Test Words You Should Know

Front 1

abbreviate

Back 1

to shorten or condense by omitting letters or words

Front 2

aberrant

Back 2

Unusual from accepted or expected norms; unexpected in light of past behaviors

Front 3

abet

Back 3

to assist or urge another person, usually to do something illegal; to help commit a crime

Front 4

abeyance

Back 4

a temporary halt to an activity; a short suspension

Front 5

abjure

Back 5

To recant, take back, or publicly give up previously held thoughts, opinions, or beliefs

Front 6

ablution

Back 6

The act of washing oneself usually for a ritual or as part of a religious rite

Front 7

abridge

Back 7

To shorten a text without changing the meaning of the document

Front 8

abrogate

Back 8

To cancel or remove by a person of authority

Front 9

abscond

Back 9

To run away; to leave in a hurry and in secret to avoid detection or arrest

Front 10

abstemious

Back 10

To actively avoid being self-indulgent, especially when eating or drinking

Front 11

abstinence

Back 11

The practice of avoiding certain specific behaviors

Front 12

abstract

Back 12

Not based in fact or absolute existence; based in thought, idea, or theory

Front 13

abstruse

Back 13

Confusing; not easy to understand; muddled and unclear

Front 14

abut

Back 14

To be next to; to share a border; to come to the edge of something else

Front 15

accede

Back 15

To take or rise to office or position of authority; or to agree to a demand

Front 16

accessible

Back 16

Easily approached, reached, or entered

Front 17

acclaim

Back 17

To praise loudly (verb) or loud and public praise (noun)

Front 18

accolade

Back 18

Any word, token, or prize given in appreciation, usually formal

Front 19

acerbic

Back 19

Blunt, bitter, and sarcastic, usually regarding a personal attitude or way of speaking

Front 20

acquiesce

Back 20

To accept reluctently but without complaint; to give in

Front 21

acrid

Back 21

sharp, bitter, unpleasent; generally describing a taste or smell

Front 22

acrimony

Back 22

bitterness, anger, bad feelings, usually mutually held

Front 23

acumen

Back 23

The ability to make wise decisions in a particular area or profession

Front 24

adage

Back 24

A short saying or old phrase that states an accepted truth

Front 25

adamant

Back 25

Insistent; refusing to change one's mind; determined

Front 26

admonition

Back 26

An official warning; a scolding, usually followed by the threat of greater punishment for another offense

Front 27

adulation

Back 27

Excessive flattery; deep love and affection

Front 28

adulterate

Back 28

To lower the quality of something by adding another substance

Front 29

adumbrate

Back 29

To explain very briefly; to outline the high points

Front 30

adversary

Back 30

Opponent; someone on the other side of an argument or competition

Front 31

adversity

Back 31

Trouble; misfortune; difficulty; a time of personal trials and challenges

Front 32

advocate

Back 32

A person who publicly speaks for or on half of another (noun) or to speak for or on behalf of another; to argue or speak in favor of something (verb)

Front 33

aesthetic

Back 33

Regarding beauty and/or enjoyable appearence; pleasing to the senses

Front 34

affable

Back 34

Friendly; likeable; easy to get along with

Front 35

affirmation

Back 35

A statement or declaration of support or acceptance; a statement of agreement

Front 36

aggravate

Back 36

To make something worse; to exacerbate a situation; to annoy or frustrate

Front 37

aggregate

Back 37

A whole or total, usually make up of unexpected or disparate parts

Front 38

agile

Back 38

Being able to move quickly and easily; light on one's feet; having quick reflexes

Front 39

agog

Back 39

Eager, excited, in anticipation of

Front 40

alchemy

Back 40

The ancient, scientific study of trying to turn one substance into another, specifically metal into gold

Front 41

alcove

Back 41

A small cut-out or deeper area, usually in a room

Front 42

alleviate

Back 42

To reduce, lesson, or make less severe

Front 43

aloof

Back 43

Emotionally cold, distant, or withdrawn

Front 44

altruistic

Back 44

Selfless; concerned for the greater good

Front 45

ambidextrous

Back 45

Able to use either the right or the left hand equally well

Front 46

ambiguous

Back 46

Having more than one possible meaning or interpretation; unclear and undecided

Front 47

ambivalence

Back 47

The state of having strong yet conflicting feelings about the same situation or person

Front 48

amendable

Back 48

Responsive to suggestion; able to be swayed to do something

Front 49

amicable

Back 49

Friendly, nice; without serious disagreement

Front 50

amorphous

Back 50

Without clear shape or form; undefined

Front 51

anachronistic

Back 51

Based on another, earlier period in history; out of place in the present time

Front 52

analogous

Back 52

Similar to; easily comparable; alike in core ways

Front 53

anarchist

Back 53

One who believes in, wants, and may work toward a society without government where the individuals are free from societal laws

Front 54

anecdote

Back 54

A short, sometimes amusing retelling of an event

Front 55

anomaly

Back 55

Something unusual or out of the norm; unexpected based on previous actions or occurences

Front 56

anonymous

Back 56

Unnamed; by an unknown person

Front 57

antagonist

Back 57

One who is openly adversarial or hostile; an enemy

Front 58

antediluvian

Back 58

Old-fashioned to the point of being humorous; traditionally, during the time before the biblical flood

Front 59

antidote

Back 59

Cure for poison; anything that makes a person feel better

Front 60

antiquated

Back 60

Old-fashioned, often to the point of being obsolete

Front 61

antithesis

Back 61

Something that is in direct opposition to something else

Front 62

apathy

Back 62

A notable lack of interest, emotional connection, or passion; indifference

Front 63

aplomb

Back 63

Self-assurance and grace, especially when under pressure; the ability to handle oneself well in stressful situations

Front 64

apogee

Back 64

The point in the moon's or a satellite's orbit at which it is furthest from the earth; the climax or culmination of a project or event

Front 65

apostrate

Back 65

A person who rejects a religious or political belief

Front 66

apotheosis

Back 66

The raising of someone to divine status

Front 67

apparition

Back 67

A phantom or ghostlike image

Front 68

appease

Back 68

To placate, calm, or satisfy a person by meeting his or her demands

Front 69

apposite

Back 69

Appropriate for the situation; completely suitable

Front 70

apprehension

Back 70

Fear, concern, or anxiety that something bad will occur; nerves or jitters

Front 71

apprise

Back 71

To inform, tell, or fill in; to bring up to date

Front 72

approbation

Back 72

Great praise; rave reviews; high compliments and honors, generally formal or public

Front 73

arable

Back 73

Suitable or ready for planting and growing plants or crops

Front 74

arbitrary

Back 74

Left to personal interpretation; vague and undefined; without strict guidelines

Front 75

arboreal

Back 75

Living in trees; describing animals living in trees; regarding or having to do with trees

Front 76

archaic

Back 76

Very old-fashioned; from an earlier point in history and no longer in use

Front 77

ardor

Back 77

Emotional heat or passion; passionate, often overwhelming love

Front 78

argot

Back 78

The language or slang used by a specific group

Front 79

arid

Back 79

Very dry; desert-like, often used to describe climate

Front 80

arrant

Back 80

Complete and total; unarguable; plainly obvious

Front 81

arrogance

Back 81

A sense of being better than others; exaggerated pride

Front 82

articulate

Back 82

Able to speak clearly and express one's thoughts well; well spoken

Front 83

artifact

Back 83

Something made by humans that has historical or archeological importance

Front 84

artisan

Back 84

Someone skilled in making crafts by hand

Front 85

ascendancy

Back 85

Position of power; superiority, or dominance

Front 86

ascetic

Back 86

A person who rejects nearly all physical comforts and lives a bare, Spartan life, usually for spiritual development or devotion (noun) or living a life of self-denial, usually for spiritual development or devotion

Front 87

asperity

Back 87

Harshness, roughness, or nastiness of manner; irritability

Front 88

aspire

Back 88

To dream; to hope to achieve; to set as a goal

Front 89

assiduous

Back 89

Having great attention to detail; consistent and diligent; overly aware of details

Front 90

assuage

Back 90

To ease; to make something less painful or severe; to relieve a desparate need or desire

Front 91

astringent

Back 91

A solution that causes skin or other tissue to tighten or contract

Front 92

astute

Back 92

Being able to read a situation and figure it out accurately; being able to read between the lines

Front 93

asylum

Back 93

Protection and safety offered by a government, church, or other ruling body

Front 94

atonement

Back 94

Payment, through action, for an injury or harming another; an action that repays a debt

Front 95

atrophy

Back 95

To weaken and deteriorate through lack of use

Front 96

attribute

Back 96

To credit a particular source or cause; to cite the source (verb) or a specific characteristic or trait (noun)

Front 97

audacious

Back 97

Bold and adventurous, sometimes recklessly so; without concern for the normal or expected

Front 98

augury

Back 98

An omen or sign of things to come; a foretelling of future events

Front 99

austere

Back 99

Severe and strict; without any frivolous additions; intentionally plain and without character

Front 100

authoritarian

Back 100

In favor of complete obedience; demanding of obedience to the exclusion of individuality

Front 101

autocrat

Back 101

A leader with complete and unlimited power

Front 102

autonomous

Back 102

Having the ability to work and exist independently

Front 103

auxiliary

Back 103

Helpful, giving assistance; held in reserve in case extra assistance is required

Front 104

aver

Back 104

To declare as fact; to swear is true

Front 105

aversion

Back 105

A strong dislike or feeling of disgust; repulsion

Front 106

avert

Back 106

To change or prevent; to turn away

Front 107

aviary

Back 107

A large structure for housing birds

Front 108

avow

Back 108

To state openly and without shame

Front 109

axiom

Back 109

A statement that is considered to be true or a given without needing further proof

Front 110

baleful

Back 110

Threatening; intending to intimidate or cause harm

Front 111

balm

Back 111

An ointment used for soothing or healing; anything that causes a pain or hurt to be eased; something that gives comfort

Front 112

banal

Back 112

Ordinary to the point of boring; dull and uninteresting

Front 113

bask

Back 113

To relax and enjoy warmth, either literally or figuratively

Front 114

beatify

Back 114

To idolize above all; to make someone blissfully happy

Front 115

bedaub

Back 115

To smear, usually with something sticky

Front 116

beguile

Back 116

To charm, often by being deceptive

Front 117

belie

Back 117

To be false or misrepresent; to be intentionally inaccurate

Front 118

benefactor

Back 118

Someone who gives money to help a person or cause

Front 119

benevolent

Back 119

Concerned with performing good or charitable acts; being kind and helpful

Front 120

benign

Back 120

Harmless; gentle; without cruel intent or ability

Front 121

berate

Back 121

To scold harshly; to yell, usually implies an extended scolding

Front 122

bewilder

Back 122

To confuse; to puzzle a person

Front 123

blandishment

Back 123

Gentle flattery used to get someone to behave in a certain way

Front 124

blatant

Back 124

Open and in-your-face to the point of being offensive

Front 125

bleak

Back 125

Cold, misable, barren; without hope

Front 126

blighted

Back 126

Diseased; given over to hopelessness and despair; sickly; run down

Front 127

blithe

Back 127

Lightheartedness to the point of indifference or uncaring; happily unconcerned and oblivious

Front 128

boisterous

Back 128

Cheerfully loud and out of control

Front 129

bolster

Back 129

To shore up; to build up; to increase support

Front 130

braggart

Back 130

One who boasts or brags unnecessarily; one who builds himself up in order to appear impressive

Front 131

breach

Back 131

To break through; to violate

Front 132

brevity

Back 132

Shortness and clarity in written or spoken word

Front 133

brittle

Back 133

Hard but fragile and easily broken or damaged

Front 134

broach

Back 134

To bring up, as a suggestion or topic of conversation; to approach a topic

Front 135

bucolic

Back 135

Idealized characteristics of the country and country life; rustic and pastoral

Front 136

bumptious

Back 136

Loud and self-serving to the point of being obnoxious

Front 137

buoyant

Back 137

Lighthearted and happy; or able to float

Front 138

burgeon

Back 138

To increase rapidly; to flourish and grow

Front 139

burnish

Back 139

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing or polishing it

Front 140

buttress

Back 140

To support or reinforce a building, thought, idea, or argument

Front 141

cabal

Back 141

A secret group of plotters or conspirators

Front 142

cacophony

Back 142

A harsh, jarring, disconnected group of sounds; discordant noise

Front 143

cajole

Back 143

To persuade someone to do something through persistant flattery, teasing, and/or repeated requests

