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560 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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yonder
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in or at a place indicated usually by pointing, at a distance within sight
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yearn
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to want something greatly; to feel deep concern or pity
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wry
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funny in an understated way; crooked or twisted
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wretched
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very miserable and unhappy
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wrath
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violent anger
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wondrous
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brilliantly remarkable
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wistful
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full of hopeful wanting, mildly sad
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wily
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crafty or cunning
The wily general devised a plan to fool the troops. |
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whirl
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to spin rapidly; to turn around suddenly
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wane
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to decrease, to approach an end to something
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vouch
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to provide support, to give supporting evidence
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volatile
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easily changeable, quick to explode
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void
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a place of nothingness, seemingly without end
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vivid
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very distinct and sharp; very realistic
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vista
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a view, usually of things far away
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virtue
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moral righteousness and excellence
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vindicate
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to clear someone of wrongdoing by providing evidence that shows their innocence
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vigil
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to guard or watch over something for an extended period of time
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viable
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capable of success or continued growth; workable
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vex
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to really irritate; to greatly annoy
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venture
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a risky undertaking
Diving into shark-infested waters was not a venture I was willing to make |
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vehement
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forceful or intensely emotional; vigorous and energetic
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utopia
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a perfect, ideal place
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utmost
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of the greatest amount of degree
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unprecedented
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with no previous example, never been done before
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uniform
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always exactly the same, never changing
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unfurl
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to open up or spread out
Before raising the flag, we unfurled it. |
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trend
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a current fashion or style
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travail
(truh VAYL) |
difficult and painful work; a really tough task
The mountain climber knew that her travails weren't over. |
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transgression
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a violation of law or order
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tranquil
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very calm and peaceful; without anxiety or stress
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trajectory
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the path of a moving object, like the arc of a ball through air
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trait
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a recognizable characteristic or feature
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torrential
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resembling a massive downpour of water
A torrential rainstorm started last night. |
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tinge
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a slight hue, a little bit of color
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timid
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very shy; easily scared
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thrive
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to grow vigorously
With abundant flowers, the African bees thrived in the jungle. |
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thrift
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the ability to handle money wisely
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threshold
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the lowest level at which something can be heard or recognized; the place of beginning
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therapy
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a procedure used to heal people who are physically or mentally ill
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terrestrial
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originating from the planet Earth
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terrain
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the surface characteristics of a specific piece of land
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tepid
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neither hot nor cold; lukewarm
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temperament
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how a person acts; his/her attitude toward all events and situations
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teem
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to be full of things; to abound
The pizza was teeming with pepperoni. |
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taut
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to pull tight
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tapestry
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a large, heavy cloth decorated with a a design or scene and then hung on a wall as a decoration
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tantrum
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a fit of anger in which you behave badly and sometimes even throw things
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tangible
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something real; something you can actually touch
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synchronize
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to plan somethingso that it occurs at the same time; to happen at the same time
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swoon
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to lose consciousness; to faint
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sway
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to move from side to side OR to have influence over something
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swagger
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to walk with a boastful air; to strut about with excessive pride
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supplication
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begging; earnest appeal
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supple
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easily bent and manipulated; moving easily; limber and adaptable
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summit
