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140 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
(v) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming
S Amend, Better A worsen, aggravate, exacerbate |
Ameliorate
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(n) poise, assurance, great self confidence; perpendicularity
S composure; self-possesion; levelheadedness A confusion, embarrassment, abashment |
Aplomb
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adj pompous or overblown in language; full of high- sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas
S inflated, highfalutin, high-flown, pretentious A unadorned, simple, plain, austere |
bombastic
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(adj) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers
S green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced A mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated |
callow
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(n) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking;nonsense
(v) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly S(n) balderdash, hogwash, tommyrot (v) salver |
drivel
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(n) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality
S abstract, digest, model, archetype |
epitome
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(v) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
S entreat, implore, adjure A discourage, advise against, deprecate |
exhort
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(adj. adv) by virtue of holding a certain office
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ex officio
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(v) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
S encroach, impinge, intrude, poach A stay in bounds |
infringe
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(v) to make oneself agrreable and this gain favor or acceptance by others
S cozy up to, curry favor with A alienate, humiliate oneself, mortify oneself |
ingratiate
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(n) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder
S trespasser, meddler, buttinsky |
interloper
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(adj) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or pat
S immanent, organic A extrinsic, external, outward |
intrinsic
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(v) to make violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
S rail, harangue, fulminate, remonstrate A acclaim, glorify, extol |
inveigh
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(n) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy
A fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor A energy, vitality, animation, liveliness |
lassitude
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(n) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy
S chiliad, golden age, prosperity, peace A doomsday, day of judgement |
millenium
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(adj) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means
(v) to hide, conceal; eclipse (n) matters involving the supernatural S (adj) supernatural, esoteric,abstruse,arcane A (adj) mundane, common, public, exoteric |
occult
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(v) to spread through, penetrate, soak throgh
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permeate
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(v) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to
(adj) characterized by excessive haste (n) moisture; the product of an action or process S (v) provoke, produce (adj) reckless, impetuous A (adj) wary, cautious,circumspect |
precipitate
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(adj) strict, severe; rogorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to taste
S stern, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative A lenient, mild, lax,permissive |
stringent
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(v) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess
(n) likely idea that lacks definite proof S (v) infer, gather (n) inference, presumption |
surmise
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(v) to have an intense dislike or hatred for
S loathe, abhor, despise, detest A relish, savor, cherish, esteem |
abominate
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(n) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend
S adaptation |
acculturation
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(adj) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired not congenital
S: Extrinsic, incidental, fortuitous A essential, intrinsic, inherent, congenital |
adventitious
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(v) to assign or refer to, attribute
S impute credit attribute |
ascribe
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(adj) roundabout, not direct
S indirect, meandoring, winding A straight, direct, as the crow flies |
circuitous
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(v) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress
S feel sorry for, empathize A feel no sympathy for |
commiserate
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(v) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit
S bid, charge, command, adjure A allow, permit |
enjoin
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(v) to make easy, cause to progress faster
S accelerate, facilitate, speed up A hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct |
expedite
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(v) to make amends, make up for; to avert
S redeem, make amends for, atone, makereparation |
expiate
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(n) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence;
((v) to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action S (n) commotion, turmoil, unrest A (n) peace and quiet, tranquility,placidity |
ferment
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(adj) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental
S accidental, unconsidered A deliberate, intentional, premeditated |
inadvertant
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(adj) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously
S titular, token, trifling, inconsequential, Areal, actual, exorbitant, excessive |
nominal
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(adj) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clearposition or to say yes or no
S cagey, uninformative,playing it safe, playing it close to the vest A positive, definite, committed |
noncommittal
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(v) to steal something that has been given into one's trust; to take improperly for one's own use
S embezzle, defraud, misappropriate |
peculate
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(n) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency
S natural bent, penchant, propensity A inability or incapacity |
proclivity
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(n) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances
S poise, self-asurance, equanimity A excitability hysteria, flappability |
sangfroid
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(adj) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established governement
S mutinous, rebellious, subversive A supportive, loyal, faithful, allegiant |
seditious
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(adj) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported
S flimsy, insubstantial, vague,hazy A strong, solid, substantial, valid |
tenuous
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(adj) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting
S withering, acerbic, mordant A bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary |
vitriolic
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(v) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end
S cajole, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk A coerce, browbeat, intimidate, strong-arm |
wheedle
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(adj) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
S genial, amicable, agreeable, cordial A surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable` |
affable
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(v) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
S augment, amplify, enhanve, exalt A reduce, decrease, diminish |
aggrandize
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(adj) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity or cohesion
S formless, unstructured, nebulous,inchoate A definite, well-defined, clear-cut |
amorphous
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(n) that which surrounds; a distinctive air or personal quality
S ambience, atmosphere |
aura
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(n) illegal traffic, smuggled goods;(adj) illegal, prohibited
S (adj) illicit, bootleg, unlawful A (adj) legal, lawful,licit |
contraband
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(adj) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
S profoundly educated, well-read A ignorant, uneducated, illiterate |
erudite
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(adj) thin. light. delicate. in substantial
(n) a very thin , light cloth S (adj) filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery,gauzy A (adj) thick, dense, solid, massive |
gossamer
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(V)to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply
S gather, deduce,presume,guess,speculate |
infer
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(adj) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically
S impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic A comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable |
inscrutable
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(adj) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an islan; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
S narrow-minded, parochial, provincial A catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal |
insular
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(adj) incapable of being changed or called back
