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709 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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abandon
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total lack of inhibition
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abase
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to lower in rank, prestige, or esteem
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abate
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to decrease, to reduce
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abet
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aid
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abhor
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detest
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abjure
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to recant solemnly; renounce or repudiate
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abnegate
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to give up; to deny oneself
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abortive
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ending without results
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abrasive
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rubbing away, tending to grind down
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i needed a brace because the running was abrasiv e
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abridge
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condense or shorten
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we needed to abridge the planned 1000 mile long bridge
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abrogate
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to abolish, do away with or annul, especially by authority
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abscond
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leave quickly in secret
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absolete
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no longer valid
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abstemious
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done sparingly
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abstract
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not applied to actual objects
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abstruse
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difficult to understand
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abuts
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(of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with
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acclaim
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applaud, announce with great approval
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The public acclaimed the scientists after he proved his claim of invisibilty
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accolade
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award of merit
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That guy deserves an accolade for getting laid by Carmen
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acme
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high point; zenith
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acquiesce
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accept without argument
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acquit
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free someone from a charge
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acrid
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sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
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acrimony
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bitterness or ill feeling
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acrophobia
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fear of heights
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acuity
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sharpness (mental or visual)
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acumen
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quickness of judgement or insight
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adamant
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forceful; inflexible
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adept
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skillful
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adherent
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supporter, follower
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In the awke of the scandal, the senator's one time adherent quietly deserted him
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adjure
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to command solemnly, as under oath
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admonish
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advise; scold; remind
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adroit
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skillful
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adulation
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obsequious flattery; excessive admiration
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adversary
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opponent
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adverse
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unfavorable, hostile
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the vulgar advertisement had an adverse effect on the company's public relations
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adversity
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hardship
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advocate
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support
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aesthete
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one who appreciates and seeks beauty
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aesthetic
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concerning art or beauty
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affable
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easy going, friendly
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affectation
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pretend to have something you don't
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alacrity
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cheerful readiness
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alleviate
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to ease a pain or burden
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aloof
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apart, reserved, standoffish
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Loofy, the new kid, was considered a snob because instead of joining in our conversations, he remained silent and aloof
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altruism
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the belief of selfless concern for others
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altruistic
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unselfishly generous, concerned for others
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Al was a true philanthropist, giving thousands of scholarships to disadvantaged youths.
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amalgam
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a combination of diverse elements; a mixture
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amalgamate
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combine
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ambiguous
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open to more than one interpretation
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ambivalence
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having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
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ambivalent
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simultaneously having opposed feelings; uncertainty
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ameliorate
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to make something better; improve
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amenable
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responsible; agreeable
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amiable
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friendly; agreeable; good-natured
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amicable
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friendly
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anachronistic
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not appropriate at this day of age
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analgesic
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n. something that reduces pain
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anima
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spirit, mind
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animosity
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active enimity, hatred
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The animal in the city was faced with animosity; Animal control officers, filled with contempt, aimed to kill
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antebellum
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belonging to the period before the war
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antediluvian
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adj. ancient
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antiquated
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old fashion
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antithesis
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opposite, contrast
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Good is the antithesis of evil
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apathetic
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indifferent; uninterested; lethargic
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apathy
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lack of interest or emotion
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apex
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high point; pinnacle; zenith
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aphorism
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a wise saying; an adage; a maxim
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apocryphal
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fictional
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appease
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pacify; soothe; calm down; make peace with
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apprehension
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anxiety or fear about the future
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apprehensive
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worried; fearful
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approbation
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n. praise
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appropriate
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to take another's property as one's own
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arable
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can be cultivated
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arbiter
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a judge who decides a disputed issue
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arbitrary
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determined by impulse rather than reason
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arboreal
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relating to trees
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arcane
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obscure; known only to a few people
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archaic
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old fashion
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ardor
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enthusiasm
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arid
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dry, barren
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The actus has adapted to survive in an arid environment, and environmnet rid of life.
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artisan
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manually skilled worker; crafstman
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Elderly artisans from artsy Italy trained Harlem teenagers to carve the stone figures that wold decorate the catheadral
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ascendancy
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controlling influence
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Leaders of religious cults send influential messages and maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing
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ascertain
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to find out, as through investigation or experimentation
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asetic
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self-denial, austere
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The monks are ascetic; they deny their urges
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assiduous
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hard working
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assimilate
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to absorb or become absorbed; to make or become similar
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astute
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shrewd
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asylum
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a place of retreat or security
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atrophy
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waste away
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The team's lack of effort during practice atrophied their skill sets, denying them any chance at the championship trophy.
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augment
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to make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity; to supplement
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aural
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of or related to the ear or the sense of hearing
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auspicious
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favorable; promising
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austere
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without decoration
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autonomous
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self-governed
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When does the desire to expand of a country superced the autonomy of another?
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autonomy
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independence; self-determination
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avant-garde
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cutting-edge; new; experimental
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averse
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strongly disinclined
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aversion
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firm dislike
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Their aversion towards eachother was so great that they found diversions just to not have to speak to one another.