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the highest point, usually the top of a mountain; the peak
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sullen
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characterized by ill-humored brooding; having a morose and sulky personality
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suffice
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to adequately meet present needs; to satisfy; to be enough
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sublime
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inspiring awe and admiration; supreme and without any equal
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strive
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to put in a great deal of effort and work; to struggle against
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stout
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sturdy and bold; bulky; strong and determined
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stifle
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to keep something in or hold something back
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stern
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hard and severe in manner; firm and unwilling to change
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stereotype
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a conventional and oversimplified idea, usually about a group of people
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stench
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a very unpleasant smell
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stately
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characterized by formality and dignity; impressive due to its size; majestic
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stark
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bare; without any decoration or adornment
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stammer
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to speak with involuntary pauses or repetitions, usually caused by nervousness
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stamina
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the ability not to get tired when working or laboring hard; endurance
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squalid
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appearing dirty and repulsive; wretched
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spurn
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to reject something with a scornful air; to refuse something with disdain
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spry
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lively and active
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spree
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a carefree outing OR the overdoing of a certain activity
"a shopping spree" |
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sprawl
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to sit or lie down with your body spread out in every direction; to spread out awkwardly
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sporadic
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happening infrequently or on an irregular basis; having no pattern or order
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spite
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ill feelings that cause one person to harm or hurt another
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spectrum
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a band of colors that make up visible light OR a broad range of related ideas or qualities
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spectacle
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a remarkably impressive sight; a grand public display OR a regrettable display or action
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spasm
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a sudden involuntary twitch of a muscle OR a sudden burst of activity
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slacken
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to slow down; decrease; to make something less firm or tense
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skulk
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to creep around so that no one notices you
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singular
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being one of a kind; unique OR remarkable; peculiar
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simper
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to smile in a goofy, self-conscious manner
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sidle
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to walk or move sideways; to move in a quiet, sneaky way
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shun
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to avoid deliberately; to stay away from
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shrill
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high-pitched and piercing
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shrewd
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very clever and smart; tricky
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shard
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a fragment, often of glass or metal OR a broken piece of pottery like those found at archeological digs
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sentiment
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a general emotion or attitude; an opinion or feeling
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secrete
(si KREET) |
to exude or produce a substance, usually a fluid
The skunk secreted her warning scent. |
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scuffle
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a rough, unorganized fight in close quarters
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scrawny
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very bony and thin, often due to inadequate food or exercise
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scour
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to clean by scrubbing vigorously OR to search thoroughly; to search over a large area
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scoundrel
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a villain; a wicked person
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scorn
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to treat something as unworthy or inferior OR
n. a strong feeling of dislike or contempt |
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scorch
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to burn the surface of; to burn intensely
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scenario
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an outline of an expected series of events OR the outline of a story or play
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scarce
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hard to find; rare; not enough
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scamper
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to run quickly and lightly
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saunter
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to walk at a casual pace; to stroll OR
n. a leisurely walk |
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saturate
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to fill or load to capacity; to soak thoroughly
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rustle
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to act quickly and energetically OR to move with a soft, fluttering sound
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ruse
(ROOS) |
a sneaky trick or deception
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ruminate
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to spend time thinking about something
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ruffian
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a thug or tough guy
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rubble
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fragments of material left after a building collapses or is destroyed
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rove
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to wander around a large area
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rout
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an overwhelming defeat; a blow-out OR
verb: to drive away; to scatter |
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romp
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to goof off and have fun in an energetic, lively way
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rivalry
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a competition between two parties
"The two soccer teams had an intense rivalry." |
