GRE missing vocab

Dictum noun (DIHK tuhm)

An authoritative statement. " You have time to lean, you have time to clean," was the ____ our boss made us live by. Synonyms: adage, apothegm, aphorism, decree, edict.

Philistine noun (FIHL uh steen)

a person who is guided by materialism and is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values The ____ 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

Connoisseur noun (kah nuh SUHR)

a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes Dr. Crane was a _____ of fine food and wine, drinking and eating only the best. Synonyms: authority; epicure; expert; gastronome; gourmet

Epicure noun (eh pih KYOOR)

a person with refined taste in food and wine Niren is an _____ who always throws the most splendid dinner parties. Synonyms: bon vivant; connoisseur; gastronome; gastronomist; gourmand; gourmet

Pastiche noun (pah STEESH)

a piece of literature or music imitating other works The playwright's clever _____ of the well-known children's story had the audience rolling in the aisles. Synonyms: medley; spoof

Juncture noun (JUHNK chuhr)

a point of time, especially one where two things are joined At this ____ , I think it would be a good idea for us to take a coffee break. Synonyms: confluence; convergence; crisis; crossroads; moment

Augury noun (aw gyuh ree)

a prophecy; a prediction of events Troy hoped the rainbow was an ____ of good things to come. Synonyms: auspice; harbinger; omen; portent; presage

Enigma noun (ih NIG muh)

a puzzle; a mystery Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an _____. Synonyms: conundrum; perplexity

Cabal noun (kuh bahl)

a secret group seeking to overturn something The boys on the street formed a ____ to keep girls out of their tree house. Synonyms: camp; circle; clan; clique; coterie; in-group; mafia; mob; ring

Sycophant noun (SIH kuh fuhnt)

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

Iniquity noun (ih NIHK wih tee)

a sin; an evil act "I promise to close every den of ____ in this town!" thundered the conservative new mayor. Synonyms: enormity; immorality; injustice; vice; wickedness

Elegy noun (EH luh jee)

a sorrowful poem or speech Though the beautiful ____ is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life, and to trust in spirituality. Synonyms: dirge; lament

Polyglot noun (PAH lee glaht)

a speaker of many languages Ling's extensive travels have helped her to become a true ____ .

Eulogy noun (YOO luh jee)

a speech in praise of someone His best friend gave the ____ , outlining his many achievements and talents. Synonyms: commendation; tribute

Lassitude noun (LAAS ih tood)

a state of diminished energy The lack of energy that characterizes patients with anemia makes ___ one of the primary symptoms of the disease. Synonyms: debilitation; enervation; fatigue; languor; listlessness; tiredness; weariness

Stasis noun (STAY sihs)

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

Coffer noun (KAH fuhr)

a strongbox; a large chest for money The bulletproof glass of the ____ is what keeps the crown jewels secure. Synonyms: chest; exchequer; treasury; war chest

Nuance noun (NOO ahns)

a subtle expression of meaning or quality The scholars argued for hours over tiny _____in the interpretation of the last line of the poem. Synonyms: gradation; subtlety; tone

Vestige noun (VEH stihj)

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

Sinecure noun (SIEN ih kyoor)

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

Raconteur noun (raa cahn TUHR)

a witty, skillful storyteller The ___ kept all the passengers entertained with his stories during the six-hour flight. Synonyms: anecdotalist; monologist

Missive noun (MIHS ihv)

a written note or letter Priscilla spent hours composing a romantic ___ for Elvis. Synonyms: message

Calumny noun (kaa luhm nee)

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

Debutante noun (DEHB yoo tahnt)

a young woman making debut in high society The ____ spent hours dressing for her very first ball, hoping to catch the eye of an eligible bachelor. Synonyms: lady; maiden

Plastic adj (PLAA stihk)

able to be molded, altered, or bent The new material was very ____ and could be formed into products of vastly different shape. Synonyms: adaptable; ductile; malleable; pliant

Articulate adj (ahr TIH kyuh luht)

able to speak clearly and expressively She is extremely ___ when it comes to expressing her pro-labor views; as a result, unions are among her strongest supporters. Synonyms: eloquent; expressive; fluent; lucid; silver-tongued; smooth-spoken

Unequivocal adj (uhn ee KWIH vih kuhl)

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

Replete adj (rih PLEET)

abundantly supplied; complete The gigantic supermarket was ____ with consumer products of every kind. Synonyms: abounding; full

Invective noun (ihn VEK tihv)

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

Xenophobia noun (zee nuh FOH bee uh)

a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers Countries in which _____ is prevalent often have more restrictive immigration policies than countries that are more open to foreign influences. Synonyms: bigotry; chauvinism; prejudice

Dogma noun (DAHG muh)

a firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief Linus's central _____ was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded. Synonyms: creed; doctrine; teaching; tenet

Libertine noun (LIHB uhr teen)

a free thinker (usually used disparagingly); one without moral restraint The ____ took pleasure in gambling away his family's money.

Dirge noun (dirhj)

a funeral hymn or mournful speech Melville wrote a ____ for the funeral of James McPherson, a Union general who was killed in 1864. Synonyms: elegy; lament

Zephyr noun (ZEH fuhr)

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

Wraith noun (rayth)

a ghost or specter; a ghost of a living person seen just before his or her death Gideon thought he saw a _____ late one night as he sat vigil outside his great uncle's bedroom door. Synonyms: apparition; bogeyman; phantasm; shade; spirit

Bevy noun (beh vee)

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

Accretion noun (uh KREE shuhn)

a growth in size, an increase in amount The committee's strong fund-raising efforts resulted in an _____ in scholarship money. Synonyms: accumulation, buildup

Dissonance noun (DIHS uh nuhns)

a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds Cognitive _____ 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 noun (DEH muh gahg)

a leader or rabble-rouser, usually one appealing to emotion or prejudice He began his career as a _____ , giving fiery speeches at political rallies. Synonyms: agitator; inciter; instigator

Analgesia noun (aah nuhl jee zhuh)

a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness After having her appendix removed, Tatiana welcomed the ___ that the painkillers provided.

Canard noun (kuh nard)

a lie That tabloid's feature story about a goat giving birth to a human child was clearly a ____. Synonyms: falsehood; falsity; fib; misrepresentation; prevarication; tale; untruth

Tirade noun (TIE rayd)

a long, harsh speech or verbal attack Observers were shocked at the manager's _____ over such a minor mistake. Synonyms: diatribe; fulmination; harangue; obloquy; revilement; vilification

Stigma noun (STIHG mah)

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 ___ for her adultery. Synonyms: blemish; blot; opprobrium; stain; taint

Peccadillo noun (pehk uh DIH loh)

a minor sin or offense Gabriel tends to harp on his brother's _____ and never lets him live them down. Synonyms: failing; fault; lapse; misstep

Potentate noun (POH tehn tayt)

a monarch or ruler with great power Alex was much kinder before he assumed the role of ____ . Synonyms: dominator; leader

Proclivity noun (proh CLIH vuh tee)

a natural inclination or predisposition Her childhood love of acting, singing, and adoration indicated a ____ for the theater in later life. Synonyms: bias; leaning; partiality; penchant; predilection; predisposition; prejudice; propensity

Aerie noun (AYR ee)

a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling Perched high among the trees, the eagle's____ was filled with eggs. Synonyms: perch; stronghold

Interregnum noun (in tuh REG nuhm)

a period between reigns When John F. Kennedy was shot, there was a brief ____ before Lyndon B. Johnson became president. Synonyms: interval

Sybarite noun (SIH buh riet)

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

Misanthrope noun (MIHS ahn throhp)

a person who dislikes others The Grinch was such a _____ that even the sight of children singing made him angry.