Front 144

calculated

Back 144

Done with a full understanding of the consequences; carefully examined and planned

Front 145

callow

Back 145

Inexperienced, immature, naive; emotionally young

Front 146

calumny

Back 146

Slander; a false statement made intentionally to damage another's reputation

Front 147

camaraderie

Back 147

Friendly, powerful emotional bonding between people; group trust

Front 148

candid

Back 148

Completely truthful; not posed; with nothing held back

Front 149

candor

Back 149

Sincere and honest expression of thought or opinion

Front 150

canon

Back 150

The general principals, standards, or rules by which something is judged

Front 151

capacious

Back 151

Roomy; spacious; large

Front 152

capitulate

Back 152

To surrender or give up; to give in

Front 153

captious

Back 153

Tending to nitpick or find fault; overly critical of small mistakes

Front 154

cardiologist

Back 154

A doctor who specializes in the heart

Front 155

carping

Back 155

Complaining or nagging in a fault-finding way; unfairly and vocally dissatisfied

Front 156

castigation

Back 156

A harsh scolding or verbal punishment

Front 157

catalyst

Back 157

Something that causes an event or change without participating in the change or changing itself

Front 158

cataract

Back 158

A great, rushing waterfall

Front 159

caustic

Back 159

Sarcastically nasty; biting; mean

Front 160

censorious

Back 160

Quick to cast blame; highly critical and judgmental of others

Front 161

censure

Back 161

A strong, official reprimand (noun) or to reprimand formally (verb)

Front 162

centurion

Back 162

An ancient Roman commander, traditionally in charge of 100 troops

Front 163

certitude

Back 163

The absolute certainty that something is true; complete confidence in the truth of a matter

Front 164

charlatan

Back 164

A con artist or fraud; someone who claims to have a special skill that he or she does not have

Front 165

chary

Back 165

Wary; cautious; on guard

Front 166

circuitous

Back 166

Roundabout or indirect; winding

Front 167

clairvoyant

Back 167

Having the ability to see or know something that cannot be seen or known with the five senses (adjective) or a person who claims to have the ability to see or know something that cannot be seen or known with the five senses (noun)

Front 168

clarity

Back 168

Clearness in speech, appearence, or thought

Front 169

cliché

Back 169

Trite, unoriginal, or overused

Front 170

coalesce

Back 170

To bond or come together; to form a single unit

Front 171

coddle

Back 171

To baby, pamper, or indulge; to treat more gently than necessary

Front 172

coercion

Back 172

The act of using violence or the threat of violence to bring about desired results

Front 173

coeval

Back 173

Being of the same time period or era; existing at the same time

Front 174

cogent

Back 174

Clear, concise, and convincing, usually of an argument or point of view; logical and well-presented

Front 175

cogitate

Back 175

To think over carefully; to ponder and consider; to weigh all aspects of a situation

Front 176

cognizant

Back 176

Aware of; having knowledge about

Front 177

coherent

Back 177

Able to make sense, be logical; consistantly logical

Front 178

collaborate

Back 178

To work together or jointly, usually to create something

Front 179

colloquial

Back 179

Used in ordinary speech; informal; may imply regionally used words and phrases

Front 180

combustible

Back 180

Able to catch fire and/or burn easily

Front 181

comestible

Back 181

Anything that can be eaten (noun) or edible; fit for human consumption (adjective)

Front 182

commemorate

Back 182

To honor or mark an occasion with a celebration, ritual, or ceremony

Front 183

compassion

Back 183

The awareness of and sympathy for other's sufferings; kindness toward others less fortunate

Front 184

compile

Back 184

To gather information from several sources in order to collect in one place

Front 185

complacency

Back 185

The feeling of being so good one doesn't have to try any longer

Front 186

complacent

Back 186

Smugly content; confident to the point of not caring

Front 187

complaisance

Back 187

A willingness to do what others want; the willingness to go along with the crowd without complaint

Front 188

complement

Back 188

Something used to enhance or perfect another

Front 189

compliance

Back 189

The act of observing and following directions, requests, or advice

Front 190

comport

Back 190

To behave or conduct oneself in a particular manner; to act in a certain desirable way

Front 191

composure

Back 191

Being calm and in control of oneself and one's emotions; a calm state of mind

Front 192

comprehensive

Back 192

Total; complete; all encompassing; leaving nothing out

Front 193

compromise

Back 193

A settlement in which the parties all give up some of their demands (noun) or to settle a situation by having all parties give up some of their demands (verb)

Front 194

concede

Back 194

To reluctantly admit something is true

Front 195

conceit

Back 195

Arrogance; an unreasonably high opinion of oneself

Front 196

conciliatory

Back 196

Meant to appease someone or make someone feel better

Front 197

concise

Back 197

Expressing a lot of information in a few words

Front 198

concord

Back 198

Agreement and harmony between people or groups

Front 199

concur

Back 199

To agree or share an opinion

Front 200

condense

Back 200

To make shorter or reduce in volume without losing the meaning of the original subject matter

Front 201

condescending

Back 201

Having a superior and patronizing attitude

Front 202

conditional

Back 202

Dependent upon something else; needing other conditions to be met

Front 203

condone

Back 203

To overlook or even support an action without comment or complaint

Front 204

conflagration

Back 204

A very large, very destructive fire; uncontrollable fire

Front 205

confluence

Back 205

The meeting, joining, or flowing together at one point, originally used in relation to streams

Front 206

conformist

Back 206

A person who behaves only in ways that are socially acceptable and expected

Front 207

confound

Back 207

To confuse or puzzle; to mix-up; to be unable to distinguish

Front 208

congeal

Back 208

To jell or curdle; to coagulate; to form a loose solid

Front 209

congenital

Back 209

Relating to a condition or characteristic had since birth, usually referring to a disease or deformity

Front 210

congregation

Back 210

A large gathering, often but not always of people for the purpose of worship

Front 211

conjoin

Back 211

Attach, come together, join

Front 212

connoisseur

Back 212

A person with great knowledge and training in matters of taste

Front 213

consensus

Back 213

General agreement; the opinion of the majority of the group

Front 214

console

Back 214

To lessen sorrow or grief; to ease emotional pain

Front 215

conspicuous

Back 215

Obvious; standing out; unhidden

Front 216

consternation

Back 216

Extreme dismay or anxiety, usually caused by something unexpected occuring

Front 217

constraint

Back 217

Physical, emotional, or logistical restraint; a binding, literally or figuratively

Front 218

constrict

Back 218

To tighten or make narrower; to close in

Front 219

contemptuous

Back 219

Showing or having the feeling that someone or something is inferior or worthless

Front 220

contend

Back 220

To claim or assert; to struggle against

Front 221

contentious

Back 221

Argumentative or likely to cause an argument

Front 222

contiguous

Back 222

Touching, connected, or sharing a border; uninterrupted; continuous

Front 223

contract

Back 223

To shrink or make smaller

Front 224

contrite

Back 224

Feeling sorry or apologetic

Front 225

contumacious

Back 225

Willfully and intentionally rude and disobedient

Front 226

convention

Back 226

Social norms; usual and expected behavior; that which is approved of and accepted by society at large

Front 227

convergence

Back 227

The act or process of coming together or meeting at one point or place

Front 228

conviction

Back 228

A strong, firmly held belief

Front 229

cordial

Back 229

Warm and friendly; welcoming; nice

Front 230

cornucopia

Back 230

A symbol, literally or figuratively, of abundance, wealth, and plenty; when literal, usually in the form of a horn overflowing with fruits and vegetables

Front 231

corporeal

Back 231

Of the body; regarding the body

Front 232

correlate

Back 232

To show or prove connection, relationship, or similarity

Front 233

corrode

Back 233

To rust or be eaten away by chemical reaction; to destroy slowly and systematically

Front 234

corrugated

Back 234

Shaped into ridges and grooves

Front 235

counterfeit

Back 235

Fake; imitation; made to look like the original (adjective) or a fake; a copy of something valuable, usually made to defraud or fool (noun) or to make a copy of something valuable with the intent to defraud (verb)

Front 236

countervail

Back 236

To offset the effect of something with an equal but opposing force; to counter

Front 237

covet

Back 237

To want or desire something that belongs to another person

Front 238

cower

Back 238

To shrink or cringe in fear

Front 239

crass

Back 239

Crude and unrefined, usually used to describe a person or attitude

Front 240

credulity

Back 240

A tendency to be gullible; ready to believe anything

Front 241

criterion

Back 241

A standard or test by which something else is judged or compared

Front 242

cryptic

Back 242

Vague; coded; having a mysterious meaning

Front 243

culminate

Back 243

To come to the end or completion; to reach the climax of an event or happening

Front 244

cursory

Back 244

Brief; without attention to detail; not thorough

Front 245

curtail

Back 245

To cut short; to reduce the time or quantity

Front 246

cynicism

Back 246

A negative and suspicious attitude; the expectation of the worst

Front 247

cynosure

Back 247

An object or person that has all the attention; the focal point

Front 248

dearth

Back 248

A lack or shortage; not having enough of something

Front 249

debunk

Back 249

To prove false; to disprove exaggerated claims

Front 250

decimate

Back 250

To utterly destroy or ruin; to inflict great damage

Front 251

decorum

Back 251

Appropriate and proper behavior

Front 252

defer

Back 252

To put off or postpone; to reschedule for a later time

Front 253

degradation

Back 253

The process of insulting or putting someone down; the state of being put down, insulted, or humiliated

Front 254

dehydrate

Back 254

To cause something to dry out and lose water

Front 255

deign

Back 255

To do something that is believed to be below one's station or dignity

Front 256

deleterious

Back 256

Harmful or damaging

Front 257

deluge

Back 257

A great flood or fall of water; anything that overwhelms like a great flood

Front 258

demagogue

Back 258

A leader who uses the emotions, fears, and prejudices of a populace, rather than logic, intellect, or facts to gain support

Front 259

denizen

Back 259

A resident or one who is in a particular place often enough to practically be a resident; a native

Front 260

dénouement

Back 260

The final part of a story or movie in which all the loose ends are tied up and all the questions are answered

Front 261

denounce

Back 261

To declare publicly that something is wrong, evil, or incorrect

Front 262

deplete

Back 262

To use up or greatly diminish in quantity

Front 263

deplore

Back 263

To feel strong disapproval; to condemn; to be strongly against

Front 264

depose

Back 264

To remove from office; to remove from power; to dethrone

Front 265

deposition

Back 265

A statement or testimony under oath

Front 266

deprave

Back 266

To make wicked; to morally corrupt

Front 267

deride

Back 267

To ridicule; to speak or treat with contempt; to tease crually; to scorn

Front 268

derision

Back 268

Mockery, contempt, ridicule

Front 269

derivative

Back 269

Originating from another source; copied or adapted from something else

Front 270

descry

Back 270

To finally see; to catch sight of; to figure out through detection

Front 271

desiccated

Back 271

Dried; dehydrated; having all water removed from

Front 272

desuetude

Back 272

Disuse; inactivity

Front 273

desultory

Back 273

Disconnected; half-hearted; seemingly random

Front 274

detached

Back 274

Disconnected either emotionally or physically; separate and apart

Front 275

deterrent

Back 275

Something that discourages or dissuades

Front 276

detrimental

Back 276

Harmful; damaging; negative in some way

Front 277

devious

Back 277

Sneaky; underhanded

Front 278

devise

Back 278

To plan, create, or design, usually referring to the mental process of creation

Front 279

dexterity

Back 279

Skill, ability, or grace, especially physical or mental

Front 280

diaphanous

Back 280

Delicate and filmy to the point of being nearly transparent; gauzy

Front 281

diffuse

Back 281

Spread without specific direction; not concentrated (adjective) To scatter or spread out; to cause to spread; to thin out (verb)

Front 282

digression

Back 282

A turning away or diversion from the main topic

Front 283

dilate

Back 283

To expand; to make wider or larger

Front 284

dilatory

Back 284

Meant to cause delay or postpone; used for the purpose of putting off an event

Front 285

dilettante

Back 285

An amateur or uneducated follower of a field of interest, usually the arts; someone who has an interest in but no real knowledge about a field of interest