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ritual
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a ceremony; a specific procedure or method
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rift
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a narrow break, as in a rock; a split
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richochet
(rik uh SHAY) |
to bounce off at least one surface
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rhythm
(RITH um) |
a movement or action that occurs over and over again in a regular pattern
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rhetoric
(RET ur ik) |
a study of how to use language persuasively and expertly OR insincere, snobbish, and boorish speaking and writing
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revile
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to denounce using abusive language
The manager reviled his workers for falling asleep on the job. |
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reverence
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a feeling of respect, admiration, and love
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revenue
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income; the money collected by the government for public expenses
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retrospect
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the review of the past event; hindsight
In retrospect, Dan realized that selling his XBOX for ten dollars was a bad idea. |
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residue
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the remains of something after a larger part is removed
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resent
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to be angry about something unfair and unjust
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repugnant
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highly disgusting or offensive
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reproach
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to blame or criticize OR n.blame or contempt; disgrace
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repress
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to hold back; to keep down or hidden away OR to force out of the conscious mind
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replenish
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to fill again; to restock OR resupply
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reparation
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something done or paid in order to repay a debt or earlier mistake
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relish
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to greatly enjoy; to take immense pleasure in
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reign
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the time period during which a king or queen is in power OR v. to rule as a king or queen
Emperor Charlemagne reigned over much of what is now Europe. |
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regress
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to go back to a previous state of development
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regiment
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a group of soldiers OR v. to conform to a highly-ordered system.
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regal
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very fancy, beautiful, and expensive; kingly or queenly
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refrain
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to hold back; to restrain OR n. a phrase that is repeated throughout a song or a poem
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refract
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to deflect or bend light
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reel
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to be thrown off balance; to stagger OR to pull inward using a winding motion
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reedy
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tall and thin, like a reed OR sounding like a reed instrument
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recuperate
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to get healthier after an illness; to return to normal health
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reckoning
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the process of computing or calculating; the settling of all accounts, debts or otherwise
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recipient
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a person who recieves something
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recede
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to move away; to become smaller
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rebuff
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an unfriendly rejection; a snub OR v. to reject briefly and rudely
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ration
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to make available in set amounts, especially during a time when a supply is scarce
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raspy
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rough and grating
The singer's voice was so raspy from years of smoking. |
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rascal
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someone who misbehaves in a playful way OR a dishonest person
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rancid
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having a nasty smell or taste due to rotting
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ramble
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to walk around with no purpose or direction OR to write and speak for a long time, constantly wandering off a topic
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radiant
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sending out light or heat OR bright with happiness
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quibble
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to complain about little things; to gripe for small reasons
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quell
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to stop by using force OR to calm
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qualify
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to limit the meaning OR to soften; to make less extreme
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quaint
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unfamiliar and odd OR odd in an old-fashioned way
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pungent
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a sharp, biting smell or taste
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prudent
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sensible in handling common matters; level-headed and wise OR careful about your own conduct; cautious
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provisions
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stockpiles of food or other supplies OR measures taken to prepare for a certain event
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prototype
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the first example of an object or idea, upon which later models are based
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prosperous
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economically successful; enjoying success and good fortune
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prophetic
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predicting the future
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proliferate
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to multiply and increase at a fast rate; to grow rapidly
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profess
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to claim openly; to state aloud OR to claim knowledge or skill in
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procession
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a group that moves forward together in an orderly line; the act of moving forward
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pristine
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remaining in a pure, original state, unspoiled by humanity
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principal
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first in rank or degree
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prim
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stiffly proper and correct in manner
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prevail
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to triumph OR to be most common or frequent
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pretentious