Fanatical adj (fuh NAH tih kuhl)

acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion The stormtroopers were ____ in their devotion to the emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him. Synonyms: extremist; fiery; frenzied; zealous

Lethargic adj (luh THAR jik)

acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner The clerk was so ___ that, even when business was slow, he always had a long line in front of him. Synonyms: apathetic; lackadaisical; languid; listless; torpid

Diurnal adj (die UHR nuhl)

active or occurring during the day ____ creatures tend to become inactive during the night. Synonyms: daylight; daytime

Trenchant adj (TREHN chuhnt)

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

Luminous adj (LOO muhn uhs)

bright; brilliant; glowing The park was bathed in _____ sunshine that warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors. Synonyms: incandescent; lucent; lustrous; radiant; resplendent

Phlegmatic adj (flehg MAA tihk)

calm and unemotional in temperament Although the bomb could go off at any moment, the _____ demolition expert remained calm and unafraid. Synonyms: apathetic; calm; emotionless; impassive; indifferent; passionless; unemotional

Malleable adj (MAH lee uh buhl)

capable of being shaped Gold is the most ____ of precious metals; it can easily be formed into almost any shape. Synonyms: adaptable; ductile; plastic; pliable; pliant

Pathogenic adj (paa thoh JEHN ihk)

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

Grievous adj (GREE vuhs)

causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing Maude and Bertha sobbed loudly throughout the _____ event. Synonyms: dire; dolorous; grave; mournful

Soporific adj (sahp uhr IHF ihk)

causing sleep or lethargy The movie proved to be so ____ that soon loud snores were heard throughout the cinema.

Circumspect adj (SUHR kuhm spehkt)

cautious; aware of potential consequences She was very ___ in her language and behavior when first introduced to her fiancé's parents. Synonyms: alert; cautious; heedful; mindful; prudent; solicitous; vigilant; wary

Investiture noun (in VES tuh chur)

ceremony conferring authority At Napoleon's _____ , he grabbed the crown from the Pope's hands and placed it on his head himself. Synonyms: inaugural; inauguration; induction; initiation; installation

Capricious adj (kuh PREE shuhs)

changing one's mind quickly and often Queen Elizabeth I was quite ___ ; her courtiers could never be sure which one would catch her fancy. Synonyms: arbitrary; chance; changeable; erratic; fickle; inconstant; mercurial; random; whimsical; willful

Philanthropy noun (fihl AAN throh pee)

charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness The Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collection to the _____ of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum. Synonyms: altruism; humanitarianism

Winsome adj (WIHN suhm)

charming; happily engaging Lenore gave the doorman a _____ smile, and he let her pass to the front of the line. Synonyms: attractive; delightful

Puerile adj (PYOO ruhl)

childish, immature, or silly Olivia's boyfriend's ____ antics are really annoying; sometimes he acts like a five-year-old! Synonyms: infantile; jejune; juvenile

Talon noun (TAA luhn)

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

Lucid adj (LOO sihd)

clear and easily understood The explanations were written in a simple and ____ manner so that students were immediately able to apply what they learned. Synonyms: clear; coherent; explicit; intelligible; limpid

Limpid adj (LIM pihd)

clear; transparent Fernando could see all the way to the bottom through the pond's ____ water. Synonyms: lucid; pellucid; serene

Explicit adj (ehk SPLIH siht)

clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression The journalist wrote an ___ description of the gruesome murder. Synonyms: candid; clear-cut; definite; definitive; express; frank; specific; straightforward; unambiguous; unequivocal

Wily adj (WIE lee)

clever; deceptive Yet again, the ____ coyote managed to elude the ranchers who wanted to capture it. Synonyms: crafty; cunning; tricky

Numismatics noun (nu miz MAA tiks)

coin collecting Tomas's passion for _____ has resulted in an impressive collection of coins from all over the world.

Probity noun (PROH bih tee)

complete honesty and integrity George Washington's reputation for ____ is illustrated in the legend about his inability to lie after he chopped down the cherry tree. Synonyms: integrity; morality; rectitude; uprightness; virtue

Heterogeneous adj (heh tuh ruh JEE nee uhs)

composed of unlike parts; different; diverse The United Nations is by nature a _____ body. Synonyms: assorted; miscellaneous; mixed; motley; varied

Aesthetic adj (ehs THEH tihk)

concerning the appreciation of beauty The ___ movement regarded the pursuit of beauty to be the only true purpose of art. Synonyms: artistic; tasteful

Polemic noun (puh LEH mihk)

controversy; argument; verbal attack The candidate's ____ against his opponent was vicious and small-minded rather than convincing and well-reasoned. Synonyms: denunciation; refutation

Cogent adj (KOH juhnt)

convincing and well-reasoned Swayed by the ___ argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant.

Symbiosis noun (sihm bee OH sihs)

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

Profligate adj (PRAH flih guht)

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

Plucky adj (PLUH kee)

courageous; spunky The ____ young nurse dove into the foxhole, determined to help the wounded soldier. Synonyms: brave; bold; gutsy

Pusillanimous adj (pyoo suh LAA nih muhs)

cowardly; without courage The ____ man would not enter the yard where the miniature poodle was barking. Synonyms: cowardly; timid

Plebeian adj (plee BEE uhn)

crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners Although only considered a ____ repairman, he held an interest for the finer things in life. Synonyms: conventional; unrefined

Sardonic adj (sahr DAH nihk)

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

Guile noun (GIE uhl)

deceit; trickery Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to ____ in an effort to trap his enemy. Synonyms: artifice; chicanery; connivery; duplicity

Chicanery noun (shih KAYN ree)

deception by means of craft or guile Dishonest used-car salesmen often use ___ to sell their beat-up old cars. Synonyms: artifice; conniving; craftiness; deception; deviousness; misrepresentation; pettifoggery; shadiness; sneakiness; sophistry; subterfuge; underhandedness

Specious adj (SPEE shuhs)

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

Contrite adj (kuhn TRIET)

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 _____. Synonyms: apologetic; regretful; remorseful