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avid
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passionate; ardent
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banal
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ordinary, trivial
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bane
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a cause for ruin
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bard
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a poet
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behemoth
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a huge animal; something of great size or power
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belie
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to give false representation to; to misrepresent; to show to be false; contradiction
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bellicose
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warlike or hostile in manner or temperament
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belligerent
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eager to fight; hostile or aggressive
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benediction
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an expression of good wishes
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beneficial
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producing or promoting a favorable result; helpful
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benign
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kind and gentle
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bequeath (bequest)
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to lease someone by a will, hand down
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Although Maud had intended to bequeath the family home to her nephew, she died before changing her will
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bequest
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a gift upon one's death
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berate
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scold
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bevy
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a large group
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bilious
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having a peevish disposition; ill-humored
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bilk
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to steal; to embezzle
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blandish
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v. to coax by using flattery
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boisterous
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lively
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bolster
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to hearten, support or prop up
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bombastic
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given to pompous speech or writing
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boon
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a sudden gain; a windfall
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boor
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a rude person
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boorish
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ill mannered
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bourgeois
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middle class
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bowdlerize
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to remove material that is considered objectionable or offensive from; expurgate
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braggart
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someone who boasts
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brawn (brawny)
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muscular strength
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It takes brawn to become a champion weight lifter
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brawny
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muscular
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breadth
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a range or scope
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brevity
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being brief
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bristle
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to show irritation
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broach
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start to discuss; approach
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brook
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to endure; to put up with
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brusque
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rudely abrupt
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bulwark
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fortification; barricade; wall
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bungle
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to botch; to mess up
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bureaucracy
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officialdom
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burgeon
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to grow and flourish
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buttress
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support, prop up
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The attorney came up with several fart fetched arguments in va
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byzantine
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ornate, fancy
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cacophony
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discordant, unpleasant noise
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cajole
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to urge with repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery
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caustic
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bitingly sarcastic or witty
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caviling
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to find fault unnecessarily
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celerity
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cheerful speed
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censure
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strong expression of disapproval
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censure (censorious)
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critical/ blame or criticize harshly
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The dictator was so censorious of the rude scene, he demanded that the playwritght censor them in the next showing.
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cerebral
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intellectual
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cessation
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an end
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chagrin
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embarrassment
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charlatan
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quack, pretender to knowledge
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When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get her back to Kansas, Dorothy and her companions were indignant that they had been duped by a charlatan
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chicanery
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deception by trickery or sophistry
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choler
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bile
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choleric
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easily angered
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chronicler
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person who records historical information
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churlish
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of, like, or befitting a churl; boorish or vulgar. having a bad disposition; surly
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circuitous
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roundabout
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circumlocution
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the use of unnecessary wordy and indirect language. evasive in speech or writing. a round about expression
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circumnavigate
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to proceed completely around
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circumscribe
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limit
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circumscribed
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defined or limited; isolated
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circumspect
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cautious; considering all sides
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circumvent
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avoid
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clairvoyant
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psychic; mystic
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clamor
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shout; scream
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clamorous
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noisy
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clandestine
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secretive
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clemency
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n. mercy
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clemency (clement)
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disposition to be lienient, mildness
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Clemens was known for her clemency toward first offenders
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cloying
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oversweet; saccharine
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coercion (coerce)
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the use of force to get someones compliance
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the extortionist coerced the store owner into paying up
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cogent
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convincing, reasonable
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collude
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come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose; conspire
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commensurate
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proportional in size
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complement
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something that completes, goes with, or brings to perfection
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complicit
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adj. being an accomplice in a wrongful act
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compunction
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n. distress caused by feeling guilty
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conception
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the ability to form or understand an idea
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concilatory
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reconciling, apppeasing, amiable
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The conciliatory student council gave in to the sudents requests for no homework.
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conciliatory
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appeasing; soothing; showing willingness to reconcile
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concord
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agreement
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concur
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to agree
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condescending
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treating people as weak or inferior
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condone
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overlook voluntarilly, forgive
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Although she had excused
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conflagration
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a widespread fire
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confound
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to confuse; to perplex; to befuddle
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conjecture
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a guess
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consensus
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general agreement
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consonant
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adj. in harmony
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conspicuous
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easy to notice; obvious
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constituents
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voters
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consummate
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complete; perfect
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contagion
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infection
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Fearing contagion in Siagon, they took great steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
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contemptuous
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feeling hatred; scornful
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contentious
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likely to start an argument
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contiguous
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sharing an edge or boundary; touching
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conviction
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a fixed or strong belief
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convoluted
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intricate; complex
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copious
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plentiful; having large quantity
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cordial
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friendly; sincere
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cosmopolitan
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worldly; widely sophisticated
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coup
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a brilliantly executed plan
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craven
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cowardly
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credible
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capable of being believed; plausible
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crude
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rude; lacking refinement
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cryptic
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difficult to comprehend
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curative
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able to heal or cure
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Cursory
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casual, hastily done
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Harry took a cursory glance at his spell book, and so, hardly knew any of the curses they were practicing that day.