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trying to assume a position of status or wealth that is false; showy without a reason to be
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pretense
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a false action or reason that's used to deceive; an unsupported claim
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presume
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to assume that something is true; to take for granted OR to do something without asking permission
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premise
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a fundamental fact or facts
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predicament
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a difficult, unpleasant situation that is hard for you to get of
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predecessor
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the person who came before another person in time, such as former person to have a certain job
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predator
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an animal that hunts and eats other animals for its survival
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precise
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exact in execution; direct and clear; right on the nose
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ponder
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to think about something for a while; to carefully consider
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plausible
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appearing to be reasonable and true
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pit
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to set against in a competition OR to mark with depressions
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pigment
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a specific substance that provides characteristic color to an object, such as hemoglobin (red) in blood
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philosophy
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a study of the basic truths that govern the world and society OR a value system by which you live
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phenomenon
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an unusual occurrence or event; something wacky that happens
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petulant
(PECH uh lunt) |
ill-tempered and spoiled; bratty
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persistent
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refusing to give up; stubborn and undaunted
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perplex
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to confuse and bewilder; to puzzle through excessive complication
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perpetrator
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someone guilty of committing a crime
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perennial
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living indefinitely; perpetual; appearing again and again
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peevish
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irritable; easily annoyed
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peddler
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someone who travels around selling goods
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peculiar
(pi KYOOL yur) |
strange or unusual; weird OR belonging specifically to one area or region "peculiar to a small region in southern France"
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pawn
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someone used or controlled by others
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parody
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a comic piece that exaggerates the actions or characters of some other piece to the extent that it becomes absurd and ridiculous OR a poor, weak imitation
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pariah
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someone who has been kicked out by society; an outcast
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parch
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to make very thirsty and dry, usually by intense heat
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parcel
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a package; something bundled up to be sent for delivery OR a section or piece
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paradox
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a statement that seems to contradict itself, but still might be true
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panorama
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a view of everything over a wide area; a view of a long series of events or a period of time
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palpable
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able to be touched or felt; very obvious
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painstaking
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involving great care and thoroughness
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pact
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a formal agreement between two countries; a bargain
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ostentatious
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flashy or showy for the sake of being impressive
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organism
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a living thing of any kind
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orchestrate
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to arrange a performance of an orchestra; to arrange something that has many parts
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oration
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a formal speech given at a special event
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opus
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an artistic work or some kind, usually musical
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opulent
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characterized by great wealth or abundance; rich
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optimal
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the best or most favorable
Clear skies and a constant mild breeze are the optimal conditions in which to fly a kite. |
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odious
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disgusting and nasty; causing repulsion
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obstinate
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stubborn; unwilling to change from a particular course or belief
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oblige
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to do a favor for OR to make thanks
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oath
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a promise to behave in certain way, calling on God or using some sacred item as your witness
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nuance
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a small, subtle change in something
Adding just a pinch of pepper gave a spicy nuance to the strawberry cheesecake. |
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notion
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an idea of how something should be; an opinion
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nook
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a hidden spot OR a corner or recess that is part of a larger room
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nondescript
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without any qualities that stand out, rendering something difficult to describe
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nimble
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quick and agile in movement and thought
The nimble child was able to complete the obstacle course in a new world record time. |
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nautical
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related to ships or sailing
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naught
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zero; nothing
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narrator
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the person telling a particular story
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mystify
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to confuse or stump
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muzzle
