GRE

impasse

A BLOCKED PATH; A DILEMMA WITH NO SOLUTION The rock slide produced an impasse, so no one could proceed further on the road. Synonyms: cul-de-sac; deadlock; stalemate

collusion

A COLLABORATION; COMPLICITY; CONSPIRACY It came to light that the police chief and the mafia had a collusion in running the numbers racket. Synonyms: connivance; intrigue; machination

phalanx

A COMPACT OR CLOSE-KNIT BODY OF PEOPLE, ANIMALS, OR THINGS A phalanx of guards stood outside the prime minister's home day and night. Synonyms: legion; mass

imprecation

A CURSE Spouting violent imprecations, Hank searched for the person who had vandalized his truck. Synonym: damnation

malediction

A CURSE; A WISH OF EVIL UPON ANOTHER The frog prince looked for a princess to kiss him and put an end to the witch's malediction. Synonyms: anathema; imprecation

gradations

A DEGREE OR STAGE IN A PROCESS; A VARIATION IN COLOR The paint store offers so many different gradations of red that it's impossible to choose among them. Synonyms: nuance; shade; step; subtlety

declivity

A DOWNWARD SLOPE Because the village was situated on the declivity of a hill, it never flooded. Synonyms: decline; descent; grade; slant; tilt

dogma

A FIRMLY HELD OPINION, ESPECIALLY A RELIGIOUS BELIEF Linus's central dogma was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded. Synonyms: creed; doctrine; teaching; tenet

libertine

A FREE THINKER (USUALLY USED DISPARAGINGLY); ONE WITHOUT MORAL RESTRAINT The libertine took pleasure in gambling away his family's money. Synonym: hedonist

dirge

A FUNERAL HYMN OR MOURNFUL SPEECH Melville wrote a dirge for the funeral of James McPherson, a Union general who was killed in 1864. Synonyms: elegy; lament

dissonance

A HARSH AND DISAGREEABLE COMBINATION, ESPECIALLY OF SOUNDS Cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence. Synonyms: clash; contention; discord; dissension; dissent; dissidence; friction; strife; variance

demagogue

A LEADER OR RABBLE-ROUSER, USUALLY ONE APPEALING TO EMOTION OR PREJUDICE He began his career as a demagogue, giving fiery speeches at political rallies. Synonyms: agitator; inciter; instigator

peccadillo

A MINOR SIN OR OFFENSE Gabriel tends to harp on his brother's peccadilloes and never lets him live them down. Synonyms: failing; fault; lapse; misstep

potentate

A MONARCH OR RULER WITH GREAT POWER Alex was much kinder before he assumed the role of potentate. Synonyms: dominator; leader

proclivity

A NATURAL INCLINATION OR PREDISPOSITION Her childhood love of acting, singing, and adoration indicated a proclivity for the theater later in life. Synonyms: bias; leaning; partiality; penchant; predilection; predisposition; prejudice; propensity

interregnum

A PERIOD BETWEEN REIGNS When John F. Kennedy was shot, there was a brief interregnum before Lyndon B. Johnson became president. Synonyms: interval

misanthrope

A PERSON WHO DISLIKES OTHERS The Grinch was such a misanthrope that even the sight of children singing made him angry. Synonym: curmudgeon

philistine

A PERSON WHO IS GUIDED BY MATERIALISM AND IS DISDAINFUL OF INTELLECTUAL OR ARTISTIC VALUES The philistine never even glanced at the rare violin in his collection but instead kept an eye on its value and sold it at a profit. Synonyms: boor; bourgeois; capitalist; materialist; vulgarian

epicure

A PERSON WITH REFINED TASTE IN FOOD AND WINE Niren is an epicure who always throws the most splendid dinner parties. Synonyms: bon vivant; connoisseur; gastronome; gastronomical; gourmand; gourmet

pastiche

A PIECE OF LITERATURE OR MUSIC IMITATING OTHER WORKS The playwright's clever pastiche of the well-known children's story had the audience rolling in the aisles. Synonyms: medley; spoof

juncture

A POINT OF TIME, ESPECIALLY ONE WHERE TWO THINGS ARE JOINED At this juncture, I think it would be a good idea for us to take a coffee break. Synonyms: confluence; convergence; crisis; crossroads; moment

iniquity

A SIN; AN EVIL ACT "I promise to close every den of iniquity in this town!" thundered the conservative new mayor. Synonyms: enormity; immorality; injustice; vice; wickedness

elegy

A SORROWFUL POEM OR SPEECH Though the beautiful elegy is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life, and to trust on spirituality. Synonym: dirge; lament

eulogy

A SPEECH IN PRAISE OF SOMEONE His best friend gave the eulogy, outlining his many achievements and talents. Synonyms: commend; extol; laud

lassitude

A STATE OF DIMINISHED ENERGY The lack of energy that characterizes patients with anemia makes lassitude one of the primary symptoms of the disease. Synonyms: debilitation; enervation; fatigue; languor; listlessness; tiredness; weariness

coffer

A STRONGBOX; A LARGE CHEST FOR MONEY The bulletproof glass of the coffer is what keeps the crown jewels secure. Synonyms: chest; exchequer; treasury; war chest

effigies

A STUFFED DOLL; A LIKENESS OF A PERSON Protesters burned effigies of the unpopular leader. Synonyms: dummy; figure; image

nuance

A SUBTLE EXPRESSION OF MEANING OR QUALITY The scholars argued for hours over tiny nuances in the interpretation of the last line of the poem. Synonyms: gradation; subtlety; tone

raconteur

A WITTY, SKILLFUL STORYTELLER The raconteur kept all the passengers entertained with his stories during the six-hour flight. Synonyms: anecdotalist; monologist

missive

A WRITTEN NOTE OR LETTER Priscilla spent hours composing a romantic missive for Elvis. Synonym: message

plastic

ABLE TO BE MOLDED, ALTERED, OR BENT The new material was very plastic and could be formed into products of vastly different shape. Synonyms: adaptable; ductile; malleable; pliant

replete

ABUNDANTLY SUPPLIED; COMPLETE The gigantic supermarket was replete with consumer products of every kind. Synonyms: abounding; full

invective

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE A stream of invective poured from Mrs. Pratt's mouth as she watched the vandals smash her ceramic frog. Synonyms: denunciation; revilement; vituperation

diurnal

ACTIVE OR OCCURRING DURING THE DAY Diurnal creatures tend to become inactive during the night. Synonyms: daylight; daytime

estimable

ADMIRABLE Most people consider it estimable that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India. Synonyms: admirable; commendable; creditable; honorable; laudable; meritorious; praiseworthy; respectable; venerable; worthy

overwrought

AGITATED; OVERDONE The lawyer's overwrought voice on the phone made her clients worry about the outcome of their case. Synonyms: elaborate; excited; nervous; ornate

diaphanous

ALLOWING LIGHT TO SHOW THROUGH; DELICATE These diaphanous curtains do nothing to block out the sunlight. Synonyms: gauzy; sheer; tenuous; translucent; transparent

droll

AMUSING IN A WRY, SUBTLE WAY Although the play couldn't be described as hilarious, it was certainly droll. Synonyms: comic; entertaining; funny; risible; witty

diatribe

AN ABUSIVE, CONDEMNATORY SPEECH The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off. Synonyms: fulmination; harangue; invective; jeremiad; malediction; obloquy; tirade

dictum

AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT "You have the time to lean, you have the time to clean," was the dictum our boss made us live by. Synonyms: adage; aphorism; apothegm; decree; edict

levity

AN INAPPROPRIATE LACK OF SERIOUSNESS; AN OVERLY CASUAL ATMOSPHERE The joke added a jarring note of levity to the otherwise serious meeting. Synonyms: amusement; humor