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curt
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terse
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curtail
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to cut short
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cynical
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believing that people act only ot of selfish motives
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détente
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a lessening of tension or hostility
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dastardly
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cowardly and malicious
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dawdle
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loiter, waste time
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We have to meet a deadline, so stop doodling and dwadling, just get down to work
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dearth
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scarce supply; lack
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debacle
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disastrous or ludicrous defeat or failure; fiasco
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debased
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morally low; base
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debilitate
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impair the strength of; weaken
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debility
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weakness; incapacity
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debunk
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to expose untruths, shams, or exaggerated claims
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debunking
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exposing false claims or myths
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decathlon
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an athletic competition with 10 events
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deciduous
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shedding or losing foliage at the end of the growing season. falling off or shed at a specific season or stage of growth. not lasting; ephemeral
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decorous
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proper, marked by good taste
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decorum
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dignified, correct behavior [decorous]
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decoy
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lure; trap; trick
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deference
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respect
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defoliate
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cause leaves to fall off
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defray
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to pay the cost of
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deft
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skillful
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defunct
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no longer in existence
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degradation
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deprivation; poverty; debasement
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degrade
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to lower in degree or quality
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deign
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to lower oneself before an inferior
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delectable
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delicious; very pleasing
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deleterious
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having a harmful effect; injurious
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deliberate
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consider, ponder
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Offered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she told them her decision.
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delineate
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to describe; to depict
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denouement
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outcome; result
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denounce
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to condemn openly
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depilate
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to remove hair from
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deplete
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to use up gradually (resource, strength, etc.)
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deplore
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detest
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deploy
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to place troops in position
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depose
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to remove from office
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depraved
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sinful; immoral
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depravity
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corruption; wickedness
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Even Romans who had grown accustomed to immortality during Tiberius's reign were shocked by the depravity and gravity of the corruption of emporer Caligula.
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deprecate
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to disapprove of
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depreciate
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to lessen in value
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deranged
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insane
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derelict (three meanings)
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abandoned (adj); negligent (adj); a vagrant or bum (n)
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deride
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to mock contemptuously
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derision
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ridicule
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derivative
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something that comes from another source
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detonate
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explode
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detract
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to take away; to diminish
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detriment
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harm; damage
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deviate
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to turn aside; to digress
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devious
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sly; underhand
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devoid
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completely without
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didactic
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intended to instruct
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didatic
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teaching, instructional
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Dad is didactic; he tries to point out a lesson in every action he performs.
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diffidence
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timidity or shyness
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diffident
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lacking or marked by lack of self confidence; shy and timid
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dilatory
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habitually late
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dilettante
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one with an amateurish or superficial understanding of a field of knowledge
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diligent
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marked by painstaking effort
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dimunition
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reduction
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Old Jack was as sharp at eighty as he had been at fifty; increasing age led to no dimnunition of his mental activity
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din
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noise
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diorama
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model of a scene
|
|
|
|
disparage
|
to speak of in a slighting way or negatively; to belittle
|
|
|
|
disparity
|
inequality in age, rank or degree
|
|
|
|
disposed
|
behaviorally inclined
|
|
|
|
disrepute
|
n. a state of being held in low regard
|
|
|
|
dissemble
|
v. to conceal, fake
|
|
|
|
disseminate
|
to scatter widely, as in sowing seed
|
|
|
|
dissent
|
disagree
|
In the recent Supreme Court decision, Justice O'Connor dissented from the majority opinion.
|
|
|
dissipate
|
squander, waste, scatter
|
He is a fine artist, but i fear he may dissipate his gifts if he keeps wasting his time on such trivial pursuits.
|
|
|
dissonance
|
discord
|
Composer Charles Ives often used dissonance--clashing or unresolved chords--for special effects in his works.
|
|
|
distend
|
to swell out or expand from internal pressure, as when overly full
|
|
|
|
diva
|
a female singer; a prima donna
|
|
|
|
divergent
|
differeing, deviating
|
The angry couple was on the verge of breaking up and going their seperate ways, taking divergent paths.
|
|
|
divine
|
heavenly; godly
|
|
|
|
divulge
|
reveal
|
|
|
|
docile
|
submissive to instruction; willing to be taught
|
|
|
|
dogged
|
stubbornly persevering
|
|
|
|
dogmatic
|
stubbornly adhering to insufficiently proved beliefs
|
|
|
|
dolorous
|
marked by or expressive of sorrow or pain
|
|
|
|
dolt
|
an obtuse person
|
|
|
|
dubious
|
doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
|
|
|
|
dulcet
|
pleasing to the ear
|
|
|
|
dupe
|
gullible, stupidly submissive
|
|
|
|
duplicitous
|
deliberately deceptive
|
|
|
|
dutiful
|
respectful, obedient
|
The dutiful child grew up to be a conscientious adult, aware of his duties and obligationis.
|
|
|
ebb
|
recede, lessen
|
His fortunes began to ebb during the Recession.
|
|
|
ebullience
|
intense enthusiasm
|
|
|
|
ebullient
|
cheerful and full of energy
|
|
|
|
eclectic
|
made up of a variety of sources or styles
|
|
|
|
edifice
|
a building
|
|
|
|
effervescent
|
exuberant, bubbly and excited
|
(Ferve=passion) Nothing depressed Amy for long; she was naturally effervescent.