Arbitrary adj (AHR bih trayr ee)

determined by chance or impulse When you lack the information to judge what to do next, you will be forced to make an ___ decision. Synonyms: changeable; erratic; indiscriminate; random; wayward

Aberrant adj (uh BER unt)

deviating from what is normal or expected Since he had been a steady, cheerful worker for many years, his fellow postal workers did not expect his ___ burst of rage. Synonyms: abnormal; anomalous; deviant; divergent; errant; irregular

Anomaly noun (uh NAHM uh lee)

deviation from what is normal Albino animals may display too great an ___ in their coloring to attract normally colored mates. Synonyms: aberrancy; aberration; abnormality; deviance; deviation; irregularity; preternaturalness

Dogmatic adj (dahg MAAT ihk)

dictatorial in one's opinions The dictator was ____ , claiming he, and only he, was right. Synonyms: authoritarian; bossy; dictatorial; doctrinaire; domineering; imperious; magisterial; masterful; overbearing; peremptory

August adj (aw GUHST)

dignified; grandiose The ___ view of the Grand Teton summit took my breath away. Synonyms: admirable; awesome; grand; majestic

Tangential adj (taan JEHN shuhl)

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

Livid adj (LIH vihd)

discolored from a bruise; pale; reddened with anger André was ____ when he discovered that someone had spilled grape juice all over his cashmere coat. Synonyms: ashen; black-and-blue; furious; pallid

Parley noun (PAR lee)

discussion, usually between enemies The ____ between the rival cheerleading teams resulted in neither side admitting that they copied the other's dance moves. Synonyms: debate; dialogue; negotiations; talks

Mendacious adj (mehn DAY shuhs)

dishonest So many of her stories were _____ that I decided she must be a pathological liar. Synonyms: deceitful; false; lying; untruthful

Multifarious adj (muhl tuh FAAR ee uhs)

diverse Ken opened the hotel room window, letting in the ______noises of the great city. Synonyms: assorted; heterogeneous; legion; motley; multifold; multiform; multiplex; populous; varied

Efficacy noun (EH fih kuh see)

effectiveness The _____ 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 noun (paan uh JEER ihk)

elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise The director's _____ for the donor who kept his charity going was heart-warming. Synonyms: compliment; homage

Invidious adj (ihn VIHD ee uhs)

envious, obnoxious, or offensive; likely to promote ill-will It is cruel and ____ for parents to play favorites with their children.

Plethora noun (PLEH thor uh)

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

Surfeit noun (SUHR fiht)

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

Ostentation noun (ah stehn TAY shuhn)

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

Florid adj (FLOHR ihd)

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

Ebullient adj (ih BYOOL yuhnt)

exhilarated; full of enthusiasm and high spirits The _____ child exhausted the baby-sitter, who lacked the energy to keep up with her. Synonyms: ardent; avid; bubbly; zestful

Nominal adj (NAH mihn uhl)

existing in name only; negligible A ______ but far from devoted member of the high school yearbook committee, she rarely attends meetings. Synonyms: minimal; titular

Antipathy noun (aan TIH puh thee)

extreme dislike The ___ between fans of the rival soccer teams made the game even more electrifying to watch. Synonyms: abhorrence; animosity; animus; antagonism; aversion; dislike; enmity; hatred; hostility; loathing; repellence; repugnance; repulsion; revulsion

Torpor noun (TOHR puhr)

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

Meticulous adj (mih TIHK yuh luhs)

extremely careful; fastidious; painstaking To find all the clues at the crime scene, the _____ investigators examined every inch of the area. Synonyms: finicky; fussy; picky; precise; punctilious; scrupulous

Lavish adj (LAA vish)

extremely generous or extravagant; giving unsparingly She was so ___ with her puppy that it soon became overweight and spoiled. Synonyms: extravagant; exuberant; luxuriant; opulent; prodigal; profuse; superabundant

Stentorian adj (stehn TOHR ee yehn)

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

Monastic adj (muh NAAS tihk)

extremely plain or secluded, as in a monastery The philosopher retired to his ______ lodgings to contemplate life free from any worldly distraction. Synonyms: austere; contemplative; disciplined; regimented; self-abnegating

Sacrosanct adj (SAA kroh saankt)

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

Ersatz adj (UHR sats)

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

Kudos noun (KOO dohs)

fame, glory, or honor The actress happily accepted ___ from the press for her stunning performance in the film. Synonyms: acclaim; accolade; encomium; homage; praise

Largess noun (laar JEHS)

generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior She'd always relied on her parents' ___ , but after graduation she had to get a job. Synonyms: benevolence; boon; compliment; favor; present

Bonhomie noun (bah nuh mee)

good-natured geniality; an atmosphere of good cheer The aspects of her job that Dana loved the most were the flexible hours and the pleasant ___ in the office. Synonyms: affability; amiability; cordiality; geniality

Solecism noun (SAH lih sihz uhm)

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

Spartan adj (SPAHR tihn)

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

Inimical adj (ih NIHM ih kuhl)

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

Ribald adj (RIH buhld)

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

Licentious adj (lie SEHN shuhs)

immoral; unrestrained by society Religious citizens were outraged by the ____ exploits of the free-spirited artists living in town. Synonyms: lewd; wanton

Candid adj (KAAN did)

impartial and honest in speech The observations of a child can be charming since they are ___ and unpretentious. Synonyms: direct; forthright; frank; honest; open; sincere; straight; straightforward; undisguised

Restive adj (REH stihv)

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

Impervious adj (ihm PUHR vee uhs)

impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected A good raincoat will be ___ to moisture. Synonyms: impregnable; resistant

Opaque adj (oh PAYK)

impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light The heavy build-up of dirt and grime on the windows made them almost ____. Synonyms: blurred; cloudy; nontransparent

Panoply noun (PAA nuh plee)

impressive array Her résumé indicates a ____ of skills and accomplishments. Synonyms: array; display; fanfare; parade; pomp; shine; show

Effrontery noun (ih FRUHNT uhr ee)

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

Querulous adj (KWEHR yoo luhs)

inclined to complain; irritable Curtis's complaint letter received prompt attention after the company labeled him a ____ potential troublemaker. Synonyms: peevish; puling; sniveling; whiny

oblique (adj) oh-BLEEK or uh-BLEEK

indirect or evasive; misleading or devious Usually open and friendly, Reynaldo has been behaving in a curiously ______ manner lately. Synonyms: glancing; slanted; tangential

Inexorable adj (ihn EHK suhr uh buhl)

inflexible; unyielding The ____ force of the twister swept away their house. Synonyms: adamant; obdurate; relentless

Dilatory adj (DIHL uh tohr ee)

intended to delay The congressman used ____ measures to slow down the passage of the bill. Synonyms: dragging; flagging; laggard; lagging; slow; slow-footed; slow-going; slow-paced; tardy

Ardor noun (AHR duhr)

intense and passionate feeling Bishop's ___ for landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley. Synonyms: devotion; enthusiasm; fervency; fervidity; fervidness; fervor; fire; passion; zeal; zealousness