coterie

AN INTIMATE GROUP OF PERSONS WITH A SIMILAR PURPOSE Angel invited a coterie of fellow stamp enthusiasts to a stamp-trading party. Synonyms: clique; set

inquest

AN INVESTIGATION; AN INQUIRY The police chief ordered an inquest to determine what went wrong. Synonyms: probe; quest; research

penury

AN OPPRESSIVE LACK OF RESOURCES (AS MONEY); SEVERE POVERTY Once a famous actor, he eventually died in penury and anonymity. Synonyms: destitution; impoverishment

pariah

AN OUTCAST Once he betrayed those in his community, he was banished and lived the life of a pariah. Synonyms: castaway; derelict; leper; offscouring; untouchable

ostensible

APPARENT The ostensible reason for his visit was to borrow a book, but he secretly wanted to chat with the lovely Wanda. Synonyms: represented; supposed; surface

decorum

APPROPRIATENESS OF BEHAVIOR OR CONDUCT; PROPRIETY The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace. Synonyms: correctness; decency; etiquette; manners; mores; propriety; seemliness

lucid

CLEAR AND EASILY UNDERSTOOD The explanations were written in a simple and lucid manner so that the students were immediately able to apply what they learned. Synonyms: clear; coherent; explicit; intelligible; limpid

limpid

CLEAR; TRANSPARENT Fernando could see all the way to the bottom through the pond's limpid water. Synonyms: lucid; pellucid; serene

explicit

CLEARLY STATED OR SHOWN; FORTHRIGHT IN EXPRESSION The journalist wrote an explicit description of the gruesome murder. Synonyms: candid; clear-cut; definite; definitive; express; frank; specific; straightforward; unambiguous; unequivocal

numismatics

COIN COLLECTING Tom's passion for numismatics has resulted in an impressive collection of coins from all over the world.

probity

COMPLETE HONESTY AND INTEGRITY George Washington's reputation for probity is illustrated in the legend about his inability to lie after he chopped down the cherry tree. Synonyms: integrity; morality; rectitude; uprightness; virtue

polemic

CONTROVERSY; ARGUMENT; VERBAL ATTACK The candidates polemic against his opponent was vicious and small-minded rather than convincing and well-reasoned. Synonyms: denunciation; refutation

cogent

CONVINCING AND WELL-REASONED Swayed by the cogent argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant. Synonyms: convincing; persuasive; solid; sound; telling; valid

profligate

CORRUPT; DEGENERATE Some historians claim that it was the Romans' decadent, profligate behavior that led to the decline of the Roman Empire. Synonyms: dissolute; extravagant; improvident; prodigal; wasteful

pusillanimous

COWARDLY; WITHOUT COURAGE The pusillanimous man would not enter the yard where the miniature poodle was barking. Synonyms: cowardly; timid

plebeian

CRUDE OR COARSE; CHARACTERISTIC OF COMMONERS After five weeks of rigorous studying, the graduate settled in for a weekend of plebeian socializing and television watching. Synonyms: conventional; unrefined

lachrymose

TEARFUL Marcella always became lachrymose when it was time to bid her daughter good-bye. Synonyms: teary; weeping

ethos

THE BELIEFS OR CHARACTER OF A GROUP It is the Boy Scouts' ethos that one should always be prepared. Synonyms: culture; ethic; philosophy

distaff

THE FEMALE BRANCH OF A FAMILY The lazy husband refused to cook dinner for his wife, joking that the duty belongs to the distaff's side. Synonyms: maternal

propriety

THE QUALITY OF BEHAVING IN A PROPER MANNER; OBEYING RULES AND CUSTOMS The aristocracy maintained a high level of propriety, adhering to even the most minor social rules. Synonyms: appropriateness; decency; decorum; modesty

larceny

THEFT OF PROPERTY The crime of stealing a wallet can be categorized as petty larceny. Synonyms: burglary; robbery; stealing

precipitate

THROWN VIOLENTLY OR BROUGHT ABOUT ABRUPTLY; LACKING DELIBERATION Theirs was a precipitate marriage - they had only known each other for two weeks before they wed. Synonyms: abrupt; hasty; headlong; hurried; ill-considered; impetuous; impulsive; prompt; rash; reckless; sudden

dither

TO ACT CONFUSEDLY OR WITHOUT CLEAR PURPOSE Ellen dithered around her apartment, uncertain how to tackle the family crises. Synonyms: falter; hesitate; vacillate; waffle; waver

embellish

TO ADD ORNAMENTAL OR FICTITIOUS DETAILS Britt embellished her resume, hoping to make the lowly positions she held seem more important. Synonyms: adorn; bedeck; elaborate; embroider; enhance; exaggerate

posit

TO ASSUME AS REAL OR CONCEDED; TO PROPOSE AS AN EXPLANATION Before proving the math formula, we needed to posit that x and y were real numbers. Synonym: suggest

pervade

TO BE PRESENT THROUGHOUT; TO PERMEATE Four spices - cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne - pervade almost every Indian dish, and give the cuisine its distinctive flavor. Synonyms: imbue; infuse; penetrate; permeate; suffuse

rarefy

TO BECOME THINNER OR SPARSER Since the atmosphere rarefied as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe. Synonyms: attenuate; thin

impugn

TO CALL INTO QUESTION; TO ATTACK VERBALLY "How dare you impugn my motives?" protested the lawyer, on being accused of ambulance chasing. Synonyms: challenge; dispute

mollify

TO CALM OR MAKE LESS SEVERE Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would mollify them. Synonyms: appease; assuage; conciliate; pacify

ossify

TO CHANGE INTO BONE; TO BECOME HARDENED OR SET IN A RIGIDLY CONVENTIONAL PATTERN The forensics expert ascertained the body's age based on the degree to which the facial structure had ossified.

exculpate

TO CLEAR FROM BLAME; TO PROVE INNOCENT The legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and exculpate those who are innocent. Synonyms: absolve; acquit; clear; exonerate; vindicate

exonerate

TO CLEAR OF BLAME The fugitive was exonerated when another criminal confessed to committing the crime. Synonyms: absolve; acquit; clear; exculpatory; vindicate

propitiate

TO CONCILIATE; TO APPEASE Because their gods were angry and vengeful, the Vikings propitiate do them with many sacrifices. Synonyms: appease; conciliate; mollify; pacify; placate

ford

TO CROSS A BODY OF WATER BY WADING Because of the recent torrential rains, the Cowboys were unable to ford the swollen river. Synonyms: traverse; wade

mar

TO DAMAGE OR DEFACE; TO SPOIL Telephone poles mar the natural beauty of the countryside. Synonyms: blemish; disfigure; impair; injure; scar

gambol

TO DANCE OR SKIP AROUND PLAYFULLY From her office, Amy enviously watched the playful puppies gambol around Central Park. Synonyms: caper; cavort; frisk; frolic; rollick; romp

flag

TO DECLINE IN VIGOR, STRENGTH, OR INTEREST The marathon runner slowed down as his strength flagged. Synonyms: dwindle; ebb; slacken; subside; wane

jettison

TO DISCARD; TO GET RID OF AS UNNECESSARY OR ENCUMBERING The sinking ship jettisoned its cargo in a desperate attempt to reduce its weight. Synonyms: dump; eject

desiccate

TO DRY OUT THOROUGHLY After a few weeks lying on the deserts baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely desiccated. Synonyms: dehydrate; dry; parch

opine

TO EXPRESS AND OPINION At the "Let's Chat Talk Show," the audience member opined that the guest was in the wrong. Synonyms: point out; voice