|
|
|
efficacious
|
adj. effective
|
|
|
|
effrontery
|
brazen boldness; presumptuousness
|
|
|
|
effulgent
|
adj. radiant, splendorous
|
|
|
|
effusive
|
emotionally unrestrained; gushy
|
|
|
|
egregious
|
conspicuously bad or offensive
|
|
|
|
electic
|
selective in choosing from a variety of sources
|
The reviewers praised the new restaurant's electic selection of dishes, which ranged from Oriental stir fries to French ragouts and stews.
|
|
|
elicit
|
draw out; call forth
|
|
|
|
elocution
|
expressive delivery of public speech
|
|
|
|
emasculate
|
make less important
|
|
|
|
embellish
|
to ornament or decorate; to exaggerate
|
|
|
|
embroil
|
involved deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation.
|
|
|
|
emend
|
v. to correct or revise a written text
|
|
|
|
emigrate
|
to leave a country
|
|
|
|
eminent
|
distinguished; prominent
|
|
|
|
emollient
|
softening and smoothing
|
|
|
|
emote
|
v. to express emotion
|
|
|
|
empathy
|
identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives
|
|
|
|
enervate
|
to weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of
|
|
|
|
erratic
|
wandering; irregular
|
|
|
|
ersatz
|
artificial
|
|
|
|
erudition
|
deep, extensive learning
|
|
|
|
esoteric
|
only known to a few
|
|
|
|
espouse
|
adopt; support
|
|
|
|
esteem
|
respect
|
|
|
|
etymology
|
the study of word origins
|
|
|
|
eulogize
|
to praise
|
|
|
|
eulogy
|
praise
|
|
|
|
euphemism
|
a mild, indirect, or vague term substituting for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term
|
|
|
|
euphonious
|
sweet sounding
|
|
|
|
euphoria
|
great happiness (sometimes exaggerated)
|
Getting a 2400, I was filled with glee, leading to euphoria.
|
|
|
evanescent
|
vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor.
|
|
|
|
evince
|
v. to show, reveal
|
|
|
|
exacerbate
|
to increase the severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate
|
|
|
|
exalt
|
praise
|
|
|
|
exculpate
|
to free from guilt or blame
|
|
|
|
execrable
|
adj. loathsome, detestable
|
|
|
|
exemplary
|
commendable; worthy of imitation
|
|
|
|
exhort
|
v. to urge, prod, spur
|
|
|
|
exonerate
|
to exculpate; to acquit; to justify
|
|
|
|
exorbitant
|
exceeding all bounds, as of custom or fairness
|
|
|
|
expedient
|
appropriate to a purpose; convenient; speedy
|
|
|
|
expiate
|
v. to make amends for, atone
|
|
|
|
exploit
|
deed; to use
|
|
|
|
expurgate
|
to remove erroneous, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material from before publication.
|
|
|
|
extant
|
still in existance
|
I wished to buy the copy of Extra, unfortunately, it was no longer extant.
|
|
|
extirpate
|
to destroy
|
|
|
|
extol
|
praise
|
|
|
|
extolled
|
praise enthusiastically
|
|
|
|
extraneous
|
irrelevant; inessential
|
|
|
|
extrapolate
|
to infer or estimate by extending or projecting known information
|
|
|
|
extricate
|
free, distangle
|
The fox could not extricate itself from the trap
|
|
|
exuberant
|
full of unrestrained enthusiasm or joy
|
|
|
|
exult
|
v. to rejoice
|
|
|
|
fabricate
|
to make up in order to deceive
|
|
|
|
facetious
|
playfully humorous
|
|
|
|
facile
|
done or achieved with little effort; easy
|
|
|
|
factious
|
playfully jocular, humorous
|
|
|
|
fallacy
|
a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound arguments
|
|
|
|
farce
|
mockery
|
|
|
|
fastidious
|
possessing careful attention to detail; difficult to blame
|
|
|
|
fatuous
|
foolish; silly. esp in smug or self satisfied way
|
|
|
|
fawn
|
to flatter subserviently
|
|
|
|
feckless
|
lacking purpose or vitality. careless and irresponsible.
|
|
|
|
fecund
|
fertile
|
|
|
|
felicitous
|
apt
|
|
|
|
fervor
|
passion
|
|
|
|
fickle
|
unpredictable; whimsical; easily swayed
|
|
|
|
fiduciary
|
of or relating to a holding of something in trust for another. of or being a trustee or trusteeship. held in trust. of or consisting of legal tender, especially paper currency, authorized by a government but not based on or convertible into gold.
|
|
|
|
filibuster
|
the use of obstruction of tactics especially prolonged speech making for the purpose of delaying legislature actions. an instance of the use of such tactics. an adventurer who engages in a private military action in a foreign country.
|
|
|
|
finagle
|
act in a devious or dishonest manner
|
|
|
|
finesse
|
skill
|
|
|
|
fitful
|
not continuous; stopping and starting
|
|
|
|
flag
|
to decline in vigor or strength; to tire; to droop
|
|
|
|
flagrant
|
extremely or deliberately shocking or noticeable
|
|
|
|
flamboyant
|
showy; ornate
|
|
|
|
flaunt
|
show off; display in a showy manner
|
|
|
|
flippant
|
lacking proper seriousness
|
|
|
|
florid
|
flowery or elaborate speech
|
|
|
|
foil
|
to baffle a plan; to thwart
|
|
|
|
forthright
|
outspoken
|
|
|
|
founder
|
fail completely;sink
|
The Titanic, upon hitting an iceberg, flailed like a flounder and founded.