S irreveresible, unrecallable, unalterable A reversible, changeable |
Irrevocable
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(n) a natural inclination or predilection toward
S natural bent, proclivity, penchant A natural incapacity or inability |
propensity
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(adj) peevish, complaining, fretful
S petulant, touchy, cranky, irritable A uncomplaining, stoical,serene, placid |
querulous
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(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to
S reason against, expostulate |
remonstrate
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(v) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of
S disavow, abjure, renounce A avow, affirm, aver, avouch |
repudiate
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(adj) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
S springy, elastic, buoyant, bouncy A rigid, stiff, inflexible, unyielding |
resilient
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(v) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
S rumble, thunder, boom, echo |
reverberate
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(adj) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low, foul mouthed
S obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative A decorous, seemly, tasteful, dignified |
scurrilous
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(adj) persistent, showing industry and determination
S assiduous, tireless, indefatigable A lackadaisical, listless, indolent, otiose |
sedulous
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(adj) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable
S inferior, cheesy, tawdry, tatty A superior, first-rate, quality, sturdy |
sleazy
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(n) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution
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amnesty
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(n) self-government, political control
S home rile A dependence, subjection, colonial status |
autonomy
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(adj.) self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule
S taken for granted A questionable, dubious, controversial |
axiomatic
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(v) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely
S broadcast, trumpet A hide, conceal, cover up, bury |
blazon
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(n) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior
S admonition, word to the wise |
caveat
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(adj) fair, just, embodying principles of justice
S right, reasonable, evenhanded A unjust, unfair, one-sided, sisproportionate |
equitable
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(v) to free from entabglements or difficulties; to remove with effort
S disentangle, extract, disengage A enmesh, entangle, involve |
extricate
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(v) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts
S pilfer, purloin, swipe |
filch
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(v) to mock, treat with contempt
S scoff at, sneer at, snicker at, scorn A obey, honor, revere, uphold |
flout
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(adj) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable
S refractory, recalcitrant, peevish A docile, tractable, cooperative |
fractious
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(n) a rule of conduct or action
S principle, maxim |
precept
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(adj) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome
S salubrious, curative A detrimental, deleterious, pernicious |
salutary
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(adj) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm
S searing, harsh, ferocious, savage A bland mild |
scathing
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(v) to whip, punish severly
(n) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism S (v) flog,beat (n) bane, plague, pestilence A (n) godsend, boon, blessing |
scourge
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(adj) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremly gloomy or dismal
S doleful, lugubrious, mortuary |
sepulchral
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(adj) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy;
(n) something that induces sleep S (n) narcotic, anesthetic A (adj) stimulating; (n) stimulant, stimulus |
soporific
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(adj) extremly strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical
S highly conventional, overly strict, stuffy A lax loose, indulgent, permissive, dissolute |
straitlaced
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(adj) lasting a short time, fleeting
(n) one who stays only a short ime S ( adj) impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent A (adj) permanent, imperishable, immortal |
transient
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(adj) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity
S cumbersome, bulky, clumsy, impractical A manageable, easy to handle |
unwieldy
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(adj) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force
S insipid, lifeless, colorless A zesty, spicy, savory, colorful, lively |
vapid
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(adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor
S: forbidding, rigorous, puritanical, ascetic, unadorned, subdued A: mild, indulgent, luxurious, flamboyant |
Austere
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(adj) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
S exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant A normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary |
anomalous
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(n) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
S innuendo, calumny, denigration A endorsement, testimonail, praise |
aspersion
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(adj) extremly strange, unusual, atypical
S grotesque, fantastic, outlandish A normal, typical, ordinary, expected |
bizarre
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(adj) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
S curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough A gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic |
brusque
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(v) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or flase promises
S wheedle, inveigle, soft- soap, sweet- talk A coerce, force, strong-arm |
cajole
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(v) to punish severely; to criticize severely
S chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid A reward, honor, priase, laud |
castigate
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(v) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan
S think up, devise, concoct, fabricate |
contrive
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(n) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
S rabble-rouse, firebrand |
demagogue
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(v) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
S undeceive, enlighten, set straight A deceive, delude, pull wool over one's eyes |
disabuse
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(n) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
S languor, world-weariness, listlessness A enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensify |
ennui
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(n) a chain or shackle placed on the feet; anything that confines or restrains
(v) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent S (n) bond, restraint; (v) bind, hamper N (v) freem liberate, emancipate |
fetter
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(adj) very wicked, offensive, hateful
S evil, odious, abominable, outrageous N excellent, wonderful, splendid |
heinous
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(adj) not subject to change, constant
S unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable A changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle |
immutable
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(n) one who rebels or rises against authority
(adj) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on S (adj) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous A (adj) loyalist, loyal, faithful |
insurgent
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(n) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality
S delusions of grandeur A humility, modesty, self- abasement |
megalomania
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(n) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job
S "no show" job, cushy job, "plum" |
sinecure
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(adj) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
S furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed A open, frank, aboveboard, overt |
surreptitious
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(v) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
S overstep, exceed, trespass, err A obey, toe the line |
transgress
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(v) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another
S transform, convert, translate, metamorphose A maintain unchanged, preserve |
transmute
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(adj) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
S surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhand A real, actual, firsthand |
vicarious
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(adj.) performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits, doing good
S: humanitarian, magnanimous, charitable A: selfish, cruel, harmful, deleterious |
Beneficent
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(adj.) pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse
S: corselike, wasted, haggard, emaciated, ghastly A: robust, prtly, rosy, the picture of health |
Cadaverous
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(v.)to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as a dish); to devise, invent, fabricate.