demur

TO EXPRESS DOUBTS OR OBJECTIONS When scientific authorities claimed that all the planets revolved around the Earth, Galileo, with his superior understanding of the situation, was forced to demur. Synonyms: dissent; expostulate; protest; remonstrate

divine

TO FORETELL OR KNOW BY INSPIRATION The fortune-teller divined from the pattern of the tea leaves that her customer would marry five times. Synonyms: auger; foresee; intuit; predict; presage

ingratiate

TO GAIN FAVOR WITH ANOTHER BY DELIBERATE EFFORT; TO SEEK TO PLEASE SOMEBODY SO AS TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE The new intern tried to ingratiate herself with the managers so that they might consider her for a future job. Synonyms: curry favor; flatter

garner

TO GATHER AND STORE The director managed to garner financial banking from several different sources for his next project. Synonyms: acquire; amass; glean; harvest; reap

fawn

TO GROVEL The understudy fawned over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis. Synonyms: bootlick; grovel; pander; toady

coalesce

TO GROW TOGETHER TO FORM A SINGLE WHOLE The sun and planets eventually coalesced out of a vast cloud of gas and dust. Synonyms: amalgamate; blend; condense; consolidate; fuse; unite

inure

TO HARDEN; ACCUSTOM Eventually, Hassad became inured to the sirens that went off every night and could sleep through them. Synonyms: condition; familiarize; habituate

proliferate

TO INCREASE IN NUMBER QUICKLY Although he only kept two guinea pigs initially, they proliferated to such an extent that he soon had dozens. Synonyms: breed; multiply; procreate; reproduce; spawn

imbue

TO INFUSE, DYE, WET OR MOISTEN Marcia struggled to imbue her children with decent values, a difficult task in this day and age. Synonyms: charge; freight; impregnate; permeate; pervade

edify

TO INSTRUCT MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY The guru was paid to deify the actress in the ways of Buddhism. Synonyms: educate; enlighten; guide; teach

nettle

TO IRRITATE I don't particularly like having blue hair - I just do it to nettle my parents. Synonyms: annoy; vex

prevaricate

TO LIE OR DEVIATE FROM THE TRUTH Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee prevaricated and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time. Synonyms: equivocate; lie; perjure

palliate

TO MAKE LESS SERIOUS; TO EASE The alleged crime was so vicious that the defense lawyer could not palliate it for the jury. Synonyms: alleviate; assuage; extenuate; mitigate

husband

TO MANAGE ECONOMICALLY; TO USE SPARINGLY The cyclist paced herself at the start of the race, knowing that if she husbanded her resources she'd have the strength to break out of the pack later on. Synonyms: conserve; ration

lumber

TO MOVE SLOWLY AND AWKWARDLY The bear lumbered toward the garbage, drooling at the prospect of the leftovers he smelled. Synonyms: galumph; hulk; lurch; stumble

militate

TO OPERATE AGAINST; WORK AGAINST Lenin militated against the tsar for years before he overthrew him and established the Soviet Union. Synonyms: affect; change; influence

cosset

TO PAMPER; TO TREAT WITH GREAT CARE Marta just loves to cosset her first and only grandchild. Synonyms: cater to; cuddle; dandle; fondle; love; pamper; pet; spoil

permeate

TO PENETRATE This miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to permeate stains and dissolve them in minutes! Synonyms: imbue; infuse; pervade; suffuse

discern

TO PERCEIVE OR RECOGNIZE It is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping. Synonyms: catch; descry; detect; differentiate; discriminate; distinguish; espy; glimpse; know; separate; spot; spy; tell

forestall

TO PREVENT OR DELAY; TO ANTICIPATE The landlord forestalled T.J.'s attempt to avoid paying the rent by waiting for him outside his door. Synonyms: avert; deter; hinder; obviate; preclude

obviate

TO PREVENT; TO MAKE UNNECESSARY The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which obviates the need for a bridge. Synonyms: forestall; preclude; prohibit

engender

TO PRODUCE, CAUSE, OR BRING ABOUT His fear and hatred of clowns was engendered when he witnessed a bank robbery carried out by five men wearing clown suits and makeup. Synonyms: beget; generate; spawn

enervate

TO REDUCE IN STRENGTH The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would enervate the regular army. Synonyms: debilitate; enfeebled; sap; weaken

repudiate

TO REJECT THE VALIDITY OF The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was repudiated by other known relatives. Synonyms: deny; disavow; disclaim; disown; renounce

lampoon

TO RIDICULE WITH SATIRE The mayor hated being lampooned by the press for his efforts to improve people's politeness. Synonym: tease

disabuse

TO SET RIGHT; TO FREE FROM ERROR Galileo's observations disabused scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the Earth. Synonyms: correct; undeceive

eschew

TO SHUN; TO AVOID (AS SOMETHING WRONG OR DISTASTEFUL) The filmmaker eschewed artificial light for her actors, resulting in a stark movie style. Synonyms: avoid; elude; escape; evade; shun; shy

mitigate

TO SOFTEN; TO LESSEN A judge may mitigate a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of need. Synonyms: allay; alleviate; assuage; ease; lighten; moderate; mollify; palliate; temper

placate

TO SOOTHE OR PACIFY The burglar tried to placate the snarling dog by referring to it as a "nice doggy" and offering it a treat. Synonyms: appease; conciliate; mollify

occlude

TO STOP UP; TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF A shadow is thrown across the Earth's surface during a solar eclipse, when the light from the sun is occluded by the moon. Synonyms: barricade; block; close; obstruct

distend

TO SWELL, INFLATE, OR BLOAT Her stomach was distended after she gorged on the six-course meal. Synonyms: broaden; bulge

inculcate

TO TEACH; TO IMPRESS IN THE MIND Most parents inculcate their children with their beliefs and ideas instead of allowing their children to develop their own values. Synonyms: implant; indoctrinate; instill; preach

lionize

TO TREAT AS A CELEBRITY After the success of his novel, the author was lionized by the press. Synonyms: feast; honor; regale

pare

TO TRIM OFF EXCESS; TO REDUCE The cook's hands were sore after she pared hundreds of potatoes for the banquet. Synonyms: clip; peel

equivocate

TO USE EXPRESSIONS OF DOUBLE MEANING IN ORDER TO MISLEAD When faced with criticism of his policies, the politician equivocated and left all parties thinking he agreed with them. Synonyms: ambiguous; evasive; waffling

peregrinate

TO WANDER FROM PLACE TO PLACE, TO TRAVEL, ESPECIALLY ON FOOT Shivani enjoyed peregrinating the expansive grounds of Central Park. Synonyms: journey; traverse; trek

parry

TO WARD OFF OR DEFLECT, ESPECIALLY BY A QUICK-WITTED ANSWER Kari parried every question the army officers fired at her, much to their frustration. Synonyms: avoid; evade; repel

liberal

TOLERANT OR BROAD-MINDED; GENEROUS OR LAVISH Cali's liberal parents trusted her and allowed her to manage her own affairs to a large extent. Synonyms: bounteous; latitudinarian; munificent; permissive; progrssive

credulous

TOO TRUSTING; GULLIBLE Although some four-year-olds believe in the Tooth Fairy, only the most credulous nine-year-olds also believe in her. Synonyms: naïve; susceptible; trusting

legerdemain

TRICKERY The little boy thought his legerdemain was working on his mother but she in fact knew about every hidden toy and stolen cookie. Synonyms: chicanery; conjuring