|
|
|
fractious
|
quarrelsome; unruly
|
|
|
|
halting
|
hesitant
|
|
|
|
harbinger
|
something that indicates what is to come
|
|
|
|
heed
|
to listen to advice; to consider
|
|
|
|
hegemony
|
the predominant influence of a state, region, or group, over people
|
|
|
|
heinous
|
hatefully evil
|
|
|
|
heresy
|
against orthodox opinion
|
|
|
|
heyday
|
time of great success
|
It was payday, a heyday for jon!
|
|
|
hiatus
|
interruption; pause
|
|
|
|
hidebound
|
rigid in opinions
|
|
|
|
hinder
|
obstruct
|
|
|
|
histrionic
|
theatrical; exaggerated
|
|
|
|
hoary
|
old
|
|
|
|
hone
|
sharpen; increase; whet
|
|
|
|
hubris
|
overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance
|
|
|
|
humility
|
a modest or low view of one's own importance, humbleness
|
|
|
|
husbandry
|
the application of scientific principles to agriculture, especially to animal breeding
|
|
|
|
hyperbole
|
grossly exaggerated speech
|
|
|
|
hypochondriac
|
a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses
|
|
|
|
iconoclast
|
one who attacks cherised traditions
|
A born iconoclast, Jean Genet deliberately set out to shock conventional theatergoers with his radical plays.
|
|
|
idealize
|
to consider perfect
|
|
|
|
idiosyncrasy
|
characteristic peculiar to an individual or group
|
|
|
|
ignominy
|
great personal dishonor or humiliation; disgraceful conduct
|
|
|
|
igominy
|
deep disgrace, shame or honor
|
To lose the Ping-Pong match to a trained chimpanzee! How could Igor stand the ignominy?
|
|
|
illicit
|
adj. forbidden, not permitted
|
|
|
|
illusory
|
deceptive, not real
|
The illustrator drew illusory drawings of dragons and magic.
|
|
|
immaculate
|
spotless, flawless, absolutely clean
|
Ken and Jessica were wonderful tennants and they left the apartment immaculate.
|
|
|
immutable
|
unchangeable
|
|
|
|
impartial
|
unbiased
|
|
|
|
impeach
|
to make an accusation against.
|
|
|
|
impeccable
|
faultless
|
The woodpecker had an impeccable plan: he would swoop in, grab the worm, fly out and eat his dinner in peace.
|
|
|
impecunious
|
adj. poor
|
|
|
|
imperious
|
arrogantly domineering or overbearing
|
|
|
|
impervious
|
impenetrable
|
The impervious spartan shield could not be penetrated!
|
|
|
impetuous
|
suddenly and forcefully energetic or emotional; impulsive and passionate
|
|
|
|
impetus
|
an impelling force or stimulus
|
|
|
|
impinge
|
hinder; interfere with
|
|
|
|
implication
|
the act of suggesting or hinting
|
|
|
|
implicit
|
adj. understood but not outwardly obvious, implied
|
|
|
|
impugn
|
to attack as false or questionable
|
|
|
|
inane
|
silly
|
|
|
|
incarnate
|
adj. 1. existing in the flesh, embodied.v. 2. to give human form to
|
|
|
|
incense
|
enrage, infuriate
|
Cruelty to defenseless animals incensed Kit.
|
|
|
incognito
|
with one's identity disguised or concealed
|
|
|
|
incoherent
|
lacking cohesion or connection
|
|
|
|
incongruous
|
lacking in harmony; incompatible
|
|
|
|
inconsequential
|
unimportant
|
|
|
|
incontrovertible
|
impossible to dispute; unquestionable
|
|
|
|
ingenious
|
inventive
|
|
|
|
ingenuous
|
naive
|
|
|
|
ingrate
|
an ungrateful person
|
|
|
|
ingratiate
|
to put oneself in good favor with another
|
|
|
|
inherent
|
built in
|
|
|
|
inimical
|
injurious or harmful in effect
|
|
|
|
innate
|
possessed at birth
|
|
|
|
innocuous
|
having no adverse effect; harmless
|
|
|
|
insatiable
|
not easily satisfied
|
Lexy's passion for new clothes is insatiable; she can shop till she literally drops.
|
|
|
inscrutable
|
beyond comprehension or examination
|
|
|
|
insinuate
|
to imply or communicate stealthily
|
|
|
|
insipid
|
uninteresting, dull; without flavor
|
|
|
|
insolent
|
insulting in manner or speech
|
|
|
|
insolvent
|
bankrupt
|
Lord Wigeon was insolvent, yet he had no fear of being thrown into debtor's prison for his father would pay his debt.
|
|
|
insular
|
isolated; narrow or provincial
|
|
|
|
insularity
|
narrow-mindedness; isolation
|
The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anything foreign.
|
|
|
insuperable
|
unbeatable
|
Faced by almost insuperable obstacles, the members of the underground maintained their couraged and will to resist.