Front 286

diligence

Back 286

Persistent and attentive work or effort; determination about one's goals

Front 287

disabuse

Back 287

To convince or persuade someone an idea, thought, or belief is false

Front 288

disallow

Back 288

To state something is false; to refute

Front 289

discern

Back 289

To be able to recognize and understand differences, either visually or mentally

Front 290

disclose

Back 290

To share a secret; to make a secret known

Front 291

discomfit

Back 291

To embarrass or make uncomfortable; to defeat soundly

Front 292

disconsolate

Back 292

Deeply sad to the point of being unable to find or accept comfort

Front 293

discordant

Back 293

Disagreeing; in conflict; unpleasant or harsh, especially in describing sound

Front 294

discount

Back 294

To disregard, see as exaggerated, or dismiss

Front 295

discountenance

Back 295

Disapproval

Front 296

discourse

Back 296

A written or spoken communication; a verbal exchange

Front 297

discredit

Back 297

To damage a reputation; to cause disbelief; to cause another to appear untrustworthy

Front 298

discreet

Back 298

Careful; subtle; showing self-restraint

Front 299

discrepancy

Back 299

A difference between what is stated and what is fact; a difference between facts

Front 300

discretion

Back 300

The ability to act or think responsibly; the ability to act or behave prudently

Front 301

discriminating

Back 301

Able to show judgement and distinction; capable of making wise decisions

Front 302

disdain

Back 302

Held in contempt; looked down on

Front 303

disheveled

Back 303

Messy or untidy, usually used in describing physical appearence

Front 304

disinclination

Back 304

Reluctance or unwillingness to do something

Front 305

disinterested

Back 305

Lack of interest or curiosity; being emotionally removed from something

Front 306

dismiss

Back 306

To demand or allow someone to leave; or to write off; to consider unimportant or unworthy of attention

Front 307

disparate

Back 307

Essentially different or dissimilar; not easy or even impossible to compare

Front 308

disputation

Back 308

Formal debate or argument, often on an academic level

Front 309

disquiet

Back 309

A feeling of anxiety, worry, or unrest

Front 310

dissemble

Back 310

To create or hide behind a fake appearence, attitude, or personality

Front 311

dissent

Back 311

To disagree, usually with a formal or official statement

Front 312

dissolution

Back 312

The ending of an official organization or body; the breaking up of an established group

Front 313

distend

Back 313

To cause swelling of expansion from the inside

Front 314

distraught

Back 314

Deeply agitated; emotionally upset

Front 315

divergent

Back 315

Dividing off from a common point; moving in different directions from a single starting point

Front 316

divest

Back 316

To deprive, usually the power or rights of another person

Front 317

divulge

Back 317

To share or make known a secret or something else private

Front 318

doctrine

Back 318

The beliefs or principles held and taught by some governing body, usually political or religious

Front 319

document

Back 319

To supply written proof; to keep a paper trail

Front 320

dormant

Back 320

Having physical vital signs slowed dramatically; waiting to be roused

Front 321

dubious

Back 321

Uncertain; causing doubt; questionable

Front 322

dupe

Back 322

To decieve or trick someone (verb) or a person who has been deceived or tricked; someone easily fooled (noun)

Front 323

duplicity

Back 323

A state of being two-faced or deliberately deceptive

Front 324

earthenware

Back 324

Pottery made from specific, porous clay

Front 325

eccentric

Back 325

Following a different, unusual path; straying from the norm or that which is expected

Front 326

eclectic

Back 326

Drawing from or combining elements from many places or situations; multifaceted

Front 327

edacious

Back 327

Voracious; greedy for; devouring

Front 328

edible

Back 328

Able to be eaten; fit for consumption

Front 329

educe

Back 329

To bring out or draw out; to coax

Front 330

efface

Back 330

To erase or rub out

Front 331

effervesce

Back 331

To bubble up; emit small bubbles

Front 332

effete

Back 332

Worn out; out of date; lacking effectiveness; or overly refined, pretentious; characterized by affectation

Front 333

efficacy

Back 333

Effectiveness; the ability to create the desired effect

Front 334

effulgence

Back 334

Bright and radiant; glowing

Front 335

egotism

Back 335

An inflated sense of self-worth; a tendency to only speak or care about oneself

Front 336

egress

Back 336

The exit; the path out

Front 337

elated

Back 337

Joyous; extremely happy (adjective) or to make joyous or extremely happy (verb)

Front 338

elegy

Back 338

A poem or song written in honor of someone who has died

Front 339

elicit

Back 339

To draw out, usually a response from a person

Front 340

elusive

Back 340

Difficult to find, discover, or capture; just out of reach; unable to be grasped

Front 341

emaciate

Back 341

Make abnormally thin, usually due to starvation or illness

Front 342

embellish

Back 342

To decorate with ornamentation; to add to; to make more colorful or decorative

Front 343

embezzle

Back 343

To take or steal, usually money, that has been entrusted to one's care

Front 344

emblazon

Back 344

To display obviously; to put something somewhere it cannot be missed

Front 345

emend

Back 345

To alter or edit with the intent to improve

Front 346

emollient

Back 346

Any substance that softens or soothes the skin

Front 347

empathy

Back 347

The ability to identify, understand, and share the feelings of another

Front 348

empirical

Back 348

Based on varifiable facts rather than theory; fact based

Front 349

emulate

Back 349

To imitate or copy in a flattering way; to strive to be like

Front 350

encomium

Back 350

A formal speech or statement in praise of someone

Front 351

encumbrance

Back 351

A burden; something that makes another thing more difficult

Front 352

endorse

Back 352

To give or declare public approval; to give backing to; to support

Front 353

engender

Back 353

To cause, usually a feeling; to bring into existence

Front 354

engrave

Back 354

To etch or mark permanently; to carve into something hard

Front 355

enhance

Back 355

To intensify or increase the value, beauty, or look of something

Front 356

enigma

Back 356

A puzzle or mystery, usually a person; someone that is difficult to understand

Front 357

ennui

Back 357

Boredom; lack of interest, usually caused by having nothing to occupy one's time or thoughts

Front 358

entangle

Back 358

To tangle or twist together; to become a tangled mess

Front 359

entreat

Back 359

To ask earnestly; to request wholeheartedly; to plead

Front 360

ephemeral

Back 360

Short-lived or temporary; passing quickly

Front 361

epithet

Back 361

Phrase used to describe a person, often a nickname picked up by the general population

Front 362

epitome

Back 362

A person or thing that is the ideal all others are compared to

Front 363

equable

Back 363

Not easily disturbed or agitated; free from extreme emotional highs and lows

Front 364

equilibrium

Back 364

A state of emotional, mental, or physical balance

Front 365

equine

Back 365

Having to do with horses; relating to horses

Front 366

equitable

Back 366

Even, equal, or fair

Front 367

equivocal

Back 367

Uncertain; having more than one interpretation, often intentionally in order to mislead

Front 368

equivocate

Back 368

To intentionally use language that may deceive or be open to more than one interpretation

Front 369

eradicate

Back 369

To destroy, often at the very core of something; to eliminate completely

Front 370

errant

Back 370

Moving away or straying from what is expected or considered the norm

Front 371

erratic

Back 371

Uneven; having no set or fixed course, either in direction or behavior

Front 372

erroneous

Back 372

Incorrect or mistaken; full of errors

Front 373

erudite

Back 373

Having great knowledge and intelligence; well spoken and knowledgeable

Front 374

eschew

Back 374

To deliberately avoid using; to reject the use of

Front 375

espy

Back 375

To notice; catch sight of; most commonly used in poetry

Front 376

eulogy

Back 376

A speech praising another person, traditionally one who has just died

Front 377

euphemism

Back 377

A mild, inoffensive term for something that might be considered rude, inappropriate, or vulgar

Front 378

euphonious

Back 378

Pleasing to the ear; nice to listen to

Front 379

evince

Back 379

To show clearly; to reveal; to put out in the open

Front 380

evoke

Back 380

To call or bring forth; to bring to mind or remind

Front 381

exalt

Back 381

To praise someone or something; to hold someone or something in high regard

Front 382

exasperation

Back 382

Intense annoyance or irritation

Front 383

excerpt

Back 383

A short section taken from a larger piece of work, such as a movie, book, or other written work

Front 384

execute

Back 384

To carry out or perform an action or deed

Front 385

exemplary

Back 385

Close enough to ideal to serve as a model for others

Front 386

exemplify

Back 386

To be or serve as an example

Front 387

exhaustive

Back 387

Practically complete; including nearly all elements or aspects; thorough

Front 388

exhilerating

Back 388

Invigorating; happy, rejuvenating, and energetic

Front 389

exigent

Back 389

Demanding immediate attention, usually referring to an emergency or dangerous situation

Front 390

exorbitant

Back 390

Unreasonably high, generally refers to prices or financial cost

Front 391

expatiate

Back 391

To be long-winded; to speak or write at length on a topic

Front 392

expedient

Back 392

Practical as a way to meet one's own needs; serving one's own self-interest

Front 393

expedite

Back 393

To make something happen faster than usual; to rush or hurry

Front 394

expiate

Back 394

To right a wrong; to make up for an intentional error; to cancel out

Front 395

explicit

Back 395

Clearly and with no room for interpretation; obvious; with nothing hidden

Front 396

exploit

Back 396

To use, often unethically or immorally, toward one's own ends (verb) or a brave, adventurous deed (noun)

Front 397

expostulate

Back 397

To express strong disagreement with the goal of changing another person's mind or attitude

Front 398

expropriate

Back 398

To take away from the rightful owner, usually an action performed by a government

Front 399

extant

Back 399

Still in existence; not lost or destroyed, usually refers to a document

Front 400

extemporaneous

Back 400

Performed or spoken with little or no preparation; done without notes

Front 401

extenuating

Back 401

Something that lessens the seriousness or guilt of something else

Front 402

extinct

Back 402

No longer living or active

Front 403

extinguish

Back 403

To put out; to put an end to

Front 404

extirpate

Back 404

To destroy at the core; to tear out from the roots

Front 405

extol

Back 405

To praise greatly

Front 406

extort

Back 406

To obtain by threat or intimidation

Front 407

extraneous

Back 407

Extra; not essential; not pertaining to the central topic

Front 408

extricate

Back 408

To free from an entanglement or difficulty, may be physical or theoretical

Front 409

exuberance

Back 409

Joyous, unbridled enthusiasm

Front 410

facetious

Back 410

Treating serious issues in a humorous manner; lighthearted in a way that is not always appropriate

Front 411

facile

Back 411

Easy to accomplish, often superficial and disregarding of the full issue

Front 412

facilitate

Back 412

To bring about; to make something easier to happen

Front 413

factious

Back 413

Produced by the dissatisfaction within a larger group; internal strife or dissatisfaction

Front 414

fallacious

Back 414

Based on something misunderstood or incorrect

Front 415

fallacy

Back 415

Something that is untrue, usually believed due to false logic or bad information

Front 416

fallow

Back 416

Prepared for planting but left unsown in order to give the earth time to rejuvenate; inactive

Front 417

falter

Back 417

To hesitate or be unsteady, usually from fear; to lose courage and be unable to act

Front 418

fanaticism

Back 418

Extreme, often irrational belief in something, characterized by a criticism of differing viewpoints

Front 419

fathom

Back 419

To understand on a deep level; to truly comprehend

Front 420

fawn

Back 420

To flatter in a subservient manner in order to gain favor; may include putting oneself down in order to build the other person up

Front 421

feasible

Back 421

Possible to do or accomplish; easy to bring about

Front 422

feint

Back 422

A false, misleading move intended to draw attention away from the real action or activity, usually used in sporting events (noun) to make a misleading move with the intention of drawing away from the real action (verb)

Front 423

fell

Back 423

To cut or knock down; to topple

Front 424

felon

Back 424

A person who has committed a serious crime

Front 425

ferocity

Back 425

The state of being fierce or violent

Front 426

fervent

Back 426

Having great emotion or passion; caring a great deal

Front 427

fervid

Back 427

Intensely enthusiastic; wildly supportive or excited

Front 428

fervor

Back 428

Intense and passionate emotion

Front 429

fidelity

Back 429

Faithfulness and loyalty, expressed by continued support

Front 430

filibuster

Back 430

Delaying tactics, usually the making of long speeches, used in the legislature to postpone or prevent action being taken