Fervid adj (FUHR vihd)

intensely emotional; feverish The fans of Maria Callas were particularly ___ , doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer. Synonyms: burning; impassioned; passionate; vehement; zealous

Convoluted adj (kahn vuh LOO tehd)

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

Blithe adj (blieth)

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

Desultory adj (dehs UHL tohr ee)

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

Esoteric adj (eh suh TEHR ihk)

known or understood only by a few Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the ____ world of particle physics. Synonyms: abstruse; arcane; obscure

Apathy noun (AA pah thee)

lack of interest or emotion The ___ of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so. Synonyms: coolness; disinterest; disregard; impassivity; indifference; insensibility; lassitude; lethargy; listlessness; phlegm; stolidity; unconcern; unresponsiveness

Pallid adj (PAA lihd)

lacking color or liveliness The old drugstore's ____ window could not compete with the new megastore's extravagant display next door. Synonyms: ashen; blanched; ghostly; pale; wan

Craven adj (KRAY vuhn)

lacking courage The ____ lion cringed in the corner of his cage, terrified of the mouse. Synonyms: fainthearted; spineless; timid

Listless adj (LIHST lihs)

lacking energy and enthusiasm ____ and depressed after breaking up with his girlfriend, Raj spent his days moping on the couch. Synonyms: fainéant; indolent; languid; lethargic; sluggish

Languid adj (LAANG gwihd)

lacking energy; indifferent; slow The ___ cat cleaned its fur, ignoring the vicious, snarling dog chained a few feet away from it. Synonyms: lackadaisical; listless; sluggish; weak

Myopic adj (mie AHP ihk)

lacking foresight; having a narrow view or short-range perspective Not wanting to spend a lot of money up front, the _____ business owner would likely suffer the consequences later. Synonyms: short-sighted; unthinking

Insipid adj (in SIH pid)

lacking interest or flavor The critic claimed that the painting was _____ , containing no interesting qualities at all. Synonyms: banal; bland; dull; stale; vapid

Diffident adj (dih fih dint)

lacking self-confidence Steve was ___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

Naïve adj (nah EEV)

lacking sophistication or experience Inexperienced writers often are ______and assume that big words make them sound smarter. Synonyms: artless; credulous; guileless; ingenuous; simple; unaffected; unsophisticated

Ephemeral adj (ih FEHM uhr uhl)

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

Prodigal adj (PRAH dih guhl)

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

Erudite adj (EHR yuh dite)

learned; scholarly; bookish The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ______ , well-published individuals in the field. Synonyms: learned; scholastic; wise

Whimsical adj (WIHM sih cuhl)

lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable; playful The ballet was ____ , delighting the children with its imaginative characters and unpredictable sets. Synonyms: capricious; erratic; flippant; frivolous; fanciful

Sublime adj (suh BLIEM)

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

Nadir noun (NAY dihr)

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

Repast noun (RIH paast)

meal or mealtime Ravi prepared a delicious ____ of chicken tikka and naan. Synonyms: banquet; feast

Prattle noun (PRAA tuhl)

meaningless, foolish talk Her husband's mindless ____ drove Heidi insane; sometimes she wished he would just shut up. Synonyms: babble; blather; chatter; drivel; gibberish

Levity noun (LEH vih tee)

an inappropriate lack of seriousness; an overly casual atmosphere The joke added a jarring note of ___ to the otherwise serious meeting. Synonyms: amusement; humor

Coterie noun (KOH tuh ree)

an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose Angel invited a ____ of fellow stamp enthusiasts to a stamp-trading party. Synonyms: clique; set

Inquest noun (IHN kwehst)

an investigation; an inquiry The police chief ordered an ______ to determine what went wrong. Synonyms: probe; quest; research

Penury noun (PEHN yuh ree)

an oppressive lack of resources (as money); severe poverty Once a famous actor, he eventually died in _____ and anonymity. Synonyms: destitution; impoverishment

Amulet noun (aam yoo liht)

an ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits Though she claimed it was not because of superstition, Vivian always wore an ___ around her neck.

Pariah noun (puh RIE uh)

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

Ingrate noun (IHN grayt)

an ungrateful person When none of her relatives thanked her for the fruitcakes she had sent them, Audrey condemned them all as ___ . Synonyms: cad; churl

Archaic adj (ahr KAY ihk)

ancient; old-fashioned Her ___ Commodore computer could not run the latest software. Synonyms: ancient; antediluvian; antique; bygone; dated; dowdy; fusty; obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated; outmoded; pass; prehistoric; stale; superannuated; superseded; vintage

Seraphic adj (seh RAH fihk)

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

Ostensible adj (ah STEHN sih buhl)

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

Decorum noun (deh KOHR uhm)

appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the ____ appropriate for a visit to the palace. Synonyms: correctness; decency; etiquette; manners; mores; propriety; seemliness

Approbation noun (aa pruh bay shuhn)

approval and praise The _____ that Jerry Lewis received in France included a medal from the Ministry of Culture. Synonyms: acclaim; adulation; applause; commendation; compliments; exaltation; extolment; hail; kudos; praise

Mannered adj (MAAN uhrd)

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

Sentient adj (SEHN shuhnt)

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

Pulchritude noun (PUHL kruh tood)

beauty The mortals gazed in admiration at Venus, stunned by her incredible ____ . Synonyms: comeliness; gorgeousness; handsomeness; loveliness; prettiness

Mendicant noun (MEHN dih kuhnt)

beggar "Please, sir, can you spare a dime?" begged the ____ as the businessman walked past. Synonyms: panhandler; pauper

Tyro noun (TIE roh)

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

Sedition noun (sih DIH shuhn)

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

Jingoism noun (JING goh ihz uhm)

belligerent support of one's country The professor's ____ made it difficult for the students to participate in an open political discussion. Synonyms: chauvinism; nationalism

Endemic adj (ehn DEH mihk)

belonging to a particular area; inherent The health department determined that the outbreak was _____ to the small village, so they quarantined the inhabitants before the virus could spread. Synonyms: indigenous; local; native

Caustic adj (KAW stihk)

biting in wit Dorothy Parker gained her ____ reputation from her cutting, yet witty, insults. Synonyms: acerbic; biting; mordant; trenchant

Incarnadine adj (in CAR nuh deen)

blood-red in color At his mother's mention of his baby pictures, the shy boy's cheeks turned ____ with embarrassment. Synonyms: reddened; ruby; ruddy

Pugilism noun (PYOO juhl ih suhm)

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

Paragon noun (PAR uh gohn)

model of excellence or perfection He is the ____ of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking, and just. Synonyms: apotheosis; ideal; quintessence; standard

Abstemious adj (aab STEE me uhs)

moderate in appetite; practicing moderation or abstinence Because Alyce is a vegetarian, she was able to eat only an ____ meal at the Texas Steakhouse. Synonyms: abstinent; continent; self-restraining; sober; temperate