|
|
|
integrity
|
trustworthiness; completeness
|
|
|
|
internecine
|
destroying both sides
|
|
|
|
interpolate
|
to insert or introduce between other elements. to insert into text to insert into a conversation. to change to falsify a text with new or incorrect material.
|
|
|
|
intractable
|
unmanageable
|
|
|
|
intransigence
|
refusal to moderate a position or to compromise
|
|
|
|
intrepid
|
courageous; fearless
|
|
|
|
intrinsic
|
belonging naturally
|
|
|
|
inundate
|
to overthrow as if with a flood; to swamp
|
|
|
|
invective
|
n. an angry verbal attack
|
|
|
|
inveterate
|
long established; deep-rooted; habitual
|
|
|
|
invocation
|
a call (usually upon a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration
|
|
|
|
irony
|
the use of words to express something different from and often opposite of their meaning. an expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
|
|
|
|
jaded
|
worn out; wearied
|
|
|
|
jejune
|
not interesting, dull; immature; lacking nutrition
|
|
|
|
jocular
|
giving to jesting, jocular, humorous.
|
|
|
|
abandon
|
total lack of inhibition
|
|
|
|
abase
|
to lower in rank, prestige, or esteem
|
|
|
|
abate
|
to decrease, to reduce
|
|
|
|
abet
|
aid
|
|
|
|
abhor
|
detest
|
|
|
|
abjure
|
to recant solemnly; renounce or repudiate
|
|
|
|
abnegate
|
to give up; to deny oneself
|
|
|
|
abortive
|
ending without results
|
|
|
|
abrasive
|
rubbing away, tending to grind down
|
i needed a brace because the running was abrasiv e
|
|
|
abridge
|
condense or shorten
|
we needed to abridge the planned 1000 mile long bridge
|
|
|
abrogate
|
to abolish, do away with or annul, especially by authority
|
|
|
|
abscond
|
leave quickly in secret
|
|
|
|
absolete
|
no longer valid
|
|
|
|
abstemious
|
done sparingly
|
|
|
|
abstract
|
not applied to actual objects
|
|
|
|
abstruse
|
difficult to understand
|
|
|
|
abuts
|
(of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with
|
|
|
|
acclaim
|
applaud, announce with great approval
|
The public acclaimed the scientists after he proved his claim of invisibilty
|
|
|
accolade
|
award of merit
|
That guy deserves an accolade for getting laid by Carmen
|
|
|
acme
|
high point; zenith
|
|
|
|
acquiesce
|
accept without argument
|
|
|
|
acquit
|
free someone from a charge
|
|
|
|
acrid
|
sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
|
|
|
|
acrimony
|
bitterness or ill feeling
|
|
|
|
acrophobia
|
fear of heights
|
|
|
|
acuity
|
sharpness (mental or visual)
|
|
|
|
acumen
|
quickness of judgement or insight
|
|
|
|
adamant
|
forceful; inflexible
|
|
|
|
adept
|
skillful
|
|
|
|
adherent
|
supporter, follower
|
In the awke of the scandal, the senator's one time adherent quietly deserted him
|
|
|
adjure
|
to command solemnly, as under oath
|
|
|
|
admonish
|
advise; scold; remind
|
|
|
|
adroit
|
skillful
|
|
|
|
adulation
|
obsequious flattery; excessive admiration
|
|
|
|
adversary
|
opponent
|
|
|
|
adverse
|
unfavorable, hostile
|
the vulgar advertisement had an adverse effect on the company's public relations
|
|
|
adversity
|
hardship
|
|
|
|
advocate
|
support
|
|
|
|
aesthete
|
one who appreciates and seeks beauty
|
|
|
|
aesthetic
|
concerning art or beauty
|
|
|
|
affable
|
easy going, friendly
|
|
|
|
affectation
|
pretend to have something you don't
|
|
|
|
alacrity
|
cheerful readiness
|
|
|
|
alleviate
|
to ease a pain or burden
|
|
|
|
aloof
|
apart, reserved, standoffish
|
Loofy, the new kid, was considered a snob because instead of joining in our conversations, he remained silent and aloof
|
|
|
altruism
|
the belief of selfless concern for others
|
|
|
|
altruistic
|
unselfishly generous, concerned for others
|
Al was a true philanthropist, giving thousands of scholarships to disadvantaged youths.