Front 431

finesse

Back 431

Refinement and delicacy; grace and skill

Front 432

fitful

Back 432

Irregular; broken up; not steady

Front 433

flagrant

Back 433

Obviously bad or wrong; conspicuously offensive

Front 434

flamboyant

Back 434

Elaborate; highly energetic; tending to draw attention

Front 435

flippant

Back 435

Disrespectful but often humorous; not showing seriousness

Front 436

florid

Back 436

Flushed with color, usually reddish; ruddy

Front 437

flout

Back 437

To openly disregard or show contempt for

Front 438

fluidly

Back 438

In a graceful, flowing way

Front 439

foment

Back 439

To incite or instigate; to stir up, usually to action

Front 440

foolhardy

Back 440

Rash; uncaring of the consequences; daring in an irresponsible way

Front 441

foppish

Back 441

Overly concerned with looks, style, and mannerism

Front 442

forbearance

Back 442

Patience and self-control, especially when faced with an annoyance

Front 443

forfeit

Back 443

To surrender or give up (verb) or something that is surrendered or given up, usually in payment (noun)

Front 444

forgery

Back 444

Something that is a fake, made with the intention of presenting it as authentic

Front 445

forswear

Back 445

To deny, renounce, or agree to give up, usually in a formal setting such as under oath or before God

Front 446

fortuitous

Back 446

Occurring by lucky chance or happening; unexpected and unplanned but good

Front 447

fragile

Back 447

Easily broken or destroyed; flimsy

Front 448

frantic

Back 448

Overcome with fear, anxiety, or another negative emotion

Front 449

frivolous

Back 449

Carefree; having no serious purpose

Front 450

frugality

Back 450

The ability to spend very little money; the ability to save without wasting much

Front 451

fugacious

Back 451

Passing away quickly; fleeting; short lived

Front 452

fulminate

Back 452

To express violent disapproval; to protest vehemently

Front 453

fulsome

Back 453

Excessive and insincere, used to define flattery or praise

Front 454

furtive

Back 454

Hidden due to guilt or the belief that being seen or known would cause trouble

Front 455

gainsay

Back 455

To deny, contradict, or state something is false

Front 456

gamut

Back 456

The whole or complete range of something

Front 457

germane

Back 457

relevant to the topic at hand; pertinent to what is being discussed

Front 458

gesticulate

Back 458

to use gestures while speaking, especially for emphasis

Front 459

glacial

Back 459

Extremely cold, either in demeanor, manner, or temperature

Front 460

glib

Back 460

natural to the point of being off-handed; without much depth, shallow

Front 461

glimmer

Back 461

an intermittent flicker of light; or a faint glimpse

Front 462

glutton

Back 462

A person who eats an enormous amount; or a person who can withstand or even longs for a large amount of something

Front 463

gossamer

Back 463

Something light, flimsy, and delicate, often referring to a very delicate material

Front 464

gourmand

Back 464

a person who loves good food

Front 465

grandiloquence

Back 465

a pompous and pretentious way of speaking; a manner of talking that suggests the speaker is trying too hard to impress

Front 466

gratify

Back 466

to please or satisfy

Front 467

gratuitous

Back 467

unnecessary and uncalled for; unwanted; extra or unneeded

Front 468

gravity

Back 468

seriousness, great importance

Front 469

grievous

Back 469

devastating; causing severe pain, either emotional or physical

Front 470

gullible

Back 470

easily made to believe something false; easy to fool

Front 471

halcyon

Back 471

Idyllic; peaceful and calm; often used when describing a particular time from the past

Front 472

hamper

Back 472

to hinder or prevent free movement; to hold back, literally or figuratively

Front 473

harangue

Back 473

A long, critical speech or lecture

Front 474

hardy

Back 474

capable of living in just about any condition

Front 475

haughtiness

Back 475

arrogance; superiority; condescending pride

Front 476

headlong

Back 476

rashly and without much thought; or headfirst

Front 477

hedonist

Back 477

a person who believes only in the pursuit of pleasure

Front 478

hegemony

Back 478

leadership or dominance, usually in regards to government or the relationship between nations

Front 479

heinous

Back 479

particularly vicious or offensive on a societal level, not just a personal one

Front 480

herasy

Back 480

a belief or statement that goes against religious doctrine

Front 481

heretical

Back 481

characterized by beliefs that differ from accepted religious beliefs, generally holds a negative connotation

Front 482

heterogeneous

Back 482

diverse; consisting of many, dissimilar parts

Front 483

hirsute

Back 483

hairy, covered in hair

Front 484

homogeneous

Back 484

similar; consisting of many, similar parts

Front 485

hoodwink

Back 485

to trick or deceive; to fool; to put one over on

Front 486

hospitable

Back 486

friendly and welcoming; or having an open mind; being willing to hear new ideas

Front 487

hubris

Back 487

arrogant or overwhelming pride

Front 488

hypocrisy

Back 488

the act of saying one thing and doing another; the practice of stating a certain belief and then acting differently from that belief

Front 489

hypocritical

Back 489

To express feelings one doesn't really have or feel; to behave in a way one has criticized

Front 490

hypothetical

Back 490

based on the supposition; not real

Front 491

idiosyncrasy

Back 491

a characteristic specific to a certain person; a quirk

Front 492

idolatrous

Back 492

adoring a person or thing to the level of worship

Front 493

ignoble

Back 493

common, ordinary, or plain; not overly honorable or impressive

Front 494

illicit

Back 494

forbidden or illegal; prohibited; immoral or improper

Front 495

illusory

Back 495

not real; based on an illusion or wish; based in fantasy rather than fact

Front 496

imbroglio

Back 496

a complicated, entangled, confusing, and often embarrassing situation

Front 497

imbue

Back 497

influence deeply, pervade; inspired by; often used with "with" or "by"

Front 498

immaculate

Back 498

perfectly clean, spotless; free from stain or marking

Front 499

imminant

Back 499

about to happen; immediate; due to occur at any moment

Front 500

immutable

Back 500

set and stable; not subject to change

Front 501

impair

Back 501

to weaken or diminish; to make less effective

Front 502

impassive

Back 502

showing no emotion; having no particular expression

Front 503

impeccable

Back 503

meeting the highest standards; perfect

Front 504

impecunious

Back 504

having little money; poor

Front 505

impede

Back 505

to delay or prevent something from continuing

Front 506

imperative

Back 506

absolutely necessary; required; urgent

Front 507

imperturbable

Back 507

calm and collected at all times; unable to be shocked or disturbed

Front 508

impervious

Back 508

impossible to affect; immune to reaction

Front 509

impetus

Back 509

the motivation or stimulus behind movement or change

Front 510

impiety

Back 510

lack of reverence or respect, especially toward God

Front 511

implacable

Back 511

impossible or unable to appease; or relentless and unstoppable

Front 512

implausible

Back 512

unbelievable; not seeming reasonable or true

Front 513

implement

Back 513

a tool used for work; a way to achieve a goal (noun) or to put into practice or action, generally plans or ideas (verb)

Front 514

implicate

Back 514

to show a close connection between two things, usually in an incriminating criminal, or negative way

Front 515

implicit

Back 515

to show a close connection between two things, usually in an incriminating, criminal, or negative way

Front 516

importunate

Back 516

persistant to the point of being annoying

Front 517

importune

Back 517

to frequently and repeatedly ask, urge, or request something of another person, usually implies being annoying

Front 518

impregnable

Back 518

impossible to be attacked or brought down, referring to a structure, idea, or argument

Front 519

impromptu

Back 519

spur of the moment; happening without a plan, purpose, or rehearsal

Front 520

improvident

Back 520

showing little or no forethought or planning; not thinking of the future

Front 521

impudence

Back 521

Uncaringly disrespectful; offensively bold or forthright

Front 522

impunity

Back 522

exempt from punishment; free from consequence

Front 523

impute

Back 523

to assign or attribute, usually fault, blame, or responsibility, to another

Front 524

inadvertently

Back 524

accidentally; unintentionally; caused by being unintentionally negligent

Front 525

inane

Back 525

without substance; silly; pointless

Front 526

inchoate

Back 526

new enough to not be fully formed or established; at an early stage

Front 527

incidental

Back 527

happening along with but secondary to the major event; minor and less significant

Front 528

incisive

Back 528

accurate, sharp, and penetrating, in regards to a mind, concept, or theory

Front 529

incite

Back 529

to stir up or provoke; to encourage or urge on, usually violent behavior or dissension

Front 530

inclusive

Back 530

including all aspects; comprehensive; including the limits at the extremes

Front 531

incompatible

Back 531

unable to exist at the same time; incapable of living or associating in harmony

Front 532

incongruous

Back 532

out of place or inappropriate; deeply unexpected; not in line with what is expected or appropriate

Front 533

inconsequential

Back 533

unimportant; trivial

Front 534

incorrigible

Back 534

incapable of being reformed, corrected, or improved; used when describing a person or behavior

Front 535

incredulity

Back 535

the state of disbelief, doubt regarding truth; the state of being unwilling or unable to believe

Front 536

indelible

Back 536

impossible to erase, mark out, remove, or forget

Front 537

indict

Back 537

to charge or accuse of wrongdoing, often a crime but not necessarily

Front 538

indifferent

Back 538

having no feelings one way or another; uncaring or unconcerned

Front 539

indigenous

Back 539

naturally occurring in a specific place; native

Front 540

indigent

Back 540

impoverished; in need or wanting; poor

Front 541

indiscriminate

Back 541

happening randomly, without plan or logic; seemingly confused or without a specific pattern

Front 542

indistinct

Back 542

unclear, foggy, or hazy; not well defined, referring to a thought, concept, or physical entity

Front 543

indolence

Back 543

laziness; the state of avoiding work or exertion

Front 544

indomitable

Back 544

impossible to beat, conquer, or break down; unable to be subdued

Front 545

induce

Back 545

to cause or bring about; to convince or persuade someone to take an action

Front 546

indulgent

Back 546

being overly lenient; not being able to say no to someone's wishes or wants

Front 547

ineffable

Back 547

unable to be described in words, usually because something is so great, glorious, or overwhelming

Front 548

ineluctable

Back 548

unavoidable and inescapable; unable to turn back or stop

Front 549

inept

Back 549

having little or no skill, sense, or judgment; incompetent

Front 550

inert

Back 550

without the ability or desire to move; still and lethargic; showing or having no reaction

Front 551

inevitable

Back 551

unable to be stopped, unavoidable; certain to occur

Front 552

infelicitous

Back 552

inappropriate, not thought out, or poorly chosen

Front 553

infuse

Back 553

to fill up or permeate; to spread throughout

Front 554

ingénue

Back 554

an innocent young woman; often the role or character of an innocent young woman in a play

Front 555

ingenuous

Back 555

innocent, unworldly, and trusting; open to the point of being gullible; usually has a positive connotation rather than a negative one

Front 556

inherent

Back 556

a natural and vital part of something else; an essential part of a larger whole that cannot be removed

Front 557

inimical

Back 557

counterproductive; causing harm or the opposite of the desired effect

Front 558

innate

Back 558

existing from birth; natural and inborn; essentially a part of something coming naturally, not learned

Front 559

innocuous

Back 559

completely harmless to the point of being disregarded; tame; not offensive

Front 560

innovation

Back 560

a new creation, usually that moves a field forward in some way

Front 561

inscrutable

Back 561

difficult or impossible to understand or know; imcomprehensible; hard to get a handle on, as in a person, attitude, or concept

Front 562

insensible

Back 562

too small to be noticed or to register; imperceptible; or temporarily unconcious or without feeling, usually due to external factors such as alcohol, violence, or extreme temperature; or unaware, insensitive to or indifferent, uncaring; unfeeling emotionally

Front 563

insinuate

Back 563

to hint, suggest, or subtly make known, generally regarding

Front 564

insipid

Back 564

unexciting; lacking in flavor, life, or vigor; boring and dull

Front 565

insolvent

Back 565

unable to pay debts or what is owed; without money or assets

Front 566

insouciant

Back 566

casual indifference or unconcerned; nonchalant

Front 567

instigate

Back 567

to stir up or urge; to start, begin, or initiate

Front 568

insularity

Back 568

the state of being detached, either physically or emotionally; characterized by having little or no contact with others

Front 569

insuperable

Back 569

impossible to beat, overcome, or rise above, such as a challenge or obstacle

Front 570

insurrection

Back 570

a violent uprising or revolt against a government or group in power

Front 571

integrity

Back 571

the state of having and living by a strong sense of morals and values; walking the walk as well as talking the talk; or the state of being complete and strong, without noticeable weaknesses or flaws, generally refers to a structure or concept

Front 572

interim

Back 572

the time between the end of one event or period and the beginning of another (noun) or temporary, occurring between the end of one event and beginning of another (adjective)