onerous

TROUBLESOME AND OPPRESSIVE; BURDENSOME The assignment was so extensive and difficult to manage that it proved onerous to the team in charge of it. Synonyms: arduous; backbreaking; burdensome; cumbersome; difficult; exacting; formidable; hard; laborious; oppressive; rigorous; taxing; trying

prudence

WISDOM; CAUTION OR RESTRAINT The college student exhibited prudence by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her résumé. Synonyms: astuteness; circumspection; discretion; frugality; judiciousness; providence; thrift

plethora

EXCESS Assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a plethora of excuses. Synonyms; glut; overabundance; superfluity; surfeit

ostentation

EXCESSIVE SHOWINESS The ostentation of the Sun King's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxuriousness of his palace at Versailles. Synonyms: conspicuousness; flashiness; pretentiousness; showiness

ebullient

EXHILARATED; FULL OF ENTHUSIASM AND HIGH SPIRITS The ebullient child exhausted the babysitter, who lacked the energy to keep up with her. Synonyms: ardent; avid; bubbly; zestful

nominal

EXISTING IN NAME ONLY; NEGLIGIBLE A nominal but far from devoted member is the high school yearbook committee, she rarely attends meetings. Synonyms: minimal; titular

ersatz

FAKE Edda, a fashion maven, knew instantly that her friend's new Kate Spade bag was really an ersatz version purchased on the street. Synonyms: artificial; dummy; false; imitation; mock; sham; simulated; spurious; substitute

intrepid

FEARLESS; RESOLUTELY COURAGEOUS Despite freezing winds, the intrepid hiker completed his ascent. Synonym: brave

metaphor

FIGURE OF SPEECH COMPARING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS The metaphor "a sea of troubles" suggests a lot of troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea. Synonyms: allegory; analogy; simile; symbol

mores

FIXED CUSTOMS OR MANNERS; MORAL ATTITUDES In keeping with the mores of ancient Roman society, Nero held a celebration every weekend. Synonyms: conventions; practices

panache

FLAMBOYANCE OR DASH IN STYLE AND ACTION; VERVE Leah has such panache when planning parties, even when they're last-minute affairs. Synonym: flair

fetid

FOUL-SMELLING; PUTRID The fetid stench from the outhouse caused Francesca to wrinkle her nose in disgust. Synonyms: funky; malodorous; noisome; rank; stinky

mirth

FRIVOLITY; GAIETY; LAUGHTER Vera's hilarious jokes contributed to the general mirth at the dinner party. Synonyms: glee; hilarity; jollity; merriment

disparate

FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT; ENTIRELY UNLIKE Although the twins are physically identical, their personalities are disparate. Synonyms: different; dissimilar; divergent; diverse; variant; various

meretricious

GAUDY; FALSELY ATTRACTIVE The casino's meretricious decor horrified the cultivated interior designer. Synonyms: flashy; insincere; loud; specious; tawdry

largess

GENEROUS GIVING (AS OF MONEY) TO OTHERE WHO MAY SEEM INFERIOR She'd always relied on her parents' largess, but after graduation she had to get a job. Synonyms: benevolence; boon; compliment; favor; present

cupidity

GREED; STRONG DESIRE The thief stared at the shining jewels with cupidity in his gleaming eyes. Synonyms: avarice; covetousness; rapacity

indolent

HABITUALLY LAZY OR IDLE Her indolent ways got her fired from many jobs. Synonyms: fainéant; languid; lethargic; slothful; sluggish

obdurate

HARDENED IN FEELING; RESISTANT TO PERSUASION The president was completely obdurate on the issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind. Synonyms: inflexible; intransigent; recalcitrant; tenacious; unyielding

innocuous

HARMLESS Some snakes are poisoned, but most species are innocuous and pose no danger to humans. Synonyms: benign; harmless; inoffensive; insipid

pejorative

HAVING BAD CONNOTATIONS; DISPARAGING The teacher scolded Mark for his unduly pejorative comments about his classmate's presentation. Synonyms: belittling; dismissive; insulting

prescient

HAVING FORESIGHT Jonah's decision to sell the apartment seemed to be a prescient one, as its value soon dropped by half. Synonyms: augural; divinatory; mantic; oracular; premonitory

ignoble

HAVING LOW MORAL STANDARDS; NOT NOBLE IN CHARACTER; MEAN The photographer was paid a princely sum for the picture of the self-proclaimed ethicist in the ignoble act of pick-pocketing Synonyms: lowly; vulgar

inimical

HOSTILE; UNFRIENDLY Even though a cease-fire had been in place for months,the two sides were still inimical to each other. Synonyms: adverse; antagonistic; dissident; recalcitrant

licentious

IMMORAL; UNRESTRAINED BY SOCIETY Religious citizens were outraged by the licentious exploits of the free-spirited artists living in town. Synonyms: lewd; wanton

panoply

IMPRESSIVE ARRAY Her résumé indicates a panoply of skills and accomplishments. Synonyms: array; display; fanfare; parade; pomp; shine; show

querulous

INCLINED TO COMPLAIN; IRRITABLE Curtis's complaint letter received prompt attention after the company labeled him a querulous potential troublemaker. Synonyms: peevish; puling; sniveling; whiny

oblique

INDIRECT OR EVASIVE; MISLEADING OR DEVIOUS Usually open and friendly, Reynaldo has been behaving Ina curiously oblique manner lately. Synonyms: glancing; slanted; tangential

inexorable

INFLEXIBLE; UNYIELDING The inexorable force of the twister swept away their house. Synonyms: adamant; obdurate; relentless

dilatory

INTENDED TO DELAY The congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill. Synonyms: dragging; flagging; laggard; lagging; slow; slow-footed; slow-going; slow-paced; tardy

fervid

INTENSELY EMOTIONAL; FEVERISH The fans of Maria Callas were particularly fervid, doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer. Synonyms: burning; impassioned; passionate; vehement; zealous

convoluted

INTRICATE AND COMPLICATED Although many people bought the professor's book, few people could follow its convoluted ideas and theories. Synonyms: Byzantine; complex; elaborate; intricate; knotty; labyrinthine; perplexing; tangled

repast

MEAL OR MEALTIME Ravi prepared a delicious repast of chicken tikka and naan. Synonyms: banquet; feast

prattle

MEANINGLESS; FOOLISH TALK Her husband's mindless prattle drove Heidi insane; sometimes she wished he would just shut up. Synonyms: babble; blather; chatter; drivel; gibberish

paragon

MODEL OF EXCELLENCE OR PERFECTION He is the paragon of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking, and just. Synonyms: apotheosis; ideal; quintessence; standard

quiescent

MOTIONLESS Many animals are quiescent over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy. Synonyms: dormant; latent

orotund

POMPOUS Roberto soon grew tired of his date's orotund babble about her new job, and decided that their first date would probably be their last. Synonyms: aureate; bombastic; declamatory; euphuistic; flowery; grandiloquent; magniloquent; oratorical; overblown; sonorous

impecunious

POOR; HAVING NO MONEY After the stock market crashed, many former millionaires found themselves impecunious. Synonyms: destitute; impoverished; indigent; needy; penniless

magnate

POWERFUL OR INFLUENTIAL PERSON The entertainment magnate bought two cable TV stations to add to his collection of magazines and publishing houses. Synonyms: dignitary; luminary; nabob; potentate; tycoon

pragmatic

PRACTICAL, AS OPPOSED TO IDEALISTIC While idealistic gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, pragmatic gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them. Synonyms: rational; realistic

pedant

SOMEONE WHO SHOWS OFF LEARNING The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a pedant. Synonyms: doctrinaire; nit-picker; pedagogue; scholar; schoolmaster; sophist