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to prevent from speaking or expressing an opinion OR n. a device that fits over an animal's nose and mouth to keep it from opening its mouth
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mutilate
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to damage or seriously ruin, usually by cutting off or destroying some part
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muster
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to bring together into one place; to call to come together, to summon
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muse
(MYOOZ) |
to consider for a long time; to meditate on a subject
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murmur
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to speak in a low voice; to speak unclearly
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municipal
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relating to a municipality, which is just a fancy word for a town or city
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multilingual
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able to speak more than one language well
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muck
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a moist, sticky pile of dirt, manure, rotting matter, or all three
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motivate
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to provide with an incentive or action; to get things moving
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moor
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to secure or fasten something, usually a ship OR n. a broad stretch of land with low-lying shrubs and patches of wetland
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monstrous
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abnormal and horrifying; frightening and shocking OR really large
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mogul
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a very rich and influential person
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mode
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a manner or style OR the latest fashion or trend
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mirth
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happiness and good cheer
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minute
(mye NOOT) |
incredible small; insignificant OR characterized by a close study of all small details
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mingle
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to combine by mixing together; to join with others
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midst
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the center or middle position; right in the middle of something
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mercurial
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rapidly changeable in thought, feeling, or opinion; fickle
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melodrama
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a play, book, or movie characterized by exaggerated emotions and feelings; behavior or actions full of exaggerated emotions and feelings
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meddlesome
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interfering in others' business
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mar
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to damage or ruin; to deface
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manifest
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obvious and clear OR v. to show or display or to be the physical proof of something
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mangy
(MAYN jee) |
looking shabby; covered with bare spots and appearing worn and rundown
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magistrate
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a civil servant with the authority to enforce the law
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luster
|
fame and glory OR a soft reflection of light; gloss
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lush
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covered with a great amount of plant life OR juicy and tender
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lug
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to carry something with great difficulty
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lout
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a stupid, awkward, foolish person
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lope
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to run using long, easy strides
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loom
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to come into view, usually in a threatening way; to stand over someone threateningly
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logo
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a symbol or trademark designed for easy recognition of a specific company or group
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livid
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discolored and bruised OR white or ashen from fright OR very angry; furious
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linger
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to be slow in leaving or acting
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largess
(lar JES) |
generous giving and generosity
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larceny
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a robbery; taking someone else's possessions unlawfully
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languid
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slow-moving, usually because of lack of energy; weak
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laden
(LAYD un) |
weighed down with a heavy load; burdened
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keen
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having a sharp edge; intense OR very intelligent and bright
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karma
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a belief put forth by certain religions that a person's conduct and actions during life determines his/her destiny in the world; a person's fate
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jostle
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to bump or come into contact with roughly while you're in motion
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jargon
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a specialized language for a specific trade or industry, like "computer jargon" or "medical jargon" OR a mixture of several different languages
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jar
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to have an irritating effect; to bother OR to knock off balance; to frighten and upset
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jabber
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to speak rapidly but without making much sense; to chatter
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invariable
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always the same; never changing
"Few plants grow in the desert because it is invariably hot and dry." |
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intrigue
(in TREEG) |
to fascinate and excite curiosity OR (IN treeg) a secret plot or scheme
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interval
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the amount of time between events; the space between two things
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integrity
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a person's moral character; honesty OR togetherness and unity; completeness
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integrate
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to bring all different parts together
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insolent
|
boldly rude or disrespectful
|
|
|
insinuate
|
to suggest something in an indirect manner; to sneak something into conversation
|
|
|
inquiry
|
a request for information OR an in-depth search into a matter
|
|
|
inordinate
|
going way too far; excessive
|
|
|
initiative
(i NISH uh tiv) |
the first step of an action; the lead OR the ability to start your own projects
|
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|
ingenuous
(in JEN yoo us) |
honest and open, without trickery OR innocent and simple
|
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|
infuse
|
to fill or put into
|
|
|
infinite
|
having no end or limit; boundless
|
|
|
inferno
|
a confusing, chaotic place, usually on fire; someplace that resembles Hell
|
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|
inference
|
the act of figuring something out by looking at all the facts OR a conclusion drawn from looking at the facts in a situation
|
|
|
industrious
|
hard working and consistent
|
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|