Front 573

intervene

Back 573

to come between two things, often to prevent something from occurring

Front 574

intimidate

Back 574

to frighten or make nervous; to make someone afraid by using threats

Front 575

intractable

Back 575

hard to manage, control, or handle; stubborn; resistant

Front 576

intransigent

Back 576

unwilling to change or alter; uncompromising; stubbornly refusing to be persuaded or changed

Front 577

intrepid

Back 577

unusually courageous or bold; fearless; not able to be intimidated or frightened, may be used humorously or tongue in cheek

Front 578

introspection

Back 578

the honest examination of one's own thoughts, feelings, motivations, and beliefs

Front 579

intuitive

Back 579

based on gut feeling, instinct, or emotion rather than fact and specific information; or easily understood; user friendly

Front 580

inundate

Back 580

to overwhelm or flood; can be literal or figurative

Front 581

inure

Back 581

to become used to or accustomed to something, usually something very unpleasant, through repetition or constant exposure

Front 582

invalid

Back 582

someone who is disabled by sickness or injury, often used to describe a weak person who needs caretaking (noun) or not legitimate legally or factually, untrue; based on faulty logic or reasoning

Front 583

inveigh

Back 583

to write or speak out against something with great anger and passion; to be against an attitude, belief, or behavior in the strongest possible way; to condemn

Front 584

inveigle

Back 584

to gain or obtain something through flattery; to win over with sweet talk, often false or put on for the occasion

Front 585

invert

Back 585

to swap or reverse the order; or to turn inside out; to to turn upside down; or to turn inward

Front 586

inveterate

Back 586

long-standing, deep-rooted, and unlikely to change

Front 587

invidious

Back 587

likely to make others angry, jealous, or envious; creating hostility among others; or containing or hinting at discrimination

Front 588

invincible

Back 588

incapable of being beaten, subdued, or overcome

Front 589

iota

Back 589

an insignificant amount; so small as to be imperceptible. also the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet

Front 590

irascible

Back 590

angry and mean; easily made upset or angry

Front 591

irate

Back 591

enraged; extremely angry; furious

Front 592

ire

Back 592

fury; anger; wrath

Front 593

irksome

Back 593

annoying, irritating, and bothersome; tedious and boring to the point of annoyance

Front 594

ironic

Back 594

the opposite of what is expected, in an emotionally moving poignant way

Front 595

irreproachable

Back 595

beyond fault or criticism; perfect and without blemish

Front 596

itinerant

Back 596

characterized by moving from place to place, usually in order to perform one's job

Front 597

jocular

Back 597

good-natured, humorous; given to jokes; generally happy; funny and playful

Front 598

jovial

Back 598

joyful, happy, full of good cheer; friendly; sincerely warm emotionally

Front 599

jubilation

Back 599

extreme joy and happiness; nearly overwhelming elation; rejoicing

Front 600

judiciously

Back 600

marked by good sense; having sound judgment; using reason and logic to come to or behave in an appropriate way

Front 601

junta

Back 601

a group, usually military, that takes control of the government by force in order to rule the country

Front 602

kinetic

Back 602

relating to or characterized by motion

Front 603

kith

Back 603

friends and close acquaintances; almost always used in the phrase "kith and kin", meaning friends and family

Front 604

knobbly

Back 604

having lumps or bumps that resemble knobs

Front 605

kohl

Back 605

a black powder, used especially in Egypt and the Middle East, to darken and outline the eyes

Front 606

kowtow

Back 606

to act in a particularly subservient manner in hopes of gaining favor; to brownnose

Front 607

labyrinth

Back 607

a complicated and difficult path that is very hard to find the way through; a maze; or anything that is overly complex, difficult to navigate

Front 608

lachrymose

Back 608

crying, weeping, in tears; or sorrowful; prone to cause tears or crying

Front 609

lackadaisical

Back 609

lacking care or energy; carelessly lazy; unconcernedly indifferent

Front 610

lament

Back 610

to grieve or mourn, openly and often loudly; or to deeply regret; to feel great remorse (verb) or the feeling or expression of deep, heart-wrentching grief; or a work, such as a song or poem, expressing deep sadness, grief (noun)

Front 611

lampoon

Back 611

a work that makes fun of a person, event, or situation in a joking, satirical manner (noun) or to tease or make fun of something; to satirize or mock jokingly (verb)

Front 612

lascivious

Back 612

feeling or showing overt, inappropriate, and usually offensive lust or sexual desire

Front 613

lassitude

Back 613

the state of being overly tired, drained, or lacking energy; physically or mentally tired and worn out

Front 614

latent

Back 614

in existence but hidden or unknown; potential; undiscovered or undeveloped

Front 615

laudable

Back 615

deserving of praise; commendable; noteworthy

Front 616

laudatory

Back 616

giving or expressing praise or compliments; complimentary

Front 617

lavish

Back 617

abundant and overflowing; extravagant; excessively lush (adj.) or to shower with abundance; to give without reserve (verb)

Front 618

legacy

Back 618

anything, material or otherwise, handed down from one generation to the next

Front 619

lenient

Back 619

permissive and indulgent; inclined not to be harsh or strict

Front 620

lethargic

Back 620

lacking in energy; tired; slow and sluggish

Front 621

levee

Back 621

a structure built to hold back a body of water; a dike; a barrier created to prevent an area from being flooded by a river or sea

Front 622

levity

Back 622

humor or a joking manner, often in an inappropraite place or time; amusement; foolishness

Front 623

lexicon

Back 623

the vocabulary or words used by a specific group or within a specific field

Front 624

libel

Back 624

any publication, be it written word or picture, that is false and damaging to a person's reputation or well-being (noun) or to write or publish lies or other false information about a person (verb)

Front 625

licentious

Back 625

having little or no care for rules and morals when it comes to sexual behaviors

Front 626

lien

Back 626

the legal right to hold a person's property until a debt is paid

Front 627

linger

Back 627

to stay in a place longer than necessary, usually because of a reluctance to leave; to take one's time; or to hang around; to persist

Front 628

listless

Back 628

having no energy or enthusiasm; uncaring and disinterested; having low spirits

Front 629

lithe

Back 629

graceful, moving with ease; flexible; limber; willowy

Front 630

lobbyist

Back 630

a professional hired by a group to persuade politicians to pass laws and regulations the group favors

Front 631

lofty

Back 631

very tall or very high; imposing; or noble; of high character; impressive and respectable; or self-important; arrogant; pompous

Front 632

longevity

Back 632

long life; duration, usually of life; or an overly long period of time within a position or situation

Front 633

loquacious

Back 633

talkative; excessively wordy; prone to going on and on

Front 634

lucid

Back 634

clear and easy to understand; well explained or thought out; or sane and mentally stable, used to describe moments between bouts of delusion or unconsciousness; aware of one's surroundings and situation

Front 635

luminary

Back 635

a person who inspires or influences others, often but not necessarily in a specific group; or a celestial object that gives off natural light

Front 636

lurid

Back 636

shocking, explicit, or gruesome; graphic beyond necessity; or glaringly ornate; overdone with color, usually creating an unnatural, often unpleasant effect

Front 637

lustrous

Back 637

glowing, as from an inner light; shining and bright; having a soft light

Front 638

luxuriant

Back 638

thick and healthy growth; lush; or characterized by luxury; decadent and delightful

Front 639

malcontent

Back 639

a person who is discontented or unhappy, generally with the government and status quo and makes those views known through words and actions; a rebel (noun) or dissatisfied and disgusted, especially with authority or the government; discontented (adj.)

Front 640

malevolent

Back 640

characterized by having, showing, or carrying ill-will and a desire to do harm to others; evil; wishing others harm

Front 641

malicious

Back 641

deliberately and intentionally harmful; knowingly hurtful and damaging

Front 642

malign

Back 642

to make intentionally harmful, cruel, and often untrue statements about a person; to criticize in an intentionally harsh or hurtful way (v.) or influential in an evil way; characterized by having evil nature or intent (adj.)

Front 643

malleable

Back 643

able to shape and form without breaking, referring to a substance; or unformed; impressionable; easily swayed or taught; able to be manipulated

Front 644

manifest

Back 644

plainly and clearly obvious; easily seen or understood (adj.) or to express, show, or reveal; to personify by one's actions; to demonstrate (v.) or the list of cargo and/or passengers on a ship or plane (n.)

Front 645

manumit

Back 645

to set free, as from slavery, bondage, or servitude

Front 646

mar

Back 646

to damage or disfigure; to spoil or cause harm to something (v.) or a mark or spot that spoils the overall look, situation, or experience (n.)

Front 647

martial

Back 647

having to do with or regarding war or soldiering; suggestive of war and/or being a soldier; warlike; soldier-like

Front 648

maudlin

Back 648

excessively sentimental, usually to the point of tears, often involving the element of self-pity; weepy for sad, sentimental, and perhaps self-absorbed reasons; often associated with drunkenness

Front 649

maverick

Back 649

a freethinking, slightly rebellious person; a person who refuses to conform to a particular idea or standard; or a calf or other livestock that has yet to be branded, traditionally considered the property of whoever first brands it if it roams free (n.) or independent and freethinking; slightly radical or rebellious (adj.)

Front 650

mawkish

Back 650

sentimental in a sappy, even offensive way; sickly sweet emotion

Front 651

meander

Back 651

to move or flow in a random path; to wander aimlessly without a set direction

Front 652

mellifluous

Back 652

pleasent sounding; flowing and musical sounding; flowing sweetly, smoothly

Front 653

mendacity

Back 653

lies; untruthfulness; dishonesty

Front 654

mendicant

Back 654

dependent upon alms or charity for a living (adj.) or one who asks for alms or charity, usually a man from a religious group, in order to live (n.)

Front 655

mercenary

Back 655

solely interested in monetary gain, even at the expense of morals and ethics (adj.) or a soldier hired by another country who is interested only in the money offered, not the politics or ideals involved (n.)

Front 656

meretricious

Back 656

attractive on the surface but having no real value; attracting attention in a gaudy and flashy way; or reasonable to believe yet insincere and fake; phony, referring to an argument

Front 657

mesmerize

Back 657

to entrance or enthrall; to hypnotize; to strongly attract

Front 658

meticulous

Back 658

having or showing great concern for details; taking great care; being precise

Front 659

mettle

Back 659

the ability to cope well with adversity or challenges; courage; spirit and heart; the ability to rise to an occasion

Front 660

mettlesome

Back 660

having an unbroken spirit; characterized by courage and heart

Front 661

microcosm

Back 661

a situation, community, or system that represents a larger whole; a smaller, representative sample

Front 662

mien

Back 662

bearing or conduct; look or appearence, especially as it relates to personality or character

Front 663

mirth

Back 663

great joy, happiness, and cheer, especially expressed through laughter

Front 664

misanthrope

Back 664

someone who dislikes humanity and people in general

Front 665

mischievous

Back 665

playful in a naughty manner; having a fondness for causing trouble in a cheerful and prankish way

Front 666

miscreant

Back 666

someone who behaves badly; a person who breaks the law or behaves in other socially unacceptable ways

Front 667

miser

Back 667

a person, usualy wealthy, who saves money to an extreme degree; someone who spends as little money as possible for the purpose of keeping the wealth

Front 668

miserly

Back 668

characterized by greediness, lack of generosity, or penny-pinching

Front 669

misnomer

Back 669

an unsuitable and incorrect or misleading name for any given object

Front 670

mitigate

Back 670

to make easier; to soothe; to alleviate; to lessen a burden

Front 671

moderation

Back 671

characterized by not being at either extreme; an avoidance of excess

Front 672

modicum

Back 672

a small amount, often used when describing something valuable or desired; a token or trivial amount

Front 673

mollify

Back 673

to soften temper or anger; to soothe anxiety; to relieve tension in a situation

Front 674

molt

Back 674

to shed skin, fur, feathers, or other outer covering in order to allow new growth

Front 675

monolithic

Back 675

massive and imposing in size, either literal or figurative, when literal, often formed from a single piece of stone or other material; large, solid, and imposing

Front 676

monomania

Back 676

an obsession or intense preoccupation with a single subject matter

Front 677

mordant

Back 677

sharp, sarcastic, and piercing, used when describing wit or humor

Front 678

morose

Back 678

dejected or downhearted in a sullen, moody way; moody and depressed; brooding

Front 679

mosaic

Back 679

a piece of artwork created by attaching pieces of glass, tile, stone, or other substance on a surface in a pattern or design