dilettante

SOMEONE WITH AN AMATEURISH AND SUPERFICIAL INTEREST IN A TOPIC Jerry's friends were such dilettantes they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week. Synonyms: amateur; dabbler; superficial; tyro

knell

SOUND OF A FUNERAL BELL; OMEN OF DEATH OR FAILURE When the townspeople heard the knell from the church belfry, they knew that their mayor had died. Synonyms: chime; peal; toll

nascent

STARTING TO DEVELOP; COMING INTO EXISTENCE The advertising campaign was still in a nascent stage, and nothing had been finalized yet. Synonyms: embryonic; emerging; inchoate; incipient

crescendo

STEADY INCREASE IN VOLUME OR FORCE The crescendo of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses. Synonyms: acme; capstone; climax; crest; culmination; meridian; peak

noisome

STINKING; PUTRID A dead mouse trapped in your walls produces a noisome odor. Synonyms: disgusting; foul; malodorous

martinet

STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN; ONE WHO RIGIDLY FOLLOWS RULES A compete martinet, the official insisted that Pete fill out all the forms again even though he was already familiar with his case. Synonyms: dictator; stickler; tyrant

fatuous

STUPID; FOOLISHLY SELF-SATISFIED Ted's fatuous comments always embarrassed his keen-witted wife at parties. Synonyms: absurd; ludicrous; preposterous; ridiculous; silly

deleterious

SUBTLY OR UNEXPECTEDLY HARMFUL If only we had known the clocks were defective before putting them on the market, it wouldn't have been so deleterious to our reputation. Synonyms: adverse; hurtful; inimical; injurious

dyspeptic

SUFFERING FROM INDIGESTION; GLOOMY AND IRRITABLE The dyspeptic young man cast a gloom over the party the minute he walked in. Synonyms: acerbic; melancholy; morose; solemn; sour

sycophant

a self-serving flatterer; a yes-man Dreading criticism, the actor surrounded himself with admirers and sycophants. Synonyms: boot licked; fawner; lickspittle; toady

stasis

a state of static balance or equilibrium The rusty, ivy-colored World War II tank had obviously been in stasis for years. Synonyms: inertia; standstill

vestige

a trace; a remnant Vestiges of the former tenant still remained in the apartment, though he hadn't lived there for years. Synonyms: relic; remains; sign

sinecure

a well-paying job or office that requires little or no work The corrupt mayor made sure to set up all his relatives in sinecures within the administration.

calumny

a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation The unscrupulous politician used calumny to bring down his opponent in the senatorial race. Synonyms: defamation; libel; slander

unequivocal

absolute; certain The jury's verdict was unequivocal: the organized crime boss would be locked up for life. Synonyms: categorical; clear; explicit; express; unambiguous

zephyr

a gentle breeze; something airy or unsubstantial The zephyr from the ocean made the intense heat on the beach bearable for the sunbathers. Synonyms: breath; draft

bevy

a group As predicted, a bevy of teenagers surrounded the rock star's limousine. Synonyms: band; bunch; gang; pack; troop

stigma

a mark of shame or discredit In "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne was required to wear the letter A on her clothes as a public stigma for her adultery. Synonyms: blemish; blot; opprobrium; stain; taint

sybarite

a person devoted to pleasure and luxury A confirmed sybarite, the nobleman fainted at the thought of having to leave his palace and live in a small cottage. Synonyms: hedonist; sensualist

trenchant

acute, sharp, or incisive; forceful; effective Tyrone's trenchant observations in class made him the professor's favorite student Synonyms: biting; caustic; cutting; keen

soporific

causing sleep or lethargy The movie proved to be so soporific that soon loud snores were heard throughout the cinema. Synonyms: hypnotic; narcotic; slumberous; somnolent

talon

claw of an animal, especially a bird of prey A vulture holds its prey in its talons while it dismembers it with its beak. Synonyms: claw; nail

symbiosis

cooperation; mutual helpfulness The rhino and the tick-eating bird live in symbiosis; the rhino gives the bird food in he form of ticks, and the bird rids the rhino of parasites. Synonyms: association; interdependence

sardonic

cynical; scornfully mocking Isabella was offended by the sardonic way in which her date made fun of her ideas and opinions. Synonyms: acerbic; caustic; sarcastic; satirical; snide

specious

deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious The student's specious excuse for being late sounded legitimate but was proved otherwise when his teacher called his home. Synonyms: illusory; ostensible; plausible; sophistic; spurious

tangential

digressing; diverting Your argument is interesting, but it's tangential to the matter at hand, so I suggest we get back to the point. Synonyms: digression; extraneous; inconsequential; irrelevant; peripheral

surfeit

excessive amount Because of the surfeit of pigs, pork prices have never been lower. Synonyms: glut; plethora; repletion; superfluity; surplus

florid

excessively decorated or embellished The palace had been decorated in an excessively florid style; every surface had been carved and gilded Synonyms: baroque; elaborate; flamboyant; ornate; ostentatious; rococo

torpor

extreme mental and physical sluggishness After the surgery, the patient's torpor lasted several hours until the anesthesia wore off. Synonyms: apathy; languor

stentorian

extremely loud Cullen couldn't hear her speaking over the stentorian din of the game on TV. Synonyms: clamorous; noisy

sacrosanct

extremely sacred; beyond criticism Many people considered Mother Teresa to be sacrosanct and would not tolerate any criticism of her. Synonyms: holy; inviolable; off-limits

audacious

fearless and daring The audacious peasant dared to insult the king's mother. Synonyms: adventuresome; aggressive; assertive; bold; brave; courageous; daring; dauntless; doughty; fearless; gallant; game; heroic; intrepid; mettlesome; plucky; stout; stouthearted; up afraid; undaunted; valiant; valorous; venturesome; venturous

solecism

grammatical mistake "I ain't going with you," she said, obviously unaware of her solecism. Synonyms: blooper; faux pas; vulgarism

spartan

highly self-disciplined; frugal; austere When he was in training, the athlete preferred to live in a spartan room, so he could shut out all distractions. Synonyms: restrained; simple

ribald

humorous in a vulgar way The court jester's ribald brand of humor delighted the rather uncouth king. Synonyms: coarse; gross; indelicate; lewd; obscene

restive

impatient; uneasy, or restless The passengers became restive after ha in yo wait in line for hours and began to shout complaints at the airline staff. Synonyms: agitated; anxious; fretful

effrontery

impudent boldness; audacity The receptionist had the effrontery to laugh out loud when the CEO tripped over a computer wire and fell flat on his face. Synonyms: brashness; gall; nerve; presumption; temerity

blithe

joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought Summer finally came, and the blithe students spent their days at the beach. Synonyms: carefree; lighthearted; merry

desultory

jumping from one thing to another; disconnected Athena had a desultory academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years. Synonyms: aimless; disconnected; erratic; haphazard; indiscriminate; object less; purposeless; random; stray; unconsidered; unplanned

diffident

lacking self-confidence Steve was diffident during the job interview because of his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field. Synonyms: backward; bashful; coy; demure; modest; retiring; self-effacing; shy; timid

ephemeral

lasting a short time The lives of mayflies seem ephemeral to us, since the flies' average life span is a matter of hours. Synonyms: evanescent; fleeting; momentary; transient

sublime

lofty or grand The music was so sublime that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place. Synonyms: august; exalted; glorious; grand; magnificent; majestic; noble; resplendent; superb

seraphic

angelic; sweet Selena's seraphic appearance belied her nasty, bitter personality. Synonyms: cherubic; heavenly

mannered

artificial or stilted in character The portrait is an example of the mannered style that was favored in that era. Synonyms: affected; unnatural