indulgent
|
characterized by giving in to needs or desires; pampering
|
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|
induce
|
to influence or lead on; to coax OR to cause something to happen
|
|
|
indignant
|
feeling angry or upset about a perceived injustice or wrongdoing
|
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|
indifferent
|
showing no concern or interest; not caring one way or the other OR neither good nor bad, just so-so
|
|
|
incumbent
|
the person who currently holds a specific political office OR (adj.) holding a position or office
|
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incriminate
|
to cause to appear guilty of some crime
|
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|
increment
|
an added amount; an increase
|
|
|
incompetent
|
unable to do things correctly
|
|
|
incinerate
|
to burn to ashes
|
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|
impose
|
to force yourself upon others; to place a burden upon others
|
|
|
import
(im PORT) |
to bring something in from a foreign country in order to sell it
|
|
|
implore
|
to beg earnestly; to ask anxiously
|
|
|
imperious
|
behaving like royalty; arrogant and snooty
|
|
|
impel
|
to drive forward; to urge into action
|
|
|
impediment
|
something that blocks progress; an obstacle
|
|
|
ideology
|
a set of beliefs shared by a group of people, such as a specific relgion or political party
|
|
|
hype
|
exaggerated publicity OR (v.) to deceive or swindle
|
|
|
hygiene
(HYE jeen) |
practices related to good health, disease prevention, and cleanliness
|
|
|
husky
|
strongly built and very sturdy OR having a hoarse, deep quality (of the voice)
|
|
|
hue
|
the color of an object OR the shade or tint of a specific color
|
|
|
hover
|
to float in one place in the air OR to hang around close by
|
|
|
horrid
|
extremely offensive; causing terror and disgust
|
|
|
hoopla
|
excitement and confusion
|
|
|
homely
|
not good-looking; plain or simple
|
|
|
hobble
|
to walk with a limp or with difficulty OR to slow something down or get in the way of something
|
|
|
hoary
|
gray or white because of age OR very old
|
|
|
hoarse
|
having a low, gruff sound; husky
|
|
|
hideous
|
extremely ugly; disgusting and revolting
|
|
|
heist
|
to rob or steal OR (n.) a burglary
|
|
|
haphazard
|
marked by chance or luck; random
|
|
|
guru
|
a person who is both teacher and leader to a group of followers
|
|
|
guarded
|
cautious or restrained
|
|
|
gridlock
|
a complete stop of all traffic on a road; a complete halt in activity
|
|
|
grapple
|
to struggle to hold onto; to struggle to understand
|
|
|
grandiose
|
having a huge scope or intent OR being pompous; having a pretended air of superiority
|
|
|
grandeur
(GRAN jur) |
the state of being magnificent or grand
|
|
|
goad
|
to urge or prod
|
|
|
gnash
(NASH) |
to grind or strike teeth together
|
|
|
glisten
|
to shine with a sparkling light; to sparkle
|
|
|
glean
|
to gather or find something out piece by piece
|
|
|
glare
|
to stare angrily OR to shine brightly OR (n.) a long, angry stare OR (n.) a bright, blinding light
|
|
|
giddy
|
dizzy; feeling an unsteady, whirling sensation OR excited and light-headed
|
|
|
gibberish
|
speech or writing that makes no sense; crazy talk
|
|
|
genre
(ZHAHN ruh) |
a specific type of literature or music, like science fiction or heavy metal
|
|
|
gaunt
|
bony and thin; undernourished OR bleak and stark
|
|
|
garble
|
to mix up or distort
The poem is beautiful in the original Spanish, but this bad translation garbles its meaning. |
|
|
gale
|
an extremely strong wind OR a loud outburst
|
|
|
furtive
|
done in a quiet, secretive way
|
|
|
fundamental
|
having to do with the basic level; primary or elemental
"One of the fundamental rules of soccer is to never touch the ball with your hands." |
|
|
fringe
|
the outer portion or margin; the edge OR a decorative edge with dangling or hanging threads
|
|
|
frenzy
|
a condition of wild excitement and agitation
|
|
|
frank
|
open and direct; sincere
|
|
|
frail
|
weak and easily broken
|
|
|
forthright
|
honest and open; straightforward and direct
|
|
|
formidable
|
difficult to defeat; frightening or alarming; awe-inspiring
|
|
|
forge
(FORJ) |
to form (usually metal) by heating then shaping; to shape or mold carefully OR (v.) to head forward against resistance
|
|
|
foreboding
|
a feeling that something bad is about to happen
|
|
|
forage
|
to hunt or search for something
|
|
|
foolhardy
|
reckless and rash; bold without thinking
|
|
|
folly
|
lack of good judgement; stupidity and foolishness
"Looking back, Edwin realized the folly of his plan to cross the Sahara desert on roller skates." |
|
|
foliage
|
a group of plant leaves
|
|
|
foil
|
to prevent from being successful, to ruin
|
|
|
flux
|
continuous change; flow
|
|
|
fluster
|
to shake up and make nervous or excited
|
|
|
fluent
|
able to express yourself smoothly; graceful
|
|
|
fluctuate
|
to shift back and forth; to change irregularly
|
|
|
flout
|
to scorn and show contempt for; to treat with contempt
|
|
|
fledgling
|
new and inexperienced
|
|
|
flattery
|
excessive or insincere compliments
|
|
|
flank
|
to move around and attack the side of something; to be placed at the side or another object OR (n.) the side of a body, just above the hip
|
|
|
flamboyant
|
very flashy, over-the-top, exaggerated
|
|
|
flag
|
to lose strength; to weaken
"As they reached the twenty-mile point in the marathon, te pace of the runners started to flag." |
|
|
flabbergast
|
to amaze, astonish, bewilder
|
|
|
figurehead
|
someone who is head of group by title, but who actually has no real power
|
|
|
fend
|
to hold off, especially an attack OR to attempt to manage
|
|
|
felicity
|
joy and great happiness
|
|
|
fawn
|
to try to please someone by excessive flattery; to seek favor by showing attention
|
|
|
fathom
|
to understand; to get the point OR (n.) a unit of length that equals six feet and is used by sailors to measure the depth of water
|
|
|
exude
|
to ooze out, give forth as if oozing; radiate
"The salesman exuded a friendliness that caused many people to buy his products." |
|
|
exuberant
|
overflowing with joy and happiness
|
|
|
extricate
|
to get out of a situation; to remove or set free
|
|
|
extinct
|
no longer alive anywhere on Earth
|
|
|
exquisite
|
having a beautiful and intricate design OR intense; very powerful
|
|
|
expletive
|
a curse or vulgar word; profanity
|
|
|
expanse
|
a wide, open area
|
|
|
exotic
|
from a foreign land OR excitingly unusual and strange
|
|
|
exorbitant
|
far beyond customary levels or bounds
"I thought that $50,000 was a little exorbitant for a pair of shoes." |
|
|
exile
(EG zyle) |
a person forced to live outside their native country OR (v.) to banish someone from his or her native land
|
|
|
exertion
|
strenuous effort or work
|
|
|
exempt
|
excused; free from obligation OR (v.) to release from obligation
|
|
|
exclusion
|
the state of not being allowed to enter or to join
|
|
|
exasperate
|
to irritate greatly; to make impatient or angry
|
|
|
evoke
|
to summon or call forth OR to come to mind because of some type of stimulation or suggestion
"The old pond evoked memories of the Monet paintings I saw while in France." |
|
|
evacuate
|
to leave or withdraw, usually from an area that is dangerous in some way
|
|
|
era
|
a period of time marked by certain conditions or events OR a unit of time, usually hundreds of millions of years long, usud by scientists to describe major stages in Earth's development
|
|
|
entitle
|
to give the right or privilege to somebody
|
|
|
ensure
(en SHOOR) |
to make certain; to guarantee
|
|
|
enhance
|
to increase
|
|
|
engaging
|
likeable and attractive; charming
|
|
|
endeavor
|
a serious attempt OR (v.) to attempt to do something
|
|
|
emulate
|
to imitate someone in the hopes of equaling or exceeding their achievements
|
|
|
emphatic
|
stressed with emphasis; forceful and striking
|
|
|
empathy
|
the ability to understand another person's feelings or thoughts
|
|
|
embed
|
to place something firmly within a surrounding mass
"The splinter was so deeply embedded in her palm that tweezers couldn't remove it." |
|
|
elongate
|
to stretch out or lengthen
|
|
|
elite
|
the very best or the highest group; what is thought to be the best or highest group OR (adj.) made up of the very best; belonging to or made up of a small, privileged group
|
|
|
elegance
|
grace and cultured beauty in appearance or style
|
|
|
elaborate
|
created with great attention to details; intricate
|
|
|
edible
|
fit for eating
|
|
|
eclectic
|
coming from a variety of different sources; choosing froma variety of sources
|
|
|
ebullient
(i BOOL yunt) |
high spirited, bubbly, and full of enthusiasm
|
|
|
dynamic
|
exciting and vigorous OR rapidly changing; constantly active
"The audience screamed for the dynamic performer to come back on stage and play some more." |
|
|
duplicity
|
deliberate trickery or deception
|
|
|
drone
|
to speak in a monotonous tone; to make a continuous, low humming noise
|
|
|
drench
|
to soak thoroughly
|
|
|
dreary
|
dark and bleak OR dull and boring
|
|
|
dread
|
large amount of fear; utter terror OR (v.) to greatly fear
|
|
|
dour
|