Front 680

multifarious

Back 680

extremely diverse; having many aspects to its nature; created from differing parts

Front 681

munificent

Back 681

showing great and overwhelming generosity; giving liberally

Front 682

myriad

Back 682

an enormous amount; an incalculable amount; and indefinite number

Front 683

nadir

Back 683

in astronomy, the point directly underneath the observer on the sphere; or the lowest point possible; extreme adversity; the rock bottom

Front 684

nascent

Back 684

just coming to be; newly but not yet fully developed; beginning to grow and show signs of potential; generally used when describing a process or organization

Front 685

nebulous

Back 685

foggy, cloudy, or hazy; unclear and undefined; blurred; indistinct; may be used literally to describe atmosphere or figuratively to describe concepts, words, or ideas

Front 686

nefarious

Back 686

wicked or evil; villainous; may imply infamous as well as cruel

Front 687

neologism

Back 687

a word or phrase that has just been created; "to coin a phrase"; a new word

Front 688

noisome

Back 688

offensive and foul; harmful, possibly toxic; usually used when describing an odor, smell, or fumes

Front 689

nominal

Back 689

insignificant, trifling, or token; or existing for show but having no real depth; or lower than actual or expected value; or having to do with a specific name

Front 690

nostrum

Back 690

any medicine with unknown ingredients and results; usually fake medicine that promises the quick fix; medicine touted by its creator as a cure-all but with no scientific backing or proof; or a popular but unproven or ineffective solution to problems or evils

Front 691

notoriety

Back 691

being known for an undesirable reason

Front 692

nugatory

Back 692

insignificant; having little importance; pointless or without purpose; or ineffective or meaningless; powerless; figuratively, without teeth; worthless

Front 693

obdurate

Back 693

stubborn and refusing to change, especially when faced with the gentler or more compassionate option

Front 694

obfuscate

Back 694

to intentionally make something unclear or confusing; to purposefully make facts or a situation difficult to understand

Front 695

obstreperous

Back 695

stubborn to the point of defiance; intentionally difficult to handle; noisy and aggressive

Front 696

obtrude

Back 696

to intrude or become noticeable in an unpleasant, unwelcome way; to force upon

Front 697

obviate

Back 697

to get rid of, eliminate, or make unnecessary; to do away with a need or necessity; or to prevent from occurring; to forestall

Front 698

occlude

Back 698

to obscure or block the path of; or to stop up, close, or make unpassable

Front 699

odious

Back 699

disgusting, repellant, reprehensible; causing extreme dislike or displeasure

Front 700

odium

Back 700

contempt and disgust for a person, concept, or idea, often widespread and commonly felt

Front 701

officious

Back 701

overly eager to offer advice or assistance, to the point of being annoying; intrusively helpful, especially regarding trivial matters

Front 702

ominous

Back 702

hinting at something evil or dangerous; presenting a feeling of foreboding; eerie

Front 703

onus

Back 703

a difficult responsibility or duty; obligation; burden of proof

Front 704

opportunist

Back 704

a person who takes advantage of a situation to achieve his or her own goals, regardless of the consequences

Front 705

opprobrium

Back 705

harsh and scornful criticism; extreme disapproval; or disgrace and shame created by acting in a particularly dishonorable way, usually a public disgrace

Front 706

orator

Back 706

a skilled public speaker; one who makes speeches

Front 707

ornate

Back 707

highly decorated; showy, flashy and intricate; heavily ornamented; or flowery and complex, referring to writing style

Front 708

oscillate

Back 708

to swing steadily at an uninterrupted pace; to move back and forth at a regular speed; or to be unable to decide between two choices; to waver between separate and often opposing ideas

Front 709

ossify

Back 709

to become set in one's ways; to become rigid and unwilling or unable to change; to become unalterable

Front 710

ostracism

Back 710

the act of banishing a person or subgroup from a larger group or community

Front 711

ostrasize

Back 711

to banish or exclude, from a group, community, or society

Front 712

pacifist

Back 712

a person who believes that war and violence cannot ever be justified under any circumstance and that all disagreements can and should be settled in a nonviolent way

Front 713

paean

Back 713

a song or other expresion of great joy and praise

Front 714

palate

Back 714

the roof of the mouth; or appreciation for; taste or liking

Front 715

palatial

Back 715

easily compared to a palace; large and impressive

Front 716

palliate

Back 716

to make a crime or wrongdoing less severe, serious, or harsh; or to moderate or alleviate, generally fears, concerns, or suspicions; or to remove the symptoms of a disease or an illness without providing a cure

Front 717

palpable

Back 717

able to be felt, touched, or seen by humans; tangible; or so intense, it can practically be felt, touched, or seen; or obvious, plain, clearly seen

Front 718

panacea

Back 718

a cure or remedy for every ailment or discomfort

Front 719

panegyric

Back 719

a formal statement of praise, usually made in the form of a public speech or a published work (n.) or praising; highly complimentary (adj.)

Front 720

panoply

Back 720

a large, sometimes complete, impressive display or collection; or complete ceremonial attire; or a protective covering

Front 721

pariah

Back 721

a social outcast; one who is completely rejected from a community or a society at large

Front 722

paroxysm

Back 722

a sudden and unexpected display of emotion; or an unexpected convulsion, generally related to a disease or illness

Front 723

partisan

Back 723

an avid and devout follower of a group, cause, or political party (n.) or devoted to a particular cause to the point of being biased against anything else (adj.)

Front 724

pathos

Back 724

a certain quality or experience that invokes or creates feelings of pity and sympathy, often used to describe a reaction to artwork; or the pity and sympathy created by such art

Front 725

peccadillo

Back 725

a small, virtually insignificant error; a petty misdeed or sin

Front 726

pedagogy

Back 726

the method and principles of teaching, especially subjects requiring intellectual thought as opposed to straight facts or rote learning; or the teaching profession, especially at postsecondary levels

Front 727

pedantic

Back 727

characterized by a narrow, somewhat petty, attention to facts and book learning; focused only on the trivial facts of a certain topic; marked by a tiresome need to prove book smarts about a topic

Front 728

pellucid

Back 728

clear, see-through, admitting light; able to look through; or easy to understand; clearly stated; plain and obvious

Front 729

penchant

Back 729

a strong liking; an intense but healthy interest in a subject matter; a tendency to participate in a specific even with gusto and enjoyment

Front 730

penurious

Back 730

very poor, bordering on destitute; unable to pay for common necessities; or unwilling to spend money for indulgences; stingy; or barren or unfertile; not productive; can be used literally to describe land or figuratively to describe a mindset

Front 731

penury

Back 731

destitution; extreme poverty; financial want; or barrenness; having no resources or ability; infertile

Front 732

peregrination

Back 732

a trip taken by foot; a traveling or wandering, usually by foot

Front 733

peremptory

Back 733

refusing to allow debate, conversation, or refusal; requiring immediae attention and action without question; or urgent; characterized by being a command, not a request; or offensively arrogant and self-assured; bossy; self-important

Front 734

perennial

Back 734

lasting for a long period of time, perhaps even indefinitely; rejuvenating or reoccurring (adj.) or a plant that grows three or more seasons; or anything that reoccurs year after year (n.)

Front 735

perfidy

Back 735

treason or treachery; a deliberate and intentional breach of trust; an act of betrayal

Front 736

perfunctory

Back 736

managed or handled without care or particular thought; done because it has to be done, not because it is cared about; phoned in; done with indifference

Front 737

peripatetic

Back 737

moving about; changing locations frequently; staying in place for short periods of time; traveling, traditionally by foot but common usage is more generalized

Front 738

peripheral

Back 738

on the edge; regarding the outer limits or boundaries; or being a secondary or les important concern; of less importance; not the main focus

Front 739

permeate

Back 739

to fill a space; to spread throughout; to flow or pass through

Front 740

pernicious

Back 740

harmful in a slow, subtle way; dangerous and sly at the same time; causing damage in a slow, constant way; or deadly; highly destructive

Front 741

perpetuate

Back 741

to prolong or cause to continue; to keep something going, usually an attitude or belief

Front 742

persiflage

Back 742

pleasant, joking chatter; gentle and good-natured teasing; lighthearted mockery; or a lighthearted, easy way of discussing even serious matters

Front 743

perturbation

Back 743

anxiety; the state of being worried or disturbed; uneasiness

Front 744

peruse

Back 744

to read, examine, or study with great care and attention to detail; to study thoroughly

Front 745

pervade

Back 745

to exist throughout; to spread completely

Front 746

pessimism

Back 746

a gloomy mindset; the habit of seeing only the negative aspects of things; an attitude that the worst will always come of every situation

Front 747

petrified

Back 747

frightened or scared to the point of being unable to move, function, or think; or to turn an organic matter, such as wood, into a stonelike substance, generally caused by great lengths of time and pressure

Front 748

petulant

Back 748

petty, childish, and sullen; demandingly pouty

Front 749

phenomena

Back 749

unusual, extraordinary events or happenings; significant and remarkable occurrences; the plural of phenomenon; or any happenings, occurrences, or events that can be recognized by any of the five senses

Front 750

philanthropist

Back 750

a person who donates money, time, and resources to improve the overall welfare of humanity

Front 751

phlegmatic

Back 751

having an even, level temperment; unemotional; calm and difficult to fluster

Front 752

physiognomy

Back 752

the facial features, generally used when using the facial features to tell a person's character or ethnic background; or the skill of reading or judging a person by his or her facial features; or the overall features, character, and look of any particular subject, living or nonliving

Front 753

piety

Back 753

the state of being religious, faithful, and devout

Front 754

pious

Back 754

having extreme religious devotion and faith; marked by strict moral code, usually based on religious belief; or marked by false faith or hypocritical devotion; falsely devout; or commendable, admirable, and honorable; praiseworthy

Front 755

pique

Back 755

to make someone feel irritated or put out; to wound someone's pride; or to create, stir up, or arouse; or to pride oneself on (v.) or a feeling of irritation or being put out, caused by a perceived slight or insult (n.)

Front 756

pitfall

Back 756

an unrecognized or hidden source of trouble, difficulty, or danger; or a covered hole in the ground acting as a trap

Front 757

pith

Back 757

the white, spongy lining inside the rind of many citrus fruits; or the soft center of the stem of a plant; or the heart of the matter; the essence or core of a thought, concept, or idea; the important part

Front 758

platitude

Back 758

a statement that has been used so often it has lost any meaning or significance; a cliché; an unoriginal, obvious remark or observation, often made as if it were original or meaningful

Front 759

plenary

Back 759

entire and complete; full; without reservation; or attended by all members and qualified participants (adj.) or a meeting attended by all members, who would otherwise meet in smaller committees on a more regular basis (n.)

Front 760

plethora

Back 760

excess; overabundance; an embarrassing amount

Front 761

plumb

Back 761

to figure out the depth or vertical alignment using a specific piece of metal; or to make straight; or to explore or experience completely; or to be employed or perform the work of a plumber (v.) or a metal weight at the end of a line used to measure water depth or vertical alignment (n.) or perfectly upright; vertical; straight up and down; or complete, absolute, and unquestionable; used only in a very informal conversation (adj.) or perfectly; directly; squarely; used only in a very informal conversation; or completely; absolutely; entirely; used only in very informal conversation (adv.)

Front 762

polyglot

Back 762

made up of or containing more than one language; or being able to communicate fluently in many different languages (adj.) or a person who can communicate and is comfortable with several different languages (n.)

Front 763

ponderous

Back 763

clumsy and slow, often due to great weight; laborious; or unnecessarily solemn and serious; boring; emotionally tiring and weighty

Front 764

portent

Back 764

a sign or omen; an indication that something unusual or important, although often evil or bad luck, is about to occur

Front 765

pragmatic

Back 765

handling things in a straightforward, logical manner; concerned only with facts; practical

Front 766

prattle

Back 766

to chatter mindlessly; pointless, superficial talk (v.) or small talk; light, unimportant conversation (n.)

Front 767

precarious

Back 767

dangerously unstable; likely to fall, slip or collapse; hazardous; or dependent on unknown qualities; uncertain; shaky or questionable; or based on questionable, unproven theories or concepts

Front 768

precedent

Back 768

a previous event that can be used as a guide for handling a current, similar event; earlier actions that can be used to justify taking similar actions in a similar situation

Front 769

precipitate

Back 769

to fall or be thrown from a great height; or to happen quickly, usually unexpectedly and often without thought or planning; or to pour from clouds, to rain, snow, sleet, or hail (v.) or characterized by speeding ahead without caution; rushing headlong without thought or concern; or marked by acting with unnecessary and unwise haste; reckless; or unexpected, sudden, and without plan (adj.)