|
|
|
amalgam
|
a combination of diverse elements; a mixture
|
|
|
|
amalgamate
|
combine
|
|
|
|
ambiguous
|
open to more than one interpretation
|
|
|
|
ambivalence
|
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
|
|
|
|
ambivalent
|
simultaneously having opposed feelings; uncertainty
|
|
|
|
ameliorate
|
to make something better; improve
|
|
|
|
amenable
|
responsible; agreeable
|
|
|
|
amiable
|
friendly; agreeable; good-natured
|
|
|
|
amicable
|
friendly
|
|
|
|
anachronistic
|
not appropriate at this day of age
|
|
|
|
analgesic
|
n. something that reduces pain
|
|
|
|
anima
|
spirit, mind
|
|
|
|
animosity
|
active enimity, hatred
|
The animal in the city was faced with animosity; Animal control officers, filled with contempt, aimed to kill
|
|
|
antebellum
|
belonging to the period before the war
|
|
|
|
antediluvian
|
adj. ancient
|
|
|
|
antiquated
|
old fashion
|
|
|
|
antithesis
|
opposite, contrast
|
Good is the antithesis of evil
|
|
|
apathetic
|
indifferent; uninterested; lethargic
|
|
|
|
apathy
|
lack of interest or emotion
|
|
|
|
apex
|
high point; pinnacle; zenith
|
|
|
|
aphorism
|
a wise saying; an adage; a maxim
|
|
|
|
apocryphal
|
fictional
|
|
|
|
appease
|
pacify; soothe; calm down; make peace with
|
|
|
|
apprehension
|
anxiety or fear about the future
|
|
|
|
apprehensive
|
worried; fearful
|
|
|
|
approbation
|
n. praise
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appropriate
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to take another's property as one's own
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arable
|
can be cultivated
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arbiter
|
a judge who decides a disputed issue
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arbitrary
|
determined by impulse rather than reason
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arboreal
|
relating to trees
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arcane
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obscure; known only to a few people
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archaic
|
old fashion
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ardor
|
enthusiasm
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arid
|
dry, barren
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The actus has adapted to survive in an arid environment, and environmnet rid of life.
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artisan
|
manually skilled worker; crafstman
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Elderly artisans from artsy Italy trained Harlem teenagers to carve the stone figures that wold decorate the catheadral
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ascendancy
|
controlling influence
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Leaders of religious cults send influential messages and maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing
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ascertain
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to find out, as through investigation or experimentation
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asetic
|
self-denial, austere
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The monks are ascetic; they deny their urges
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assiduous
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hard working
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assimilate
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to absorb or become absorbed; to make or become similar
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astute
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shrewd
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asylum
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a place of retreat or security
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atrophy
|
waste away
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The team's lack of effort during practice atrophied their skill sets, denying them any chance at the championship trophy.
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augment
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to make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity; to supplement
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aural
|
of or related to the ear or the sense of hearing
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auspicious
|
favorable; promising
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austere
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without decoration
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autonomous
|
self-governed
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When does the desire to expand of a country superced the autonomy of another?
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autonomy
|
independence; self-determination
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avant-garde
|
cutting-edge; new; experimental
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averse
|
strongly disinclined
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aversion
|
firm dislike
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Their aversion towards eachother was so great that they found diversions just to not have to speak to one another.
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avid
|
passionate; ardent
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banal
|
ordinary, trivial
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bane
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a cause for ruin
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bard
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a poet
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behemoth
|
a huge animal; something of great size or power
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belie
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to give false representation to; to misrepresent; to show to be false; contradiction
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bellicose
|
warlike or hostile in manner or temperament
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belligerent
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eager to fight; hostile or aggressive
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benediction
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an expression of good wishes
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beneficial
|
producing or promoting a favorable result; helpful
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benign
|
kind and gentle
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bequeath (bequest)
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to lease someone by a will, hand down
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Although Maud had intended to bequeath the family home to her nephew, she died before changing her will
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bequest
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a gift upon one's death
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berate
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scold
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bevy
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a large group
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bilious
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having a peevish disposition; ill-humored
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bilk
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to steal; to embezzle
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blandish
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v. to coax by using flattery
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boisterous
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lively
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bolster
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to hearten, support or prop up
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bombastic
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given to pompous speech or writing
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boon
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a sudden gain; a windfall
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boor
|
a rude person
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boorish
|
ill mannered
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bourgeois
|
middle class
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bowdlerize
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to remove material that is considered objectionable or offensive from; expurgate
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braggart
|
someone who boasts
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brawn (brawny)
|
muscular strength
|
It takes brawn to become a champion weight lifter
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brawny
|
muscular
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breadth
|
a range or scope
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brevity
|
being brief
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bristle
|
to show irritation
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broach
|
start to discuss; approach
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brook
|
to endure; to put up with
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brusque
|
rudely abrupt
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bulwark
|
fortification; barricade; wall
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bungle
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to botch; to mess up
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bureaucracy
|
officialdom
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burgeon
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to grow and flourish
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buttress
|
support, prop up
|
The attorney came up with several fart fetched arguments in va
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byzantine
|
ornate, fancy
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cacophony
|
discordant, unpleasant noise
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cajole
|
to urge with repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery
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caustic
|
bitingly sarcastic or witty
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caviling
|
to find fault unnecessarily
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celerity
|
cheerful speed
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censure
|
strong expression of disapproval
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censure (censorious)
|
critical/ blame or criticize harshly
|
The dictator was so censorious of the rude scene, he demanded that the playwritght censor them in the next showing.