sentient

aware; conscious; able to perceive The anesthetic didn't work, and I was still sentient when the dentist started drilling! Synonyms: feeling; intelligent; thinking

tyro

beginner; novice An obvious tyro at salsa, Millicent received no invitations to dance. Synonyms: apprentice; fledgling; greenhorn; neophyte; tenderfoot

sedition

behavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state Li was arrested for sedition after he gave a fiery speech in the main square. Synonyms: conspiracy; insurrection

sobriquet

nickname One of Ronald Reagan's sobriquets was "The Gipper." Synonyms: alias; pseudonym

affected

phony; artificial The affected hairdresser spouted French phrases, though she had never been to France. Synonyms: insincere; pretentious, put-on

surly

rude and bad-tempered When asked to clean the windshield, the surly gas station attendant tossed the dirty rag at the customer and walked away. Synonyms: gruff; grumpy; testy

rustic

rural The rustic cabin was an ideal setting for a vacation in the country. Synonyms: bucolic; pastoral

sagacious

shrewd; wise Owls have a reputation for being sagacious, perhaps because of their big eyes, which resemble glasses. Synonyms: astute; judicious; perspicacious; sage; wise

wizened

shriveled; withered; wrinkled The wizened old man was told that the plastic surgery necessary to make him look young again would cost more money than he could imagine. Synonyms: atrophied; desiccated; gnarled; wasted

wan

sickly pale The sick child had a wan face, in on trash to her rosy-cheeked sister. Synonyms: ashen; sickly

taciturn

silent; not talkative The clerk's taciturn nature earned him the nickname Silent Bob. Synonyms: laconic; reticent

reticent

silent; reserved Physically small and verbally reticent, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by those she was reporting upon. Synonyms: cool; introverted; laconic; standoffish; taciturn; undemonstrative

anachronism

something out of place in time The play was set in the nineteenth century, but was ruined by anachronisms, like the lead actor's digital watch. Synonyms: archaism; incongruity

lugubrious

sorrowful; mournful; dismal Irish wakes are a rousing departure from the lugubrious funeral services to which most people are accustomed. Synonyms: funereal; gloomy; melancholy; somber; woeful

leery

suspicious After being swindled once, Ruth became leery of strangers trying to sell things to her. Synonyms: distrustful; guarded; wary

turgid

swollen as from a fluid; bloated In the process of osmosis, water passes through the walls of turgid cells, ensuring that they never contain too much water. Synonym: distended

voluble

talkative; speaking easily; glib The voluble man and his reserved wife proved the old saying that opposites attract. Synonyms: loquacious; verbose

syncopation

temporary irregularity in musical rhythm A jazz enthusiast will appreciate the use of syncopation in that musical genre.

garrulous

tending to talk a lot The garrulous parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking. Synonyms: effusive; loquacious

zenith

the point or culmination; peak The diva considered her appearance at the Metropolitan Opera to be the zenith of her career. Synonyms: acme; pinnacle

usury

the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates The moneylender was convicted of usury when it was discovered that he charged 50 percent interest on all his loans. Synonym: loan-sharking

viscous

thick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing liquid Most viscous liquids, like oil or homey, become even thicker as they are cooled down. Synonyms: gelatinous; glutinous; thick

foment

to arouse or incite The rebels tried to foment revolution through their attacks on the government. Synonyms: agitate; impassion; inflame; instigate; kindle

slake

to calm down or moderate In order to slake his curiosity, Bryan finally took a tour backstage at the theater. Synonyms: moderate; quench; satisfy

expurgate

to censor Government propagandists expurgated all negative references to the dictator from the film. Synonyms: bowdlerize; cut; sanitize

ameliorate

to make better; to improve The doctor was able to ameliorate the patient's suffering using painkillers. Synonyms: amend; better; improve; pacify; upgrade

adulterate

to make impure The restauranteur made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water. Synonyms: debase; doctor; load

vacillate

to physically sway; to be indecisive The customer held up the line as he vacillated de tween ordering chocolate chip or rocky-road ice cream. Synonyms: dither; falter; fluctuate; oscillate; waver

satiate

to satisfy fully or overindulge His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could satiate it. Synonyms: cloy; glut; gorge; surfeit

upbraid

to scold sharply The teacher upbraided the student for scrawling graffiti all over the walls of the school. Synonyms: berate; chide; rebuke; reproach; tax

sully

to tarnish; to taint With the help of a public relations firm, he was able to restore his sullied reputation. Synonym: besmirch; defile

officious

too helpful; meddlesome While planning her wedding, Maya discovered just how officious her future mother-in-law could be. Synonyms: eager; intrusive; unwanted

scintilla

trace amount This poison is so powerful that no more than a scintilla of it is needed to kill a horse. Synonyms: atom; iota; mote; spark; speck

rococo

very highly ornamented; relating to an 18th century artistic style of elaborate ornamentation The ornate furniture in the house reminded Tatiana of the rococo style. Synonyms: intricate; ornate

vim

vitality and energy The vim with which she worked so early in the day explained why she was so productive. Synonyms: force power

verbose

wordy The professor's answer was so verbose that his student forgot what the original question had been. Synonyms: long-winded; loquacious; prolix; superfluous

nadir

LOWEST POINT As Joey waited in line to audition for the diaper commercial, he realized he had reached the nadir of his acting career. Synonyms: bottom; depth; pit

invidious

ENVIOUS; OBNOXIOUS, OR OFFENSIVE; LIKELY TO PROMOTE ILL-WILL It is cruel and invidious for parents to play favorites with their children. Synonyms: discriminatory; insulting; jaundiced; resentful

Investiture

CEREMONY CONFERRING AUTHORITY At Napoleon's investiture, he grabbed the crown from the Pope's hands and placed it on his head himself. Synonyms: inaugural; inauguration; induction; initiation; installation

jingoism

BELLIGERENT SUPPORT OF ONE'S COUNTRY The professor's jingoism made it difficult for the students to participate in an open political discussion. Synonyms: chauvinism; nationalism

endemic

BELONGING TO A PARTICULAR AREA; INHERENT The health department determined that the outbreak was endemic to the small village, so they quarantined the inhabitants before the virus could spread. Synonyms: indigenous; local; native

incarnadine

BLOOD-RED IN COLOR At his mother's mention of his baby pictures, the shy boy's cheeks turned incarnadine with embarrassment. Synonyms: reddened; ruby; ruddy

pugilism

BOXING Pugilism has been defended as a positive outlet for aggressive impulses. Synonyms: fighting; sparring

phlegmatic

CALM AND UNEMOTIONAL IN TEMPERAMENT Although the bomb could go off at any moment, the phlegmatic demolition expert remained calm and unafraid. Synonyms: apathetic; calm; emotionless; impassive; indifferent; passionless; unemotional

pathogenic

CAUSING DISEASE Bina's research on the origins of pathogenic microorganisms should help stop the spread of disease. Synonyms: infecting; noxious

grievous

CAUSING GRIEF OR SORROW; SERIOUS AND DISTRESSING Maude and Bertha sobbed loudly throughout the grievous event. Synonyms: dire; dolorous; grave; mournful

guile

DECEIT; TRICKERY Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to guile in an effort to trap his enemy. Synonyms: artifact; chicanery; connivery; duplicity

contrite

DEEPLY SORROWFUL AND REPENTANT FOR A WRONG After three residents were mugged in the lobby while the watchman was away from his post, he felt very contrite. Synonyms: apologetic; regretful; remorseful

dogmatic

DICTATORIAL IN ONE'S OPINIONS The dictator was dogmatic, claiming he, and only he, was right. Synonyms: authoritarian; bossy; dictatorial; doctrinaire; domineering; imperious; magisterial; masterful; overbearing; peremptory