Front 770

preclude

Back 770

to take an action that makes something impossible; to actively prevent; or to be impossible due to a pre-existing condition

Front 771

precocious

Back 771

showing an early maturity; marked by earlier than usual mental development

Front 772

precursor

Back 772

an event or concept that indicates what is to follow; or one that comes before; a forerunner

Front 773

predator

Back 773

a creature that hunts and feeds on other beings for its own survival; or one who destroys, hunts, hurts, or injures another, especially for selfish purposes

Front 774

predecessor

Back 774

one who comes before another; the person who held the office or position before the person now in the role; or anything that has come before the current item

Front 775

predilection

Back 775

a preference; an established liking or fondness for something

Front 776

preen

Back 776

to primp; to take extra care with grooming and appearence; or to clean fur or feathers, referring to an animal's bathing; or to boast, brag or be otherwise self-congratulatory

Front 777

presage

Back 777

a warning or foretelling that something bad is going to occur; an omen (n.) or to warn or predict something bad is going to occur (v.)

Front 778

pretentious

Back 778

showy in a way that tries to impress; characterized by attempting to appear grander, more important, or worthy of more esteem than is actually merited

Front 779

preternatural

Back 779

extreme or extraordinary; far above and beyond what is normal

Front 780

prevalent

Back 780

widespread and accepted; commonly occurring, especially at a specific time and place

Front 781

prevaricate

Back 781

to beat around the bush; to act or speak in a manner that avoids the truth

Front 782

probity

Back 782

absolute integrity; the state of having strong principles and living by them; honor and honesty

Front 783

proclivity

Back 783

a tendency to behave or act in a certain way

Front 784

procrastination

Back 784

the habit of putting something off until the very last minute; the act of putting off or delaying until later

Front 785

prodigal

Back 785

extravagant in spending habits; financially irresponsible and wasteful; or giving an impressive, generous amount; withholding nothing (adj. or a person who spends large amounts of money frivolously and irresponsibly (n.)

Front 786

prodigious

Back 786

enormous; much larger in scope than usual; or impressive; awe-inspiring; extraordinary

Front 787

profane

Back 787

marked by cursing, inappropriate, and offensive words; or nonreligious; secular; or characterized by being insulting to religions or faith (adj.) or to treat religion or faith in an insulting and disrespectful manner (v.)

Front 788

profligacy

Back 788

indulgence; the tendency to spend money unwisely, generally on luxury of unnecessary items, and without regard to budget concerns

Front 789

profuse

Back 789

given in large amounts; handed out freely, with little reservation

Front 790

proliferation

Back 790

rapid growth or increase in numbers, parts, or aspects

Front 791

prolific

Back 791

creating large numbers of works or results; or reproducing in large quantities

Front 792

prolix

Back 792

excessively long or wordy, used when describing writings or a speech

Front 793

propensity

Back 793

having a natural tendency to behave in a certain way

Front 794

propitious

Back 794

presenting a strong chance of success; favorable; appearing to be lucky

Front 795

prosaic

Back 795

plain, straightforward, and easy to understand; not flowery or poetic; or dull, boring, and unimaginative

Front 796

proscribe

Back 796

to prohibit, ban, or forbid; or to declare illegal or immoral; to openly condemn

Front 797

prosperity

Back 797

the state of being financially well-off; financialy successful and comfortable

Front 798

protuberant

Back 798

sticking out; bulging; swollen out

Front 799

provident

Back 799

making financial arrangements for the future; planning for and thinking about the future

Front 800

provincial

Back 800

unsophisticated; not terribly educated; unworldly; may imply narrow mindedness or a certain degree of naivety

Front 801

provocative

Back 801

marked by an ability to excite, intrigue, or cause a reaction, usually intentionally; or intended to arouse sexually

Front 802

proximity

Back 802

closeness or nearness, either in time or actual distance; next to

Front 803

prudence

Back 803

the act of showing care and being concerned for the future; discretion; the ability to act in a way to avoid embarrassment, discomfort, or awkward situations

Front 804

punctilious

Back 804

very aware of the rules of conduct or etiquette; knowledgeable

Front 805

pungent

Back 805

marked by a sharp, strong, or even bitter taste or smell; or penetrating; nearly viciously to the point; sharp

Front 806

pusillanimous

Back 806

cowardly; lacking courage; fearful or spineless

Front 807

putrefy

Back 807

to rot and produce a foul odor; to decay and smell bad

Front 808

pyre

Back 808

a pile of wood, twigs, and other flammable material, usually used to burn a corpse as part of a funeral ritual

Front 809

quaff

Back 809

to drink deeply with great gusto and enjoyment, usually an alcoholic beverage

Front 810

qualm

Back 810

a feeling of uneasiness; a feeling of doubt, worry, or concern

Front 811

quandary

Back 811

a state of confusion or uncertainty about how to handle a difficult situation; a dilemma

Front 812

quell

Back 812

to put an end to, often by the use of or threat of force; to force to stop; or to silence or subdue; or to ease; to calm; to make quiet

Front 813

query

Back 813

a question or inquiry, generally used in formal situations (n.) or to ask a question, especially when expressing a doubt or concern; to request a clarification

Front 814

quibble

Back 814

a minor objection or criticism, especially over a trivial matter (n.) or to find fault through nitpicking (v.)

Front 815

quiescant

Back 815

marked by inactivity; being in a period of rest, usually temporary

Front 816

quotidian

Back 816

everyday, ordinary, or commonplace

Front 817

raconteur

Back 817

an excellent storyteller; one who tells amusing and interesting stories

Front 818

ramify

Back 818

to have or cause complications; to cause further difficulties to develop

Front 819

rancor

Back 819

long-standing anger; bitterness, especially when held and nurtured over time

Front 820

rapacious

Back 820

greedy in an aggressive way; wanting more than one's fair share

Front 821

rarefy (rarify)

Back 821

to become thin; to make less dense; to weaken; or to have less oxygen than the norm, generally used to describe air at high altitudes

Front 822

raucous

Back 822

loud and unruly; rowdy; disruptive and noisy

Front 823

raze

Back 823

to flatten; to completely destroy; to tear down to the ground

Front 824

reactionary

Back 824

marked by opposing liberal political and social views; characterized by being against reform (adj.) or a person who holds very conservative views and beliefs (n.)

Front 825

rebuff

Back 825

a deliberately cold and abrupt rejection or refusal (n.) or to reject in a particularly cold or unfeeling way; or to push back; to repel (v.)

Front 826

rebuttal

Back 826

a statement or speech given to contradict or answer a statement or speech that has come before it

Front 827

recant

Back 827

to take back a statement; to vow one to longer believes a specific opinion or idea previously believed, generally made under pressure

Front 828

reciprocal

Back 828

given in return; exchanged; felt or performed by each side

Front 829

reciprocity

Back 829

the practice of exchanging goods, services, or ideals with another for mutual benefit; an exchange in which both parties gain

Front 830

recondite

Back 830

difficult to understand; outside of common knowledge; or hidden; out of view; concealed

Front 831

recrudescent

Back 831

to start up again; to reoccur after a period of being dormant; to come out of remission

Front 832

rectify

Back 832

to set straight or make right; to make amends by correcting the situation

Front 833

redoubtable

Back 833

instilling fear or respect; causing awe; or worthy of respect and recognition

Front 834

redress

Back 834

to remedy or make right; to make amends for or to (v.) or compensation; a remedy fro a wrong done (n.)

Front 835

refractory

Back 835

openly and stubbornly resistant to authority or control; or resistant to heat or other stimulus; or difficult to treat, referring to a medical condition

Front 836

refulgent

Back 836

shining brightly; as if lit by the sun

Front 837

refute

Back 837

to prove false or incorrect; to present opposing facts

Front 838

regicide

Back 838

the intentional killing of a king; murder or assassination of a king

Front 839

reiterate

Back 839

to repeat something, usually for clarification or emphasis

Front 840

relegate

Back 840

to refer to another; to pass off responsibility for; or to demote; to lower in rank or responsibility; or to banish or expel; to put in an obscure or out of the way place

Front 841

remonstrate

Back 841

to forcefully protest; to argue against

Front 842

remorse

Back 842

deep regret or guilt for actions taken in the past

Front 843

renege

Back 843

to go back on promise; to fail to keep a commitment

Front 844

renounce

Back 844

to formally give up on a claim, title, or position; or to refuse to support any further; to deny or refuse to obey any longer

Front 845

repast

Back 845

a meal

Front 846

repine

Back 846

to complain; to be discontented; to express dissatisfaction; or to long for; to miss

Front 847

reprehensible

Back 847

truly disgusting or deplorable; deserving of scorn

Front 848

reprove

Back 848

to reprimand or scold; to express displeasure

Front 849

repudiate

Back 849

to claim as invalid; to reject as being valid; or to vigorously deny as having any truth; to state something is completely false

Front 850

requisite

Back 850

necessary; required; vital (adj.) or that which is required; something essential (n.)

Front 851

requite

Back 851

to repay, as a debt; or to return an emotion; to feel the same way

Front 852

rescind

Back 852

to take back; to make void; to negate

Front 853

resilient

Back 853

able to bounce back after a problem or difficulty; unbroken emotionlly and spiritually; or springy; able to reshape after being squeezed or misshapen

Front 854

resolution

Back 854

firm, unwavering determination; or a decision to do something; or the clarity or detail that can be seen in an electronically produced image; or the part of a book, movie, or story in which the plot is wrapped up; or an act or official suggestion presented to an official, voting body

Front 855

resonance

Back 855

the quality of being resounding or having great meaning; or deep, rich tones

Front 856

resplendent

Back 856

unusually beautiful and dazzling; decorated in a breathtaking way

Front 857

restrained

Back 857

marked by emotional control or a cool manner; dispassionate (adj.) or held in place; physically controlled; kept from freedom of movement (v.)

Front 858

retinue

Back 858

the group of employees accompanying an important person

Front 859

retract

Back 859

to draw back in; to pull back; or to take back a statement

Front 860

reverence

Back 860

a deep, loving respect or awe; great admiration combined with love; or an act that shows respect, often a bow or curtsy

Front 861

reverent

Back 861

characterized by showing respect; worthy of admiration

Front 862

rigor

Back 862

something hard to live through or manage; difficulty; difficult to endure; or strictness; extreme hardship

Front 863

risible

Back 863

funny or amusing; worthy of laughter

Front 864

robust

Back 864

healthy, vigorous; or strong; well-built; able to withstand stress; or characterized by fullness and depth; hearty

Front 865

rotund

Back 865

plump or chubby; curvy; referring to a person; or round; shaped as a sphere or orb; referring to an item or structure

Front 866

ruffian

Back 866

a person who is tough and disorderly, particularly one who commits a crime

Front 867

sage

Back 867

a wise person, usually implies wisdom gained from age (n.) or characterized by a sense of calm and great wisdom (adj.)