Quiescent adj (kwie EH sihnt)

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

Neologism noun (nee AH luh ji zuhm)

new word or expression Aunt Mabel simply does not understand today's youth; she is perplexed by their clothing, music, and ______. Synonyms: slang; coinage

Sobriquet noun (SOH brih keht)

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

Monotony noun (muh NAHT nee)

no variation; tediously the same The _______ of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy. Synonyms: drone; tedium

Jargon noun (JAHR guhn)

nonsensical talk; specialized language You need to master technical _____ in order to communicate successfully with engineers. Synonyms: argot; cant; dialect; idiom; slang

Imperturbable adj (im puhr TUHR buh buhl)

not capable of being disturbed The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she was ___ , even when faced with the wildest tantrums. Synonyms: composed; dispassionate; impassive; serene; stoical

Impious adj (IHM pee uhs)

not devout in religion The nun cut herself off from her ___ family after she entered the convent. Synonyms: immoral; irreverent; profane

Intractable adj (ihn TRAAK tuh buhl)

not easily managed or manipulated ____ for hours, the wild horse eventually allowed the rider to mount. Synonyms: stubborn; unruly

Inchoate adj (ihn KOH uht)

not fully formed; disorganized The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an ___ form in his earliest writing. Synonyms: amorphous; incoherent; incomplete; unorganized

Gregarious adj (greh GAYR ee uhs)

outgoing; sociable She was so ___ that when she found herself alone she felt quite sad. Synonyms: affable; communicative; congenial; sociable

Quixotic adj (kwihk SAH tihk)

overly idealistic; impractical The practical Danuta was skeptical of her roommate's _____ plans to build a roller coaster in their yard. Synonyms: capricious; impulsive; romantic; unrealistic

Maudlin adj (MAWD lihn)

overly sentimental The mother's death should have been a touching scene, but the movie's treatment of it was so ____ that, instead of making the audience cry, it made them cringe. Synonyms: bathetic; mawkish; saccharine; weepy

Obsequious adj (uhb SEE kwee uhs)

overly submissive and eager to please The _______ new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue. Synonyms: compliant; deferential; servile; subservient

Zeal noun (zeehl)

passion; excitement She brought her typical ____to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team members. Synonyms: ardency; fervor; fire; passion

Idiosyncrasy noun (ih dee uh SIHN kruh see)

peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity His numerous ____ included a fondness for wearing bright green shoes with mauve socks. Synonyms: humor; oddity; quirk

Eloquent adj (EHL uh kwunt)

persuasive and moving, especially in speech The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but because of its ____ words. Synonyms: articulate; expressive; fluent; meaningful; significant; smooth-spoken

Affected adj (uh FEHK tihd)

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

Jocular adj (JAHK yuh luhr)

playful; humorous The ____ old man entertained his grandchildren for hours. Synonyms: amusing; comical

Euphony noun (YOO fuh nee)

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 ____ of hideous sounds. Synonyms: harmony; melody; music; sweetness

Machination noun (mahk uh NAY shuhn)

plot or scheme Tired of his enemies' endless _____to remove him from the throne, the king had them executed. Synonyms: cabal; conspiracy; design; intrigue

Bombastic adj (bahm BAAST ihk)

pompous in speech and manner Mussolini's speeches were mostly ____ ; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact. Synonyms: bloated; declamatory; fustian; grandiloquent; grandiose; high-flown; magniloquent; orotund; pretentious; rhetorical; self-important

Orotund adj (OR uh tuhnd)

pompous; rich or full in sound Roberto soon grew tired of his date's ____ babble about her new job, and decided their first date would probably be their last. Synonyms: aureate; bombastic; declamatory; euphuistic; flowery; grandiloquent; magniloquent; oratorical; overblown; sonorous

Impecunious adj (ihm pih KYOO nyuhs)

poor; having no money After the stock market crashed, many former millionaires found themselves ___ . Synonyms: destitute; impoverished; indigent; needy; penniless

Latent adj (LAY tehnt)

potential that is not readily apparent ____ trait testing seeks to identify skills that the test takers may have that they are not aware of. Synonyms: concealed; dormant; inert; potential; quiescent

Magnate noun (MAAG nayt)

powerful or influential person The entertainment ___ ate bought two cable TV stations to add to his collection of magazines and publishing houses. Synonyms: dignitary; luminary; nabob; potentate; tycoon

Pragmatic adj (praag MAA tihk)

practical, as opposed to idealistic While idealistic gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, _____ gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them. Synonyms: rational; realistic

Impetuous adj (ihm PEH choo uhs)

quick to act without thinking It is not good for an investment broker to be ___ since much thought should be given to all the possible options. Synonyms: impulsive; precipitate; rash; reckless; spontaneous

Mercurial adj (muhr KYOOR ee uhl)

quick, shrewd, and unpredictable Her ______ personality made it difficult to guess how she would react to the bad news. Synonyms: clever; crafty; volatile; whimsical

Sanguine adj (SAAN gwuhn)

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

Surly adj (SUHR lee)

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

Rustic adj (RUH stihk)

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

Furtive adj (FUHR tihv)

secret; stealthy Glenn was ____ when he peered out of the corner of his eye at the stunningly beautiful model. Synonyms: clandestine; covert; shifty; surreptitious; underhand

Eclectic adj (ih KLEHK tihk)

selecting from or made up from a variety of sources Budapest's architecture is an _____ mix of eastern and western styles. Synonyms: broad; catholic

Judicious adj (joo DIH shuhs)

sensible; showing good judgment The wise and distinguished judge was well known for having a ____ temperament. Synonyms: circumspect; prudent; sagacious; sapient

Austere adj (aw STEER)

severe or stern in appearance; undecorated The lack of decoration makes Zen temples seem ___to the untrained eye. Synonyms: bleak; dour; grim; hard; harsh; severe

Pungent adj (PUHN juhnt)

sharp and irritating to the senses The smoke from the burning tires was extremely ____ . Synonyms: acrid; caustic; piquant; stinging

Précis noun (PRAY see)

short summary of facts Farah wrote a a---- of her thesis on the epic poem to share with the class.