parley

DISCUSSION; USUALLY BETWEEN ENEMIES The parley between the rival cheerleading teams resulted in neither side admitting that they copied the other's dance moves. Synonyms: debate; dialogue; negotiations; talks

multifarious

DIVERSE Ken opened the hotel room window, letting in the multifarious noises of the great city. Synonyms: assorted; heterogenous; indiscriminate; legion; motley; multi fold; multiform; multiplex; populous; varied

perfunctory

DONE IN A ROUTINE WAY; INDIFFERENT The machine-like teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a perfunctory smile. Synonyms: apathetic; automatic; mechanical

fallow

DORMANT; UNUSED This field should lie fallow for a year so the soil does not become completely depleted. Synonyms: idle; inactive; unseeded

lissome

EASILY FLEXED; LIMBER; AGILE The lissome yoga instructor twisted herself into shapes that her students could only dream of. Synonyms: graceful; lithe; supple

irascible

EASILY MADE ANGRY Attila the Hun's irascible and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives. Synonyms: cantankerous; irritable; ornery; testy

efficacy

EFFECTIVENESS The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections. Synonyms: dynamism; effectiveness; efficiency; force; power; productiveness; proficiency; strength; vigor

panegyric

ELABORATE PRAISE; FORMAL HYMN OF PRAISE The director's panegyric for the donor who kept his charity going was heart warming. Synonyms: compliment; homage

esoteric

KNOWN OR UNDERSTOOD ONLY BE A FEW Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the esoteric world of particle physics. Synonyms: abstruse; arcane; obscure

pallid

LACKING COLOR OR LIVELINESS The old drugstore's pallid window could not compete with the new megastore's extravagant display next door. Synonyms: ashen; blanched; ghostly; pale; wan

craven

LACKING COURAGE The craven lion cringed in the corner of his cage, terrified of the mouse. Synonyms: faint hearted; spineless; timid

languid

LACKING ENERGY; INDIFFERENT; SLOW The languid cat cleaned its fur, ignoring the vicious, snarling dog chained a few feet away from it. Synonyms: lackadaisical; listless; sluggish; weak

myopic

LACKING FORESIGHT; HAVING A NARROW VIEW OR SHORT-RANGE PERCEPTION Not wanting to spend a lot of money up front, the myopic business owner would likely suffer the cinsequences later. Synonyms: short-sighted; unthinking

insipid

LACKING INTEREST OR FLAVOR The critic claimed that the painting was insipid, containing no interesting qualities at all. Synonyms: banal; bland; dull; stale; vapid

prodigal

LAVISH; WASTEFUL The prodigal son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure. Synonyms: extravagant; lavish; profligate; spendthrift; wasteful

neologism

NEW WORD OR EXPRESSION Aunt Mabel simply does not understand today's youth; she is perplexed by their clothing, music, and neologisms. Synonyms: slang; coinage

imperturbable

NOT CAPABLE OF BEING DISTURBED The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she was imperturbable, even when faced with the wildest tantrums. Synonyms: composed; dispassionate; impassive; serene; stoic

impious

NOT DEVOUT IN RELIGION The nun cut herself off from her impious family after she entered the convent. Synonyms: immoral; irreverent; profane

intractable

NOT EASILY MANAGED OR MANIPULATED Intractable for hours, the wild horse eventually allowed the rider to mount. Synonyms: stubborn; unruly

inchoate

NOT FULLY FORMED; DISORGANIZED The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an inchoate form in his earliest writing. Synonyms: amorphous; incoherent; incomplete; unorganized

neophyte

NOVICE; BEGINNER A relative neophyte at bowling, Rodolfo rolled all of his balls into the gutter. Synonyms: apprentice; greenhorn; tyro

quotidian

OCCURRING DAILY; COMMONPLACE The sight of people singing on the street is so quotidian in New York that passersby rarely react to it. Synonyms: everyday; normal; usual

exponent

ONE WHO CHAMPIONS OR ADVOCATES The Vice President was an enthusiastic exponent of computer technology. Synonyms: representative; supporter

iconoclast

ONE WHO OPPOSES ESTABLISHED BELIEFS, CUSTOMS, AND INSTITUTIONS His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an iconoclast. Synonyms: maverick; nonconformist; rebel; revolutionary

quixotic

OVERLY IDEALISTIC; IMPRACTICAL The practical Danuta was skeptical of her roommate's quixotic plans to build a roller coaster in their yard. Synonyms: capricious; impulsive; romantic; unrealistic

maudlin

OVERLY SENTIMENTAL The movies treatment of the mothers death was so maudlin that instead of making the audience cry, it made them cringe. Synonyms: bathetic; mawkish; saccharine; weepy

obsequious

OVERLY SUBMISSIVE AND EAGER TO PLEASE The obsequious new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue. Synonyms: compliant; deferential; servile; subservient

idiosyncrasy

PECULIARITY OF TEMPERAMENT; ECCENTRICITY His numerous idiosyncrasies included a fondness for wearing bright green shoes with mauve socks. Synonyms: humor; oddity; quirk

eloquent

PERSUASIVE AND MOVING, ESPECIALLY IN SPEECH The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but because of its eloquent words. Synonyms: articulate; expressive; fluent; meaningful; significant; smooth-spoken

jocular

PLAYFUL; HUMOROUS The jocular old man entertained his grandchildren for hours. Synonyms: amusing; comical

euphony

PLEASANT, HARMONIOUS SOUND To their loving parents, the children's orchestra performance sounded like euphony, although an outside observer probably would have called it a cacophony of hideous sounds. Synonyms: harmony; melody; music; sweetness

impetuous

QUICK TO ACT WITHOUT THINKING It is not good for an investment broker to be impetuous since much thought should be given to all the possible options. Synonyms: impulsive; precipitate; rash; reckless; spontaneous

mercurial

QUICK, SHREWD, AND UNPREDICTABLE Her mercurial personality made it difficult to guess how she would react to the bad news. Synonyms: clever; crafty; volatile; whimsical

insurrection

REBELLION After the emperor's troops crushed the insurrection, it's leaders fled the country. Synonyms: mutiny; revolt; revolution; uprising

lapidary

RELATING TO PRECIOUS STONES OR THE ART OF CUTTING THEM Most lapidary work today is done with the use of motorized equipment.

redress

RELIEF FROM WRONG OR INJURY Seeking redress for the injuries she had received in the accident, Doreen sued the driver of the truck that had hit her. Synonyms: amends; indemnity; quittance; reparation; restitution

rejoinder

RESPONSE Patrick tried desperately to think of a clever rejoinder to Marianna's joke, but he couldn't. Synonyms: retort; ripost

doctrinaire

RIGIDLY DEVOTED TO THEORIES WITHOUT REGARD FOR PRACTICALITY; DOGMATIC The professor's manner of teaching was considered doctrinaire for such a liberal school. Synonyms: dictatorial; inflexible

judicious

SENSIBLE; SHOWING GOOD JUDGMENT The wise distinguished judge was well known for having a judicious temperament. Synonyms: circumspect; prudent; sagacious; sapient

pungent

SHARP AND IRRITATING TO THE SENSES The smoke from the burning tires was extremely pungent. Synonyms: acrid; caustic; piquant; poignant; stinging

précis

SHORT SUMMARY OF FACTS Farah wrote a précis of her thesis on the epic poem to share with the class. Synonym: summary

ingenuous

SHOWING INNOCENCE OR CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY She was so ingenuous that her friends feared that her innocence and trustful ness would be exploited when she visited the big city. Synonyms: artless; guileless; innocent; naïve; simple; unaffected