S:create, fashion, rustle up |
Concoct
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(adj.)coarse, unfeeling; stupid
S: cruse, bulgar, tasteless, oafish, obtuse A: refined, elegant, tasteful, polished, brilliant |
Crass
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(v.) to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade, adulterate; to cause to deteriorate
S: cheapen, corrupt, demean, depreciate A; elevate, uplift, improve, enhance |
Debase
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(v.) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute
S: profane, defile, violate A: revere, honor venerate, consecrate |
Desecrate
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(v.) to confuse; to disturb the composure of
S: upset, rattle, ruffle, faze, perturb A: relax, calm, put at ease |
Disconcert
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(adj.) grand in an impressive or stately way; maked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated
S: majestic, bombastic, highfalutin A: simple, modest, unaffected, humble |
Grandiose
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(adj.) trifling, unimportant
S: trivial, negligible, petty, paltry A:important, essential, crucial, vital |
Inconsequential
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(n.) a breaking of a law or obligation
S: violation, transgression, breach, offense |
Infraction
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(v.) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity
S: lessen, relieve, alleviate, diminish A: aggravate, intensify, irritate, exacerbate |
Mitigate
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(v.) to rob of goods by open force (as in war), plunder; (n.) the act of looting; booty
S: (v.) ravage, sack loot' (n.) booty |
Pillage
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(v.) to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion
S: chatter, prattle, blab, blabber, palaver A: come to the point, not waste words |
Prate
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(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety
S: precise, scrupulous, exacting, fussy, finicky A: careless negligent, lax perfunctory |
Punctilious
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(adj.) insiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent
S: Formidable, fearsome, awsome, august A: laughable, risible, contemptible |
Redoubtable
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(v.) to find fault with, scold, rebuke
S: chide, chastise, upbraid, reproach A: praise, commend, laud, pat on the back |
Reprove
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(n.) the act of restoring someone or soemthing to the rightful owner or to a former state or position; making good on a loss or damage
: compensation, reimbursemen, redress, restoration |
Restitution
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(adj.) strong and sturdy; brave; resolute; (n.) a brave, strong person; a strong supporter; one who takes an uncompromising position
S: ( adj.) sturdy, stout, intrepid, valiant; *n.) mainstay A: (adj.) weak, infirm, irresolute, vacillating |
Stalwart
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(adj.) open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected
S: defenseless, exposed, unguarded A: invincible, protected, safe, secure |
vulnerable
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(n) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval
S commendation, sanction A disapproval, condemnation, censure |
approbation
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(n) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose
S alliance, league, federation, combine A splinter group |
coalition
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(v) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to pit an end to, appease, satisfy, quench
S mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay A intensify, aggravate, exacerbate |
assuage
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(n) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence
S degeneration, corruption A rise, growth, development, maturation |
decadence
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(v) to draw forthl bring out from some source
S call forth, evoke, extract, educe A repress, quash, squelch, stifle |
elicit
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(v) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning
S protest, remonstrate, complain |
expostulate
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(adj) used so often as to lack freshness or originality
S banal, trite, commonplace, corny A new, fresh, novel, original |
hackneyed
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(n) a gap, opening, break
S pause, lacuna A continuity, continuation |
hiatus
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(n)a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference
S insinuation, intimation A direct statement |
innuendo
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(v) to pleade on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go between in a disagreement
S intervene, mediate |
intercede
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(adj) wearied, worn-out, dulled
S sated, surfeited, cloyed A unspoiled, uncloyed |
jaded
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(adj) causing shock, horro, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint
S gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly(pokemon) A pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome |
lurid
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(adj) worthy, deserving recognition and praise
S praiseworthy, laudable, commendable A blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable |
meritorious
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(adj) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
S irritable, testy, waspish A even-tempered, placid serene, amiable |
petulant
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(n) a special right or privelege; a special quality showing excellence
S perquisite, perk |
prerogative
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(adj) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside
(n)a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony S ( adj) narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naive A (adj) cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded |
provincial
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(v) to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of
S feign, pretend, affect |
simulate
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(v) to rise above or beyond, exceed
S surpass, outstrip |
transcend
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(n) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade, an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspiscion
S irritation, pique, annoyance A pleasure, delight, satisfaction |
umbrage
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(adj) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty; oily; pliable
S mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy A gruff, blunt |
unctuous
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