Ingenuous adj (ihn JEHN yoo uhs)

showing innocence or childlike simplicity She was so ___ that her friends feared that her innocence and trustfulness would be exploited when she visited the big city. Synonyms: artless; guileless; innocent; naïve; simple; unaffected

Politic adj (PAH lih tihk)

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 ____ manner. Synonyms: tactful

Perspicacious adj (puhr spuh KAY shuhs)

shrewd, astute, or keen-witted Inspector Poirot used his ____mind to solve mysteries. Synonyms: insightful; intelligent; sagacious

Sagacious adj (suh GAY shuhs)

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

Wizened adj (WIH zuhnd)

shriveled; withered; wrinkled The _____ 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 adj (wahn)

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

Cloying adj (KLOY ing)

sickly sweet; excessive When Enid and Jay first started dating, their ___ affection toward one another often made their friends ill. Synonyms: excessive; fulsome

Taciturn adj (TAA sih tuhrn)

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

Reticent adj (REH tih suhnt)

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

Analogous adj (uh NAAL uh guhs)

similar or alike in some way; equivalent His mother argued that not going to college was ____ to throwing his life away. Synonyms: alike; comparable; corresponding; equivalent; homogeneous; parallel; similar

Zealot noun (ZEH luht)

someone passionately devoted to a cause The religious ____ had no time for those who failed to share his strong beliefs. Synonyms: enthusiast; fanatic; militant; radical

Chauvinist noun (SHOH vuh nist)

someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs The attitude that men must be obeyed since they are inherently superior to women is common among male ____. Synonyms: bigot; jingoist; partisan

Pedant noun (PEH daant)

someone who shows off learning The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a _____. Synonyms: doctrinaire; nit-picker; pedagogue; scholar; schoolmaster; sophist

Dilettante noun (DIH luh tahnt)

someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic Jerry's friends were such ___they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week. Synonyms: amateur; dabbler; superficial; tyro

Anachronism noun (uh NAAK ruh nih suhm)

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

Catalyst noun (KAA tuh lihst)

something that brings about a change in something else The imposition of harsh taxes was the ____ that finally brought on the revolution. Synonyms: accelerator; goad; impetus; impulse; incentive; motivation; spur; stimulant

Anodyne noun (aah nuh dien)

something that calms or soothes pain The massage was an ____ that helped remove the knots from the lawyer's tense shoulders. Synonyms: narcotic; nepenthe; opiate

Lugubrious adj (loo GOO bree uhs)

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

Knell noun (nehl)

sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure When the townspeople heard the ___ from the church belfry, they knew that their mayor had died. Synonyms: chime; peal; toll

Acidulous adj (uh SI juh luhs)

sour in taste or manner The _____ taste of the spoiled milk made the young boy's lips pucker. Synonyms: acerbic; acetous; biting; piquant; pungent; tart

Alacrity noun (uh LAAK crih tee)

speed or quickness The restaurant won a reputation for fine service since the wait staff responded to their clients' requests with ___. Synonyms: celerity; dispatch; haste; swiftness

Nascent adj (NAY sehnt)

starting to develop; coming into existence The advertising campaign was still in a _____ stage, and nothing had been finalized yet. Synonyms: embryonic; emerging; inchoate; incipient

Crescendo noun (kruh SHEHN doh)

steady increase in volume or force The ___ 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 adj (NOY suhm)

stinking; putrid A dead mouse trapped in your walls produces a ______ odor. Synonyms: disgusting; foul; malodorous

Martinet noun (mahr tihn EHT)

strict disciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules A complete ___ , the official insisted that Pete fill out all the forms again even though he was already familiar with his case. Synonyms: dictator; stickler; tyrant

Obstinate adj (AHB stih nuht)

stubborn; unyielding The ______ child could not be made to eat any food that he perceived to be "yucky." Synonyms: intransigent; mulish; persistent; pertinacious; stubborn; tenacious

Effigy noun (EH fuh jee)

stuffed doll; likeness of a person In England, _____of the historic rebel Guy Fawkes are burned in commemoration of his life. Synonyms: dummy, figure, image

Fatuous adj (FAH choo uhs)

stupid; foolishly self-satisfied Ted's ____ comments always embarrassed his keen-witted wife at parties. Synonyms: absurd; ludicrous; preposterous; ridiculous; silly

Deleterious adj (dehl ih TEER ee uhs)

subtly or unexpectedly harmful If only we had known the clocks were defective before putting them on the market, it wouldn't have been quite so _____ to our reputation. Synonyms: adverse; hurtful; inimical; injurious

Dyspeptic adj (dihs PEHP tihk)

suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable The ____ young man cast a gloom over the party the minute he walked in. Synonyms: acerbic; melancholy; morose; solemn; sour

Leery adj (LIHR ree)

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

Turgid adj (TUHR jihd)

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

Loquacious adj (loh KWAY shuhs)

talkative She is naturally ____ , which is a problem in situations where listening is more important than talking. Synonyms: effusive; garrulous; verbose

Voluble adj (VAHL yuh buhl)

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

Lachrymose adj (LAAK ruh mohs)

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

Syncopation noun (sihn cuh PAY shun)

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

Abeyance noun (uh BAY uhns)

temporary suppression or suspension The baseball game was held in ____ while it continued to rain. Synonyms: deferral; delay; dormancy; postponement; remission

Transitory adj (TRAHN sih tohr ee)

temporary; lasting a brief time The reporter's homes were ____ ; she stayed in one place only long enough to cover the current story.

Frugality noun (fru GAA luh tee)

tending to be thrifty or cheap Scrooge McDuck's ___ was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money. Synonyms: economy; parsimony; prudence; sparingness

Garrulous adj (GAAR uh luhs)

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

Ethos noun (EE thohs)

the beliefs or character of a group It is the Boy Scouts' ____ that one should always be prepared. Synonyms: culture; ethic; philosophy

Hegemony noun (hih JEH muh nee)

the domination of one state or group over its allies When Germany claimed ___ over Russia, Stalin was outraged. Synonyms: authority; power

Distaff noun (DIS taf)

the female branch of a family The lazy husband refused to cook dinner for his wife, joking that the duty belongs to the ____'s side. Synonyms: maternal

Gestation noun (jeh STAY shuhn)

the growth process from conception to birth The longer the ____ period of an organism, the more developed the baby is at birth. Synonyms: development; gravidity; pregnancy

Acme noun (aak mee)

the highest point; the summit; the highest level or degree attainable Just when he reached the _____ of his power, the dictator was overthrown. Synonyms: apex; peak; summit

Zenith noun (ZEE nihth)

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

Usury noun (YOO zhuh ree)

the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates The moneylender was convicted of ____ when it was discovered that he charged 50 percent interest on all his loans.