politic

SHREWD AND PRACTICAL IN MANAGING OR DEALING WITH THINGS; DIPLOMATIC She was wise to curb her tongue and was able to explain her problem to the judge in a respectful and politic manner. Synonym: tactful

perspicacious

SHREWD, ASTUTE, OR KEEN- WITTED Inspector Poirot used his perspicacious mind to solve mysteries. Synonyms: insightful; intelligent; sagacious

cloying

SICKLY SWEET; EXCESSIVE When Enid and Jay first started dating, their cloying affection toward one another often made their friends ill. Synonyms: excessive; fulsome

malinger

To evade responsibility by pretending to be ill A common way to avoid the draft was by malingering - pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the army. Synonyms: shirk; slack

implacable

UNABLE TO BE CALMED DOWN OR MADE PEACEFUL His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained implacable for weeks. Synonyms: inexorable; intransigent; irreconcilable; relentless; remorseless; unforgiving; unrelenting

intransigent

UNCOMPROMISING; REFUSING TO BE RECONCILED The professor was intransigent on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time. Synonyms: implacable; inexorable; irreconcilable; obdurate; obstinate; remorseless; rigid; unbending; unrelenting; unyielding

hapless

UNFORTUNATE; HAVING BAD LUCK I wish someone would give that poor. Hapless soul some food and shelter. Synonyms: ill-fated; ill-starred; jinxed; luckless; unlucky

fractious

UNRULY; REBELLIOUS The general had a hard time maintaining discipline among his fractious troops. Synonyms: contentious; cranky; peevish; quarrelsome

exigent

URGENT; REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was exigent to stop the bleeding. Synonyms: critical; imperative; needed; urgent

euphemism

USE OF AN INOFFENSIVE WORD OR PHRASE IN PLACE OF A MORE DISTASTEFUL ONE The funeral director preferred to use the euphemism "sleeping" instead of the word "dead." Synonym: circumlocution; delicacy

laconic

USING A FEW WORDS He was a classic laconic native of Maine; he talked as if he were being charged for each word. Synonyms: concise; curt; pithy; taciturn; terse

hoary

VERY OLD; WHITISH OR GRAY FROM AGE The old man's hoary beard contrasted starkly to the new stubble of his teenage grandson. Synonyms: ancient; antediluvian; antique; venerable; vintage

peripatetic

WANDERING FROM PLACE TO PLACE, ESPECIALLY ON FOOT Elena's peripatetic meanderings took her all over the countryside in the summer months. Synonyms: itinerant; nomadic; wayfaring

itinerant

WANDERING FROM PLACE TO PLACE; UNSETTLED The itinerant tomcat came back to the Johansson homestead every two months. Synonyms: nomadic; vagrant

encomium

WARM PRAISE She wrote an encomium in praise of the outgoing president. Synonyms: citation; eulogy; panegyric; salutation; tribute

maelstrom

WHIRLPOOL; TURMOIL; AGITATED STATE OF MIND The transportation system of the city had collapsed in the maelstrom of war. Synonyms: eddy; turbulence

perfidious

WILLING TO BETRAY SOMEONE'S TRUST The actress's perfidious companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist. Synonyms: disloyal; faithless; traitorous; treacherous

belfry

a bell tower; the room in which a bell is hung The town was shocked when a bag of money was found stashed in the old belfry of the church. Synonyms: spire; steeple

tome

a book, usually a large and academic one The teacher was forced to refer to various times to find the answer to the advanced student's question. Synonyms: codex; volume

vicissitude

a change or variation Investors must be prepared or vicissitudes of the stock market. Synonyms: inconstancy; mutability

boor

a crude person; one lacking manners or taste "That utter boor ruined my recital with his constant guffawing!" wailed the pianist. Synonyms: clod; lout; oaf; vulgarian; yahoo

tacit

done without using words Although not a word was said, everyone in the room knew that a tacit agreement had been made about what course of action to take. Synonyms: implicit; implied; undeclared; unsaid; unuttered

rhetoric

effective writing or speaking Lincoln's talent for rhetoric was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg Address. Synonyms: eloquence; oratory

veracity

filled with truth and accuracy She had a reputation for veracity, so everyone trusted her description of the events. Synonyms: candor; exactitude; fidelity; probity

glib

fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual The slimy politician managed to continue gaining supporters because he was a glib speaker. Synonyms: easy; superficial

sportive

frolicsome; playful The lakeside vacation meant more sportive opportunities for the kids than the wine tour through France. Synonyms: frisky; merry

salubrious

healthful Run-down and sickly, Gertrude hoped that the fresh mountain air would have a salubrious effect on her health. Synonyms: bracing; curative; medicinal; therapeutic; tonic

umbrage

offense; resentment The businessman took umbrage at the security guard's accusation that he had shoplifted a packet of gum. Synonyms: asperity; dudgeon; ire; pique; rancor

toady

one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors The king was surrounded by toadies who rushed to agree with whatever outrageous thing he said. Synonyms: parasite; sycophant

banal

predictable; clichéd; boring His conversations consisted of banal phrases like "Have a nice day" or "Another day, another dollar." Synonyms: bland; bromidic; clichéd; commonplace; fatuous; hackneyed; innocuous; insipid; jejune; musty; platitudinous; prosaic; quotidian; shopworn; stale; stereotypic; threadbare; timeworn; tired; trite; vapid; worn-out

pithy

profound or substantial yet concise, succinct, and to the point Martha's pithy comments during the interview must have been impressive because she got the job. Synonyms: brief; compact; laconic; terse

salient

prominent; of notable significance His most salient characteristic is his tendency to dominate every conversation. Synonyms: marked; noticeable; outstanding

opprobrium

public disgrace After the scheme to defraud the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter opprobrium. Synonyms: discredit; disgrace; dishonor; disrepute; ignominy; infamy; obloquy; shame

contumacious

rebellious The contumacious teenager ran away from home when her parents told her she was grounded. Synonyms: factious; insubordinate; insurgent; mutinous; rebellious; seditious

vernal

related to spring; fresh Bea basked in the balmy vernal breezes, happy that winter was coming to an end. Synonyms: springlike; youthful

sanguine

ruddy; cheerfully optimistic A sanguine person thinks the glass is half full, whereas a depressed person thinks it's half empty. Synonyms: confident; hopeful; positive; rosy; rubicund

yoke

to join together As soon as the farmer had yoked his oxen together, he began to plow the fields. Synonyms: bind; harness; pair

dissemble

to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character The villain could dissemble to the police no longer - he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the stash of stolen money. Synonyms: act; affect; assume; camouflage; cloak; counterfeit; cover up; disguise; dis simulate; fake; feign; mask; masquerade; pose; pretend; put on; sham

supplant

to replace (another) by force; to take the place of The overthrow of the government meant a new leader to supplant the tyrannical former one. Synonyms: displace; supersede

requite

to return or repay Thanks for offering to lend me $1,000, but I know I'll never be able to requite your generosity. Synonyms: compensate; reciprocate

stratagem

trick designed to deceive an enemy The Trojan Horse must be one of the most successful military stratagems used in all of history. Synonyms: artifice; feint; maneuver; ruse; wile

stolid

unemotional; lacking sensitivity The prisoner appeared stolid and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence. Synonyms: apathetic; impassive; indifferent; phlegmatic; stoic; unconcerned

unconscionable

unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust After she promised me the project, the fact that she gave it to someone else is unconscionable. Synonyms: dishonorable; indefensible

variegated

varied; marked with different colors The variegated foliage of the jungle allows it to support thousands of different animal species. Synonym: diversified