front 402

rostrum

Back 402

noun.
an elevated platform for public speaking

Front 403

saccharine

Back 403

adj.
excessively sweet or sentimental

Front 404

sacrilegious

Back 404

adj.
impious, irreverent toward what is held to be sacred or holy

Front 405

salient

Back 405

adj.
prominent, of notable significance

Front 406

sanctimonious

Back 406

adj.
hypocritically devout; acting morally superior to another

Front 407

satiate

Back 407

verb.
to satisfy (as a need or desire) fully or to excess

Front 408

saturnine

Back 408

adj.
cold and steady in mood, gloomy; slow to act

Front 409

savant

Back 409

noun.
a person of learning; especially one w/ knowledge in a special field

Front 410

scrupulous

Back 410

adj.
acting in strict regard for what is considered proper; punctiliously exact

Front 411

seamy

Back 411

adj.
morally degraded, unpleasant

Front 412

secular

Back 412

adj.
not specifically pertaining to religion, relating to the world

Front 413

sedition

Back 413

noun.
behavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state

Front 414

seminal

Back 414

adj.
influential in an original way, providing a basis for further development; creative

Front 415

sequester

Back 415

verb.
to set apart, seclude

Front 416

seraphic

Back 416

adj.
angelic, sweet

Front 417

simian

Back 417

adj.
apelike; relating to apes

Front 418

sinecure

Back 418

noun.
a well-paying job or office that requires little or no work

Front 419

sobriquet

Back 419

noun.
a nickname

Front 420

sojourn

Back 420

noun.
a temporary stay, visit

Front 421

solicitous

Back 421

adj.
anxious, concerned; full of desire, eager

Front 422

sophomoric

Back 422

adj.
exhibiting great immaturity and lack of judgment

Front 423

spartan

Back 423

adj.
highly self-disciplined; frugal, austere

Front 424

specious

Back 424

adj.
having the ring of truth but actually being untrue; deceptively attractive

Front 425

sportive

Back 425

adj.
frolicsome, playful

Front 426

squalid

Back 426

adj.
filthy and degraded as the result of neglect or poverty

Front 427

stalwart

Back 427

adj.
marked by outstanding strength and vigor of mind, body, or spirit

Front 428

stasis

Back 428

noun.
a state of static balance or equilibrium; stagnation

Front 429

stint

Back 429

verb.
to be sparing or frugal; to restrict with respect to a share or allowance

Front 430

stipulate

Back 430

verb.
to specify as a condition or requirement of an agreement or offer

Front 431

stratify

Back 431

verb.
to arrange or divide into layers

Front 432

strident

Back 432

adj.
loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy

Front 433

stringent

Back 433

adj.
imposing severe, rigorous standards

Front 434

stymie

Back 434

verb.
to block or thwart

Front 435

subterranean

Back 435

adj.
hidden, secret; underground

Front 436

sully

Back 436

verb.
to tarnish, taint

Front 437

superfluous

Back 437

adj.
extra, more than necessary

Front 438

supersede

Back 438

verb.
to cause to be set aside; to force out of use as inferior, replace

Front 439

supplant

Back 439

verb.
to replace (another) by force, to take the place of

Front 440

surmount

Back 440

verb.
to conquer, overcome

Front 441

sybarite

Back 441

noun.
a person devoted to pleasure and luxury

Front 442

tactile

Back 442

adj.
producing a sensation of touch

Front 443

tantamount

Back 443

adj.
equal in value or effect

Front 444

tautological

Back 444

adj.
having to do with needless repetition, redundancy

Front 445

tawdry

Back 445

adj.
gaudy, cheap, showy

Front 446

temerity

Back 446

noun.
unreasonable or foolhardy disregard for danger, recklessness

Front 447

tempestuous

Back 447

adj.
stormy, turbulent

Front 448

temporal

Back 448

adj.
having to do with time

Front 449

tenacious

Back 449

adj.
tending to persist or cling; persistent in adhering to something valued or habitual

Front 450

tenet

Back 450

noun.
a principle, belief, or doctrine accepted by members of a group

Front 451

tenuous

Back 451

adj.
having little substance or strength; flimsy, weak

Front 452

terse

Back 452

adj.
concise, brief, free of extra words

Front 453

thwart

Back 453

verb.
to block or prevent from happening; frustrate, defeat the hopes or aspirations of

Front 454

titular

Back 454

adj.
existing in title only; having a title w/o the functions or responsibilities

Front 455

toady

Back 455

noun.
one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors

Front 456

tortuous

Back 456

adj.
having many twists and turns; highly complex

Front 457

tout

Back 457

verb.
to praise or publicize loudly or extravagantly

Front 458

trajectory

Back 458

noun.
the path followed by a moving object. whether through space or otherwise; flight

Front 459

transient

Back 459

adj.
passing with time, temporary, short-lived

Front 460

transitory

Back 460

adj.
short-lived, existing only briefly

Front 461

tremulous

Back 461

adj.
trembling, timid; easily shaken

Front 462

trounce

Back 462

verb.
to beat severely, defeat

Front 463

truculent

Back 463

adj.
disposed to fight, belligerent

Front 464

turgid

Back 464

adj.
swollen as from a fluid, bloated

Front 465

tutelage

Back 465

noun.
guardianship, guidance

Front 466

uncanny

Back 466

adj.
so keen and perceptive as to seem supernatural, peculiarly unsettling

Front 467

unconscionable

Back 467

adj.
unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust

Front 468

untoward

Back 468

adj.
difficult to handle or work with

Front 469

usury

Back 469

noun.
the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates

Front 470

variegated

Back 470

adj.
varied; marked with different colors

Front 471

vehemently

Back 471

adverb.
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions

Front 472

veracity

Back 472

noun.
accuracy, truth

Front 473

verbose

Back 473

adj.
wordy

Front 474

veritable

Back 474

adj.
being w/o question, often used figuratively

Front 475

vernacular

Back 475

noun.
everyday language used by ordinary people; specialized language of a profession

Front 476

vernal

Back 476

adj.
related to spring; fresh

Front 477

vicariously

Back 477

adverb.
felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another

Front 478

vilify

Back 478

verb.
to slander, defame

Front 479

vim

Back 479

noun.
vitality and energy

Front 480

vindicate

Back 480

verb.
to clear of blame; support a claim

Front 481

virulent

Back 481

adj.
extremely poisonous; malignant; hateful

Front 482

visceral

Back 482

adj.
instinctive, not intellectual; deep, emotional

Front 483

vituperate

Back 483

verb.
to abuse verbally, berate

Front 484

vociferous

Back 484

adj.
loud, noisy

Front 485

volley

Back 485

noun.
a flight of missiles; round of gunshots

Front 486

voluble

Back 486

adj.
talkative, speaking easily, glib

Front 487

wan

Back 487

adj.
sickly pale

Front 488

wanton

Back 488

adj.
undisciplined, unrestrained; reckless

Front 489

wax

Back 489

verb.
to increase gradually; to begin to be

Front 490

wield

Back 490

verb.
to exercise authority or influence effectively

Front 491

wily

Back 491

adj.
clever; deceptive

Front 492

winsome

Back 492

adj.
charming, happily engaging

Front 493

worst

Back 493

verb.
to gain the advantage over; to defeat

Front 494

wry

Back 494

adj.
bent or twisted in shape or condition; dryly humorous

Front 495

yen

Back 495

noun.
a strong desire, craving

Front 496

zenith

Back 496

noun.
the point of culmination; peak

Front 497

zephyr

Back 497

noun.
a gentle breeze; something airy or unsubstantial