silent and ill-tempered; forbidding and harsh
|
|
|
dominion
|
the exercise of control over a specific area OR the area under control by a specific ruler
|
|
|
doleful
|
full of grief and sadness
|
|
|
distort
|
to bend or twist something out of its normal shape
|
|
|
distend
|
to expand or swell due to some form of internal pressure
|
|
|
disposition
|
the way a person usually feels, their mood OR an inclination or tendency
|
|
|
disperse
|
to scatter in different directions OR to vanish and disappear
|
|
|
dispense
|
to distribute in parts; to deal out
|
|
|
dismay
|
a quick loss of confidence or courage in the face of difficulty or danger
"The bullfighter's confidence turned to dismay when he realized that his shoelaces were tied together." |
|
|
dismal
|
depressing and miserable; gloomy
"The dismal weather made the beach party a terrible flop." |
|
|
discretion
|
caution and self-restraint in behavior OR freedom of choice
"This November, I will use discretion in voting for the next president of the U.S." |
|
|
discourse
|
conversation OR a formal, written discussion
|
|
|
directive
|
an order issued by a central authority
|
|
|
dingy
(DIN jee) |
dirty with grime or filth; dull and shabby
|
|
|
diminish
|
to reduce or decrease
|
|
|
dimension
|
the measurements of an object's length, width, and height OR the overall extent or scope
|
|
|
dilute
(dye LOOT) |
to lessen the strength of a liquid by adding an additional liquid, usually water; to weaken the force of something
|
|
|
dilapidated
|
worn down and in a state of disrepair
|
|
|
differentiate
|
to be able to tell the difference between two or more things; to make a distinction
|
|
|
dictate
|
to say something out loud so that it can be recorded by another person OR to establish a rule or law with authority
|
|
|
diagnose
|
to study and examine carefully; to identify
|
|
|
diabolical
|
concerning the devil; evil or wicked
|
|
|
devastate
|
to totally ruin or destroy; to lay waste
|
|
|
deteriorate
|
to lessen in value, condition, or character; to get worse
|
|
|
desperado
|
a bold outlaw
|
|
|
despair
|
a feeling of absolute hopelessness OR (v.) to lose all hope
|
|
|
desolation
|
a dreary condition or place where very little exists or is happening OR a feeling of sadness and isolation
|
|
|
deride
|
to laugh at and ridicule; to mock and scorn
"The little pig derided the wolf for his wasted huffing and puffing outside the door." |
|
|
derail
|
to go off the tracks OR to get taken off track
|
|
|
deploy
|
to spread out and position in a systematic or strategic way
"The search party deployed in a wide line across the field so that they could cover all areas." |
|
|
deplore
|
to strongly dislike and disapprove; to condemn and hate
"As much as my father deplores the violence going on in the world, he sure does love football." |
|
|
delusion
|
a false opinion or idea
|
|
|
definitive
|
conclusive; having the ability to remove all doubt and end any debate
|
|
|
defiance
|
open disobedience to authority
|
|
|
decree
|
an order or command given by a person of authority OR (v.) to order or command something
|
|
|
decompose
|
to decay and rot; to break up into smaller, simpler pieces
|
|
|
deception
|
a form of trickery; something done to fool someone into believing a lie (the verb "decieve" means to trick or fool)
|
|
|
debunk
|
to prove or show that an exaggerated claim is false
"Officials used video recordings of the race to debunk rumors that Willis had cheated." |
|
|
dazzle
|
to momentarily blind with light OR to astonish, amaze, or impress
|
|
|
daunt
|
to scare and discourage
|
|
|
dainty
|
attractive and beautiful in a fragile, delicate way OR very choosy; fussy
|
|
|
curdle
|
to spoil or turn sour OR to thicken into clumps
|
|
|
cunning
|
skilled at fooling people; sly
|
|
|
cumulative
|
adding up through a series or increases or additions
|
|
|
crucial
|
of the greatest importance; highly decisive
|
|
|
crafty
|
sneaky; sly; skilled in deception or trickery
|
|
|
cow
(verb) |
to scare by using force or threats
"Jon gathered together his eight older brothers and cowed the bully into letting him play the baseball game." |
|
|
covert
|
secret; concealed; kept hidden
|
|
|
corruption
|
wickedness, dishonesty or bad behavior (the verb "corrupt" means to cause to behave wickedly or immorally)
|
|
|
corroborate
|
to provide additional support for a statement by supplying new evidence to back it up; to confirm
|
|
|
correlation
|
connection or relationship of different factors or events
"Over thirty years ago, doctors noticed a correlation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer." |
|
|
copious
|
plentiful; large in number or amount
|
|
|
convoluted
|
difficult or complicated due to many twists and turns
|
|
|
conviction
|
a deeply held belief or opinion OR a guilty judgment from a judge or jury
|
|
|
convey
|
to take from one place to another OR to make something known or understood
|
|
|
convene
|
to assemble in one place
|
|
|
controversy
|
a public dispute between two sides who have opposing views
|
|
|
contrition
|
deep regret for doing something wrong (Contrite (adj) meeans sorry or regretful)
|
|
|
contrary
|
completely different; exactly opposite OR unfavorable
|
|
|
contradict
|
to express the opposite of a statement; argue against an earlier remark or belief
|
|
|
contentious
|
argumentative; easily bothered and ready to disagree
|
|
|
consensu
|
an opinion or belief held by the majority of a group
|
|
|
connoisseur
(kahn uh sur) |
a person who is an excellent judge in a specific field; an expert in a particular subject
|
|
|
conjecture
|
to make a guess; to form an opinion based on incomplete knowledge OR (n.) a statement or opinion based on guesswork
|
|
|
congregate
|
to assemble; to come together and form a crowd
|
|
|
congenial
(kuhn JEEN yul) |
pleasant, open, and friendly OR having similar habits and tastes
|
|
|
congeal
|
to thicken; to change from a liquid to a solid
|
|
|
confrontation
|
a direct encounter, especially with an opponent
|
|
|
confound
|
to puzzle, confuse, or bewilder
"The more I learn about politics, the more confounded I become." |
|
|
confirmation
|
something that provides proof
"Sylvia's bright orange tongue confirmed that she ate the rest of the orange-flavored ice pops from the freezer." |
|
|
confines
|
the border or limits of a particular space
|
|
|
configuration
|
the way in which the parts of an object are fitted together
|
|
|
confidant
(KON fi dahnt) |
someone that you tell all your secrets to
|
|
|
condescend
|
to willingly do something that is beneath a person's dignity OR to act in a way that shows you think you are better than others
|
|
|
concoction
|
a mixture of different ingredients
|
|
|
concede
|
to give in; to surrender OR to grudgingly admit that something is true
|
|
|
compute
|
to work toward a solution through the use of math or a computer
|
|
|
compatible
|
able to exist or work together in the same system
|
|
|
communal
(kuh MYOO nul) |
related to or serving every person in the community
"The wait staff at the coffee shop had a communal tip jar, which they emptied and split evenly every night." |
|
|
commission
|
to grant authority to someone or some group for a specific purpose OR (n.) a group of people granted the authority to do something
|
|
|
comely
(KUM lee) |
attractive and pleasant
"At our school's Thanksgiving dance, the comely lad had more than his fair share of willing dance partners." |
|
|
combustion
|
the act of burning
|
|
|
coherent
|
easily understood; logically connected
|
|
|
coax
|
to gently persuade
|
|
|
coalition
|
a group of people acting together for a specific goal
"The sewer workers formed a coalition in order to demand higher pay and thicker boots." |
|
|
clutter
|
a bunch of things scattered around in a mess OR (v.) to fill up in a way that stops movement or action
|
|
|
clincher
|
the final, decisive act or point
|
|
|
clarify
|
to make something easier to understand; to explain in greater detail
|
|
|
cite
|
to quote as an example OR to mention as a reward for honorable action
|
|
|
circulate
|
to move around freely OR to spread widely
|
|
|
chronological
|
arranged according to time of occurance, from earliest to latest
|
|
|
chide
|
to scold
|
|
|
cherish
|
to value highly; to affectionately care for
|
|
|
charisma
|
an exceptional ability to be liked and admired by a great number of people
|
|
|
char
|
to burn until reduced to charcoal or to burn a little
|
|
|
celestial
|
having to do with the stars or sky
|
|
|
cavort
|
to jump and leap about playfully
"Our family cavorted in the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean until someone yelled "shark!" |
|
|
calvacade
|
a procession of notable events or people
|
|
|
cataclysm
(KAT uh kliz um) |
a terrible disaster; a violent change in the earth
"The island of Krakatoa was destroyed by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in 1883." |
|
|
canny
|
careful and shrewd; cautious
|
|
|
cajole
|
to influence someone by using flattery or lies
|
|
|
cackle
|
to laugh in a high-pitched, unpleasant manner
|
|
|
cache
(KASH) |
a hidden supply of goods
|
|
|
bustle
|
to hurry around; to walk around busily OR (n.) lots of activity
|
|
|
burnish
|