Propriety noun (pruh PRIE uh tee)

the quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs The aristocracy maintained a high level of ____ , adhering to even the most minor social rules. Synonyms: appropriateness; decency; decorum; modesty

Cartography noun (kahr TAHG ruh fee)

the science or art of making maps Gail's interest in ___ may stem from the extensive traveling she did as a child. Synonyms: charting; surveying; topography

Larceny noun (LAAR suh nee)

theft of property The crime of stealing a wallet can be categorized as petty ____ . Synonyms: burglary; robbery; stealing

Viscous adj (VIH skuhs)

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

Precipitate adj (preh SIH puh tayt)

thrown violently or brought about abruptly; lacking deliberation Theirs was a ____ 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

Hermetic adj (huhr MEH tihk)

tightly sealed The ___ seal of the jar proved impossible to break. Synonyms: airtight; impervious; watertight

Vituperate verb (vih TOO puhr ayt)

to abuse verbally; to berate ______ someone is never a constructive way to effect change. Synonyms: castigate; reproach; scold

Dither verb (DIHTH uhr)

to act confusedly or without clear purpose Ellen ____ around her apartment, uncertain how to tackle the family crisis. Synonyms: falter; hesitate; vacillate; waffle; waver

Embellish verb (ehm BEHL ihsh)

to add ornamental or fictitious details Britt _____ her résumé, hoping to make the lowly positions she had held seem more important. Synonyms: adorn; bedeck; elaborate; embroider; enhance; exaggerate

Blight verb (bliet)

to afflict; to destroy The farmers feared that the night's frost would ____the potato crops entirely. Synonyms: damage; plague

Antagonize verb (aan TAA guh niez)

to annoy or provoke to anger The child discovered that he could ___ the cat by pulling its tail. Synonyms: clash; conflict; incite; irritate; oppose; pester; provoke; vex

Vex verb (vehks)

to annoy, irritate, puzzle, or confuse The old man who loved his peace and quiet was ____ by his neighbor's loud music. Synonyms: annoy; bother; chafe; exasperate; irk; nettle; peeve; provoke

Foment verb (foh MEHNT)

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

Posit verb (PAH siht)

to assume as real or conceded; to propose as an explanation Before proving the math formula, we needed to ____ that x and y were real numbers.

Assail verb (uh sayl)

to attack; to assault The foreign army will try to ___ our bases, but they will not be successful in their attack. Synonyms: beset; storm; strike

Pervade verb (puhr VAYD)

to be present throughout; to permeate Four spices—cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne—_______almost every Indian dish, and give the cuisine its distinctive flavor. Synonyms: imbue; infuse; penetrate; permeate; suffuse

Rarefy verb (RAYR uh fie)

to become thinner or sparser Since the atmosphere ____ as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe. Synonyms: attenuate; thin

Inter verb (ihn TUHR)

to bury After giving the masses one last chance to pay their respects, the leader's body was ____ . Synonyms: entomb; inhume; sepulcher; tomb

Impugn verb (ihm PYOON)

to call into question; to attack verbally "How dare you ___ my motives?" protested the lawyer, on being accused of ambulance chasing. Synonyms: challenge; dispute

Slake verb (slayk)

to calm down or moderate In order to ___ his curiosity, Bryan finally took a tour backstage at the theater.

Mollify verb (MAHL uh fie)

to calm or make less severe Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would _____ them. Synonyms: appease; assuage; conciliate; pacify

Expurgate verb (EHK spuhr gayt)

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

Ossify verb (AH sih fie)

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 _____.

Bilk verb (bihlk)

to cheat; defraud When the greedy salesman realized that his customer spoke poor French, he ____ the tourist out of 20 euros. Synonyms: beat; defraud; diddle; gyp; overreach

Abstain verb (aab STAYN)

to choose not to do something Before the medical procedure, you must ___from eating. Synonyms: forbear; refrain; withhold

Arrogate verb (aa ruh gayt)

to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right Gretchen watched in astonishment as her boss ____ the credit for her brilliant work on the project. Synonyms: appropriate; presume; take

Exculpate verb (EHK skuhl payt)

to clear from blame; to prove innocent The legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and ____those who are innocent. Synonyms: absolve; acquit; clear; exonerate; vindicate

Exonerate verb (ihg ZAHN uh rayt)

to clear of blame The fugitive was ___ when another criminal confessed to committing the crime. Synonyms: absolve; acquit; clear; exculpate; vindicate

Amalgamate verb (uh MAAL guh mayt)

to combine; to mix together Giant Industries ____ with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated. Synonyms: admix; blend; coalesce; combine; commingle; commix; compound; fuse; intermingle; intermix; merge; mingle; mix; unite

Propitiate verb (proh PIH shee ayt)

to conciliate; to appease Because their gods were angry and vengeful, the Vikings ____ them with many sacrifices.

Emulate verb (EHM yuh layt)

to copy; to try to equal or excel The graduate student sought to _____ his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class. Synonyms: imitate; simulate

Enumerate verb (ih NOO muhr ayt)

to count, list, or itemize Before making his decision, Jacob asked the waiter to _______ the different varieties of ice cream that the restaurant carried. Synonyms: catalog; index; tabulate

Ford verb (fohrd)

to cross a body of water by wading Because of the recent torrential rains, the cowboys were unable to ____ the swollen river. Synonyms: traverse; wade

Mar verb (mahr)

to damage or deface; to spoil Telephone poles ____ the natural beauty of the countryside. Synonyms: blemish; disfigure; impair; injure; scar

Gambol verb (GAAM buhl)

to dance or skip around playfully From her office, Amy enviously watched the playful puppies ____ around Central Park. Synonyms: caper; cavort; frisk; frolic; rollick; romp

Dupe verb (doop)

to deceive Bugs Bunny was able to ______Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit. Synonyms: beguile; betray; bluff; cozen; deceive; delude; fool; hoodwink; humbug; mislead; take in; trick

Flag verb (flaag)

to decline in vigor, strength, or interest The marathon runner slowed down as his strength ___ . Synonyms: dwindle; ebb; slacken; subside; wane

Amortize verb (uh mohr tiez)

to diminish by installment payments While college students are notorious for accumulating credit card debt, they are not as well known for ___ it. Synonyms: decrease; reduce

Jettison verb (JEHT ih zuhn)

to discard; to get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering The sinking ship _____ its cargo in a desperate attempt to reduce its weight. Synonyms: dump; eject

Bifurcate verb (BI fuhr kayt)

to divide into two parts The large corporation just released a press statement announcing its plans to ____.

Malinger verb (muh LING guhr)

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

Opine verb (oh PIEN)

to express an opinion At the "Let's Chat Talk Show," the audience member ____ that the guest was in the wrong. Synonyms: point out; voice

Demur verb (dih MUHR)

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 ____ . Synonyms: dissent; expostulate; kick; protest; remonstrate

Lament verb (luh MEHNT)

to express sorrow; to grieve; to regret The children continued to ____ the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise. Synonyms: bewail; deplore; grieve; mourn

Arbitrate verb (AHR bih trayt)

to judge a dispute between two opposing parties Since the couple could not come to an agreement, a judge was forced to ___ their divorce proceedings. Synonyms: adjudge; adjudicate; determine; intermediate; intervene; judge; moderate; referee; rule

Abscond verb (aab skahnd)

to leave secretly The patron ___ from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door. Synonyms: decamp; escape; flee

Prevaricate verb (prih VAAR uh cayt)

to lie or deviate from the truth Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee ____ and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time. Synonyms: equivocate; lie; perjure

Ameliorate verb (uh MEEL yuhr ayt)

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

Adulterate verb (uh DUHL tuhr ayt)

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

Dilate verb (DIE layt)

to make larger; to expand When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes ____ so as to let in more light. Synonyms: amplify; develop; elaborate; enlarge; expand; expatiate