Front 868

salacious

Back 868

having to do with lust or sexual desire; bawdy; dealing with sexual matters in an indecent way

Front 869

salient

Back 869

the most important or striking aspect; the part that demands the most attention

Front 870

salubrious

Back 870

promoting or encouraging health and well-being

Front 871

salutary

Back 871

intending to be helpful or to repair a situation; healing; having a good result

Front 872

sanction

Back 872

to give formal or official approval; or to punish with the intent of changing a behavior, generally on the national or international level

Front 873

sardonic

Back 873

cynically ironic; bitterly humorous

Front 874

satiate

Back 874

to satisfy completely; to want or need no more of a longing or appetite

Front 875

saturate

Back 875

to drench with a liquid until no more can be held; to soak completely; to totally fill

Front 876

satyr

Back 876

a character from Greek mythology with the torso and head of a man but the ears, legs, and horns of a goat, known for enjoying self-indulgent celebrations

Front 877

savor

Back 877

to enjoy completely; to appreciate with great gusto; often referring to the flavor of food

Front 878

savory

Back 878

a spicy, rather than sweet, flavoring; or morally pure; uncorrupted

Front 879

scabbard

Back 879

the sheath or holder for a knife or sword, usually made of steel or leather

Front 880

scanty

Back 880

small to the point of being barely useful; less than is needed; barely adequate

Front 881

scintilla

Back 881

a tiny amount or a trace; a quick flash

Front 882

scrupulous

Back 882

having great attention to detail; thorough and attentive; or highly moral; concerned with behaving well

Front 883

seclusion

Back 883

the state of being away from other people; being in an exceedingly private place

Front 884

sedentary

Back 884

inactive; characterized by sitting often and not getting much exercise

Front 885

sedition

Back 885

actions or words that encourage rebellion against a government; the act of trying to motivate people to overthrow the government

Front 886

sedulous

Back 886

characterized by constant and diligent care and concern

Front 887

servile

Back 887

willing to serve others; most comfortable when serving another in a lesser or submissive role

Front 888

severance

Back 888

the separation of parties or parts

Front 889

shard

Back 889

a piece of broken glass, pottery, metal, or other breakable material, usually having sharp edges

Front 890

sinecure

Back 890

a job that requires very little work but that offers a paycheck and other benefits

Front 891

sinuous

Back 891

curvy; characterized by having many turns and twists; or graceful and smooth

Front 892

skeptic

Back 892

a person who automatically doubts the truth about ideas, concepts, or beliefs commonly accepted by others

Front 893

skiff

Back 893

a certain kind of small boat propelled by oar, sail, or motor, usually with a flat bottom

Front 894

sluggard

Back 894

an overall lazy person, has negative connotations

Front 895

sluggish

Back 895

slow moving; slow to respond; having a lack of energy

Front 896

solace

Back 896

comfort in difficult or tying times; ease from pain

Front 897

solicitous

Back 897

marked by being concerned; characterized by offering care and attention

Front 898

solvent

Back 898

having enough money to meet all financial obligations; being able to pay one's debts

Front 899

somniferous

Back 899

bringing on sleep or tiredness

Front 900

somnolent

Back 900

drowsy, sleepy, or lazy in a tired way

Front 901

sonorous

Back 901

impressively deep, rich, and full, generally referring to a sound

Front 902

sophistry

Back 902

an intentioanlly misleading and false argument

Front 903

soporific

Back 903

tending to bring about sleep; sleepy (adj.) or a product or substance that brings about sleepiness

Front 904

specious

Back 904

reasonable at first glance but actually false; believable on the surface but not true; plausible but incorrect

Front 905

spurn

Back 905

to reject in a cold and rude manner

Front 906

squalid

Back 906

disgustingly dirty; grimy and practically unliveable; or completely without morals or standards

Front 907

stagnation

Back 907

a period of time without growth; the state of not moving foward; often referring to an economic condition

Front 908

stigma

Back 908

a mark of shame or embarrassment; something considered appropriate to hide

Front 909

stoic

Back 909

showing no expression; apparently immune to pain, hurt, or other emotion (adj.) or a person who shows little or no emotion regardless of the situation (n.)

Front 910

stolid

Back 910

exceedingly calm; rarely emotionally out of control; dependable and unexcitable

Front 911

strident

Back 911

obnoxiously and often unnecessarily loud

Front 912

stupefy

Back 912

to make a person unable to think clearly; to stun; to dull the senses; or to amaze, shock, and astonish

Front 913

stymie

Back 913

to confuse to the point of being unable to figure out the situation; to stop or halt progress

Front 914

subordinate

Back 914

considered less important; secondary; lower in the hierarchy (adj.) or a person who is below another in rank or position (n.) or to make something or someone lower in importance than something or someone else (v.)

Front 915

subpoena

Back 915

an order requiring a person to appear in court to testify (n.) or to order a person to appear in court to testify (v.)

Front 916

subside

Back 916

to lower to normal or almost normal levels; to decrease; to ease off

Front 917

substantiate

Back 917

to confirm; to give proof of presenting or presumed facts

Front 918

subterfuge

Back 918

a plan or strategy developed to mislead or trick

Front 919

sumptuous

Back 919

large and elegant enough to indicate great time or expense; splendid

Front 920

supercilious

Back 920

acting as if one is better than others; snobby

Front 921

superflous

Back 921

unnecessary; extra; more than enough

Front 922

supernumerary

Back 922

extra and not necessary; more than the usual amount; excessive

Front 923

supersede

Back 923

take the place of; replace; or to override or overrule

Front 924

supine

Back 924

having one's face up; lying on the back, face up; or showing lack of care, concern or resistance in the face of injustice or wrongdoing

Front 925

supplant

Back 925

to replace; to take the place of and perform the same function of another

Front 926

supplicate

Back 926

to ask humbly for something; to plead with great earnestness

Front 927

surcharge

Back 927

to ask humbly for something; to plead with great earnestness

Front 928

surfeit

Back 928

an extra amount; more than is necessary

Front 929

sybarite

Back 929

a person devoted to luxury; one who is self-indulgent when it comes to pleasure and living well

Front 930

synthesis

Back 930

the combining of two or more individual parts to creat a new whole

Front 931

taciturn

Back 931

quiet or uncommunicative; not given to talking or making conversation

Front 932

tantamount

Back 932

being equal to in importance or seriousness; being as good as

Front 933

temerity

Back 933

fearless self-confidence; bravery and courage

Front 934

tentative

Back 934

not completely set or agreed upon; still subject to change; or shy; timid; hesitant

Front 935

tenuous

Back 935

weak, slight, and liable to break

Front 936

terrestrial

Back 936

having to do with the earth or land

Front 937

terse

Back 937

short and to the point; abrupt; brief, may imply an unwillingness to speak

Front 938

timorous

Back 938

nervous and hesitant; showing lack of confidence or courage

Front 939

torpid

Back 939

slow, lacking energy or enthusiasm; inactive and lazy

Front 940

torpor

Back 940

the state of being tired, lazy, or inactive; apathy or indifference

Front 941

torque

Back 941

to twist; to apply pressure causing a turn or rotation

Front 942

torrid

Back 942

scorching hot; overheated; parched; or passionate and fiery; or energetic to the point of frenzy

Front 943

tout

Back 943

to praise highly, usually hoping to convince of worth or even to sell

Front 944

tractable

Back 944

controlled or managed easily, referring to a being or situation

Front 945

transient

Back 945

fleeting or temporary; passing with time; or staying in one place for a short period of time before moving on (adj.) or a person who moves from place to place (n.)

Front 946

transitory

Back 946

temporary and short-lived

Front 947

travesty

Back 947

an over-the-top, exaggerated, or twisted take on the truth of something; a distorted version

Front 948

trenchant

Back 948

forceful, meaningul, and emotionally heated

Front 949

trifling

Back 949

unimportant; not worth dealing with; insignificant, referring to an amount or the importance of a thing

Front 950

truculence

Back 950

the state of being eager and ready to fight over petty issues

Front 951

truculent

Back 951

easily angered; having a chip on one's shoulder; defiant and aggressive

Front 952

truncate

Back 952

to shorten by cutting off an end, used figuratively and literally

Front 953

turbid

Back 953

muddy and unclear; stirred up, can be used literally or figuratively

Front 954

turgid

Back 954

swollen due to fluid; or excessively fancy and flowery, used to describe a way of speaking or writing; pompous

Front 955

turmoil

Back 955

a state of great confusion or agitation; frightening uncertainty

Front 956

turpitude

Back 956

wicked, immoral behavior; evilness; obscene and vulgar actions

Front 957

tutelage

Back 957

protection or guardianship; or the acts of a teacher or mentor; instruction

Front 958

tyro

Back 958

a beginner; someone new to a field of study or business

Front 959

ulterior

Back 959

hidden; beyond what is acknowledged or admitted to

Front 960

undulate

Back 960

to move in a smooth, steady motion; to sway; to swing

Front 961

untenable

Back 961

unjustifiable; impossible to defend or maintain an argument for

Front 962

untoward

Back 962

inappropriate; socially unacceptable and uncomfortable; improper

Front 963

unwarrented

Back 963

having no justification or basis in fact

Front 964

upbraid

Back 964

to scold; to criticize

Front 965

usurp

Back 965

to take the place or power of another illegally

Front 966

vagary

Back 966

an unexpected, unpredictable change; a sudden change that cannot be explained

Front 967

vainglory

Back 967

excessive and undeserved arrogance in oneself; extreme, undeserved arrogance

Front 968

valorous

Back 968

marked by extreme bravery; daringly courageous

Front 969

vapid

Back 969

uninteresting and unchallenging

Front 970

variegated

Back 970

having different colored streaks or spots; marked by having variety, can be used literally or figuratively

Front 971

vehement

Back 971

intense; forceful; marked by strong feelings or emotions

Front 972

venal

Back 972

corrupt; willing to take bribes; able to be paid off

Front 973

vendetta

Back 973

a long, drawn out feud between two parties or families, usually implies a desire on at least one side to seriously damage the other side

Front 974

veneer

Back 974

a false front or false face; a superficial and phony attitude

Front 975

venerable

Back 975

due great respect, usually because of age, character, or wisdom

Front 976

venial

Back 976

slight and easy to forgive; minor, used to describe actions that aren't quite acceptable

Front 977

veracious

Back 977

consistently honest and truthful; accurate most of the time

Front 978

verbiage

Back 978

speech or writing that is wordy; the use of too many words

Front 979

verbose

Back 979

using or having more words than necessary; using such flowery or technical language that the meaning is obscured

Front 980

verdant

Back 980

lush and green, such as grass or other plants

Front 981

veritable

Back 981

real or actual, often used to intensify a metaphor

Front 982

vestige

Back 982

a small amount; a trace; a tiny indication that something exists

Front 983

vexation

Back 983

being annoyed or frustrated; or that which causes someone to be annoyed or frustrated

Front 984

vicissitude

Back 984

regular and methodical changes and variations taking place over a very long time, usually pluralized; or unforseen or unexpected changes, often leading one to another, usually pluralized

Front 985

vigilant

Back 985

watchful; aware and attentive

Front 986

vilify

Back 986

to speak or write harshly and often incorrectly about something or someone; to insult cruelly

Front 987

vindicate

Back 987

to clear of charges or prove innocent; or to prove justified; to be proven right or correct

Front 988

virago

Back 988

an extraordinary woman of uncommon strength, courage, and vigor; or a woman considered noisy, violent, and demanding

Front 989

virtu

Back 989

an appreciation for and love of art or the arts; or a grouping of fine art pieces taken or considered together

Front 990

virtuoso

Back 990

a master in the field of study, usually the arts (n.) or showing mastery of the skills required for a specific field of study, usually the arts (adj.)

Front 991

visage

Back 991

the face; facial features or expressions; or the outward appearance

Front 992

viscous

Back 992

having a thick, gooey texture that does not flow easily

Front 993

vitiate

Back 993

to decrease the value; to make less worthy or worthwhile

Front 994

vituperate

Back 994

to use harsh, blaming, and vicious language, especially against another person

Front 995

vituperative

Back 995

abusive; unnecessarily harsh

Front 996

vivify

Back 996

to make more interesting or lively; to make come alive

Front 997

vociferous

Back 997

loud and noisy; unrestrained and boisterous; generally referring to protests or cheers

Front 998

voluble

Back 998

characterized by talking a great deal, usually implies speaking well and intelligently

Front 999

wary

Back 999

cautious; alert and on guard

Front 1000

wean

Back 1000

to ease someone off something they have become dependent on

Front 1001

whimsical

Back 1001

characterized by acting playfully or amusingly erratic; lighthearted; or dependent on chance; unpredictable

Front 1002

witticism

Back 1002

a pun, joke, or funny remark

Front 1003

xenophobia

Back 1003

the irrational fear of anything or anyone from another country or foreign country

Front 1004

xerophyte

Back 1004

any plant that requires very little water in order to grow and thrive

Front 1005

xylography

Back 1005

the act of making art or print using woodprints and blocks to transfer ink, generally refers to a primitive technique

Front 1006

xylophagous

Back 1006

feeding on, living on, or burrowing into wood, as an insect

Front 1007

yare

Back 1007

easily moved, steered or maneuverable, generally used when describing sailing vessels

Front 1008

yearling

Back 1008

a creature that is one year old (n.) or one year old (adj.)

Front 1009

yen

Back 1009

a longing; an urge or desire; craving

Front 1010

yeti

Back 1010

a large, hairy creature, rumored to live in the mountains

Front 1011

yew

Back 1011

a particular type of evergreen tree, surrounded by myth and legend because of its extremely long life span

Front 1012

zealot

Back 1012

a person who believes so strongly in an idea, political party, or religion that it becomes more important than just about anything else

Front 1013

zeitgeist

Back 1013

the defining spirit of a time; the overall mood of an era