to rub a surface until it's smooth and shiny
|
|
|
burly
|
very stocky and muscled
|
|
|
brethren
(BRETH run) |
a group of relatives; associates within the same organization
|
|
|
bore
|
to drill into something, creating a hole
"We bored holes into the flat piece of oak so we could place legs in them and create a table." |
|
|
bombard
(bawm BARD) |
to continuously strike at a place, usually using some kind of explosive; to fire at repeatedly
"My teacher bombarded me with so many questions that I regretted having raised my hand." |
|
|
bog
|
to be slowed down or hindered OR (n.) a damp, muddy place filled with decaying plants, somewhat like a swamp
|
|
|
blockade
|
to surround a place so that nothing can get in or out
|
|
|
bloat
|
to swell up
|
|
|
bleary
|
blurred and indistinct, usually by tears; fuzzy and vague
|
|
|
blase
(blah ZAY) |
bored or uninterested due to constant exposure
"The fans screamed wildly after Plonsky hit the home run, but the blase expresson on the announcer's face did not change at all." |
|
|
bipartisan
|
made up of two political parties
|
|
|
bias
|
a personal leaning or point of view in one direction OR (v.) to cause to have bias or be biased
"The Texan judges were biased against all the contestants from New York City." |
|
|
bewilder
|
to confuse greatly
|
|
|
bestow
|
to present a gift or honor
|
|
|
besiege
(bee SEEJ) |
to surround a city in order to conquer it; to swamp or overwhelm
"Our office was besieged with phone calls after a local news station reported that we were giving away free turkeys for Thanksgiving." |
|
|
bellow
|
to yell in a deep voice
|
|
|
bearing
|
to way in which you walk or handle yourself OR the knowledge of your general location (usually bearings)
|
|
|
beam
|
to send a signal OR to smile proudly
|
|
|
bandy
|
to throw back and forth; to exchange
|
|
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balk
(BAWK) |
to stop in the middle of something and refuse to proceed
"I was about to ask Richard to the dance, but I balked at the last minute and instead talked about the weather." |
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baleful
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evil or harmful; threatening OR wretched and miserable
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awry
(uh RYE) |
turned or twisted out of shape
"My plans to skip school went awry when my mother saw my foot sticking out from under my bed." |
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awe
|
a feeling of wonder usually felt in the presence of something magnificent or majestic
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avant-garde
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ahead of the times by being new and different, especially in the arts
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authentic
|
genuine and true; not fake
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audible
|
loud enough to be heard
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atrophy
(AT roh fee) |
the wasting or withering away of parts of the body
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atmosphere
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the mixture of gases that surround a planet and is held by gravity OR the mood of a place
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asset
|
a worthwhile object or quality that a person or thing possesses
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assess
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to evaluate; figure out the value or importance of OR to charge with a special payment
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assert
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to state a viewpoint definitively; to declare OR to defend or maintain
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assailant
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a person who attacks someone else
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aspect
|
an element or feature; look or appearance
"The fact that people are often forced to parallel park is one of the more annoying aspects of driving a car." |
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arid
|
very dry; having little rainfall
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ardent
|
greatly passionate or enthusiastic
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arbitrate
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to agree to have a dispute settled by a third party; to settle a dispute
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apt
|
just right for the occasion OR quick to learn
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append
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to add on to something
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apparition
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a visible spirit or ghost
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appall
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to shock or amaze; to horrify
"Larry's ability to turn his eyelids inside out was truly appaling." |
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antisocial
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avoiding the company of other people OR interfering with society
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analysis
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the process of separating something into smaller partys to better understand the properties of the object as a whole
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analogy
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some form of similarity between two things that are otherwise unlike; an explanation that compares one thing to something else that is similar
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amass
|
to gather or gain; to increase
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altruistic
|
showing concern for the well being in others
"The altruistic efforts of Mother Teresa of Calcutta have saved thousands of poor people from starvation and disease." |
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ally
(AL eye) |
a country or person that is united or joined with another for a certain reason
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alliance
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a formal agreement between two or more groups to unite
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allege
|
to declare that something is true without offering any proof
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ail
(AYL) |
to suffer from sickness; to cause to suffer
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affected
|
charged or influenced in some way OR behaving in an artificial manner
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admonish
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to scold or criticize in a friendly yet serious way
"My grandfather admonished me every time I forgot to call him "Sir". |
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adjacent
|
next to or nearby; lying close by
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adage
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an old saying that is usually considered to be true
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acquisition
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the act of obtaining something; something added, like an addition to an existing collection
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accumulate
(uk KYOO muh layt) |
to collect or gain; to increase
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accord
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to grant or give; to be in agreement OR (n.) harmony or agreement
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accommodate
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to help someone; to adjust or adapt; to have room for
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access
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the right to enter or use; the act of entering
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academic
|
having to do with school or college
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abyss
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a seemingly bottomless hole or space
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abridge
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to reduce; to limit
"The tough editor took my two-hundred page novel and abridged it into a three-page pamphlet." |
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abound
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to be plentiful; to be full
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abominable
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horrible or unpleasant
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abide
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to tolerate or put up with; to agree to go along with; to remain to stay
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abhor
(ab HOR) |
to regard with disgust or hatred
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