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cerebral
|
intellectual
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cessation
|
an end
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chagrin
|
embarrassment
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charlatan
|
quack, pretender to knowledge
|
When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get her back to Kansas, Dorothy and her companions were indignant that they had been duped by a charlatan
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chicanery
|
deception by trickery or sophistry
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choler
|
bile
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choleric
|
easily angered
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chronicler
|
person who records historical information
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churlish
|
of, like, or befitting a churl; boorish or vulgar. having a bad disposition; surly
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circuitous
|
roundabout
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circumlocution
|
the use of unnecessary wordy and indirect language. evasive in speech or writing. a round about expression
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circumnavigate
|
to proceed completely around
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circumscribe
|
limit
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circumscribed
|
defined or limited; isolated
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circumspect
|
cautious; considering all sides
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circumvent
|
avoid
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clairvoyant
|
psychic; mystic
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clamor
|
shout; scream
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clamorous
|
noisy
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clandestine
|
secretive
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clemency
|
n. mercy
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clemency (clement)
|
disposition to be lienient, mildness
|
Clemens was known for her clemency toward first offenders
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cloying
|
oversweet; saccharine
|
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coercion (coerce)
|
the use of force to get someones compliance
|
the extortionist coerced the store owner into paying up
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cogent
|
convincing, reasonable
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collude
|
come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose; conspire
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commensurate
|
proportional in size
|
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complement
|
something that completes, goes with, or brings to perfection
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complicit
|
adj. being an accomplice in a wrongful act
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compunction
|
n. distress caused by feeling guilty
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conception
|
the ability to form or understand an idea
|
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concilatory
|
reconciling, apppeasing, amiable
|
The conciliatory student council gave in to the sudents requests for no homework.
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conciliatory
|
appeasing; soothing; showing willingness to reconcile
|
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concord
|
agreement
|
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concur
|
to agree
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condescending
|
treating people as weak or inferior
|
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condone
|
overlook voluntarilly, forgive
|
Although she had excused
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conflagration
|
a widespread fire
|
|
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confound
|
to confuse; to perplex; to befuddle
|
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conjecture
|
a guess
|
|
|
|
consensus
|
general agreement
|
|
|
|
consonant
|
adj. in harmony
|
|
|
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conspicuous
|
easy to notice; obvious
|
|
|
|
constituents
|
voters
|
|
|
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consummate
|
complete; perfect
|
|
|
|
contagion
|
infection
|
Fearing contagion in Siagon, they took great steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
|
|
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contemptuous
|
feeling hatred; scornful
|
|
|
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contentious
|
likely to start an argument
|
|
|
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contiguous
|
sharing an edge or boundary; touching
|
|
|
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conviction
|
a fixed or strong belief
|
|
|
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convoluted
|
intricate; complex
|
|
|
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copious
|
plentiful; having large quantity
|
|
|
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cordial
|
friendly; sincere
|
|
|
|
cosmopolitan
|
worldly; widely sophisticated
|
|
|
|
coup
|
a brilliantly executed plan
|
|
|
|
craven
|
cowardly
|
|
|
|
credible
|
capable of being believed; plausible
|
|
|
|
crude
|
rude; lacking refinement
|
|
|
|
cryptic
|
difficult to comprehend
|
|
|
|
curative
|
able to heal or cure
|
|
|
|
Cursory
|
casual, hastily done
|
Harry took a cursory glance at his spell book, and so, hardly knew any of the curses they were practicing that day.
|
|
|
curt
|
terse
|
|
|
|
curtail
|
to cut short
|
|
|
|
cynical
|
believing that people act only ot of selfish motives
|
|
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|
détente
|
a lessening of tension or hostility
|
|
|
|
dastardly
|
cowardly and malicious
|
|
|
|
dawdle
|
loiter, waste time
|
We have to meet a deadline, so stop doodling and dwadling, just get down to work
|
|
|
dearth
|
scarce supply; lack
|
|
|
|
debacle
|
disastrous or ludicrous defeat or failure; fiasco
|
|
|
|
debased
|
morally low; base
|
|
|
|
debilitate
|
impair the strength of; weaken
|
|
|
|
debility
|
weakness; incapacity
|
|
|
|
debunk
|
to expose untruths, shams, or exaggerated claims
|
|
|
|
debunking
|
exposing false claims or myths
|
|
|
|
decathlon
|
an athletic competition with 10 events
|
|
|
|
deciduous
|
shedding or losing foliage at the end of the growing season. falling off or shed at a specific season or stage of growth. not lasting; ephemeral
|
|
|
|
decorous
|
proper, marked by good taste
|
|
|
|
decorum
|
dignified, correct behavior [decorous]
|
|
|
|
decoy
|
lure; trap; trick
|
|
|
|
deference
|
respect
|
|
|
|
defoliate
|
cause leaves to fall off
|
|
|
|
defray
|
to pay the cost of
|
|
|
|
deft
|
skillful
|
|
|
|
defunct
|
no longer in existence
|
|
|
|
degradation
|
deprivation; poverty; debasement
|
|
|
|
degrade
|
to lower in degree or quality
|
|
|
|
deign
|
to lower oneself before an inferior
|
|
|
|
delectable
|
delicious; very pleasing
|
|
|
|
deleterious
|
having a harmful effect; injurious
|
|
|
|
deliberate
|
consider, ponder
|
Offered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she told them her decision.
|
|
|
delineate
|
to describe; to depict
|
|
|
|
denouement
|
outcome; result
|
|
|
|
denounce
|
to condemn openly
|
|
|
|
depilate
|
to remove hair from
|
|
|
|
deplete
|
to use up gradually (resource, strength, etc.)
|
|
|
|
deplore
|
detest
|
|
|
|
deploy
|
to place troops in position
|
|
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|
depose
|
to remove from office
|
|
|
|
depraved
|
sinful; immoral
|
|