Palliate verb (PAA lee ayt)

to make less serious; to ease The alleged crime was so vicious that the defense lawyer could not ____it for the jury. Synonyms: alleviate; assuage; extenuate; mitigate

Alleviate verb (uh LEE vee ayt)

to make more bearable Taking aspirin helps to ___ a headache. Synonyms: allay; assuage; comfort; ease; lessen; lighten; mitigate; palliate; relieve

Assuage verb (uh SWAYJ)

to make something unpleasant less severe Like many people, Philip Larkin used alcohol to ___ his sense of meaninglessness and despair. Synonyms: allay; alleviate; appease; comfort; conciliate; ease; lighten; mitigate; mollify; pacify; palliate; placate; propitiate; relieve; soothe; sweeten

Exacerbate verb (ihg ZAAS uhr bayt)

to make worse It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn since, instead of providing relief, it will only ___ the problem. Synonyms: aggravate; annoy; intensify; irritate; provoke

Husband verb (HUHZ buhnd)

to manage economically; to use sparingly The cyclist paced herself at the start of the race, knowing that if she ____ her resources she'd have the strength to break out of the pack later on. Synonyms: conserve; ration

Deface verb (dih FAYS)

to mar the appearance of; to vandalize After the wall was torn down, the students began to ____the statues of Communist leaders of the former Eastern Bloc. Synonyms: disfigure; impair; spoil

Lumber verb (LUHM buhr)

to move slowly and awkwardly The bear ____ towards the garbage, drooling at the prospect of the Big Mac leftovers he smelled. Synonyms: galumph; hulk; lurch; stumble

Militate verb (MIHL ih tayt)

to operate against; work against Lenin _____ against the tsar for years before he overthrew him and established the Soviet Union. Synonyms: affect; change; influence

Condone verb (kuhn DOHN)

to overlook, pardon, or disregard Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as ____ an air of lawlessness. Synonyms: exculpate; excuse; pardon; remit

Inundate verb (IH nuhn dayt)

to overwhelm; to cover with water The tidal wave ___ Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water. Synonyms: deluge; drown; engulf; flood; submerge

Cosset verb (KAH suht)

to pamper; to treat with great care Marta just loves to _____ her first and only grandchild. Synonyms: cater to; cuddle; dandle; fondle; love; pamper; pet; spoil

Permeate verb (PUHR mee ayt)

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

Discern verb (dihs UHRN)

to perceive or recognize It is easy to ___ the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping. Synonyms: catch; descry; detect; differentiate; discriminate; distinguish; espy; glimpse; know; separate; spot; spy; tell

Vacillate verb (VAA sihl ayt)

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

Burnish verb (buhr nihsh)

to polish He ___the silver coffee pot until it shone brightly. Synonyms: buff; luster; polish; scour

Upbraid verb (uhp BRAYD)

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

Kindle verb (KIHN duhl)

to set fire to or ignite; to excite or inspire With only damp wood to work with, Tilda had great difficulty trying to ____ the campfire. Synonyms: arouse; awaken; light; spark

Disabuse verb (dih suh BYUZE)

to set right; to free from error Galileo's observations ___ scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the Earth. Synonyms: correct; undeceive

Molt verb (muhlt)

to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically The snake ______ its skin and left it behind in a crumpled mass. Synonyms: cast; defoliate; desquamate

Eschew verb (ehs CHOO)

to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful) The filmmaker ____ artificial light for her actors, resulting in a stark movie style. Synonyms: avoid; elude; escape; evade; shun; shy

Mitigate verb (MIHT ih gayt)

to soften; to lessen A judge may _____ 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 verb (PLAY cayt)

to soothe or pacify The burglar tried to ____ the snarling dog by referring to it as a "nice doggy" and offering it a treat. Synonyms: appease; conciliate; mollify

Advocate verb (aad vuh kayt)

to speak in favor of The vegetarian ___ a diet containing no meat. Synonyms: back; champion; support

Deride verb (dih RIED)

to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock The awkward child was often _____ by his "cooler" peers. Synonyms: gibe; jeer; mock; ridicule; scoff; sneer; taunt

Occlude verb (uh KLOOD)

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 _______by the moon. Synonyms: barricade; block; close; obstruct

Corroborate verb (kuh RAHB uhr ayt)

to support with evidence All the DA needed were fingerprints to ____ the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim's apartment. Synonyms: authenticate; back; buttress; confirm; substantiate; validate; verify

Bolster verb (BOHL stuhr)

to support; to prop up The presence of giant footprints ____ the argument that Bigfoot was in the area. Synonyms: brace; buttress; crutch; prop; stay; support; sustain; underpin; uphold

Distend verb (dih STEHND)

to swell, inflate, or bloat Her stomach was ____ after she gorged on the six-course meal.

Sully verb (SUH lee)

to tarnish; to taint With the help of a public relations firm, he was able to restore his ____ reputation.

Inculcate verb (ihn KUHL kayt)

to teach; to impress in the mind Most parents ___ their children with their beliefs and ideas instead of allowing their children to develop their own values. Synonyms: implant; indoctrinate; instill; preach

Lionize verb (LIE uhn iez)

to treat as a celebrity After the success of his novel, the author was ___ by the press. Synonyms: feast; honor; regale

Pare verb (payr)

to trim off excess; to reduce The cook's hands were sore after she ___ hundreds of potatoes for the banquet. Synonyms: clip; peel

Equivocate verb (ih KWIHV uh kayt)

to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead When faced with criticism of his policies, the politician ______ and left all parties thinking he agreed with them. Synonyms: be ambiguous; evade; waffle

Peregrinate verb (PEH ruh gruh nayt)

to wander from place to place; to travel, especially on foot Shivani enjoyed _______ the expansive grounds of Central Park.

Parry verb (PAAR ree)

to ward off or deflect, especially by a quick-witted answer Kari _____ every question the army officers fired at her, much to their frustration.

Liberal adj (LIHB uh ruhl)

tolerant or broad-minded; generous or lavish Cali's ____ parents trusted her and allowed her to manage her own affairs to a large extent. Synonyms: bounteous; latitudinarian; munificent; permissive; progressive

Officious adj (uh FIHSH uhs)

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

Credulous adj (KREH juh luhs)

too trusting; gullible Although some four-year-olds believe in the Tooth Fairy, only the most ____ nine-year-olds also believe in her. Synonyms: naïve; susceptible; trusting

Scintilla noun (sihn TIHL uh)

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

Hapless adj (HAAP luhs)

unfortunate; having bad luck I wish someone would give that poor, ____ soul some food and shelter. Synonyms: ill-fated; ill-starred; jinxed; luckless; unlucky

Rococo adj (ruh koh KOH)

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

Hoary adj (HOHR ee)

very old; whitish or gray from age The old man's ___ beard contrasted starkly to the new stubble of his teenage grandson. Synonyms: ancient; antediluvian; antique; venerable; vintage

Vim noun (vihm)

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

Erratic adj (ih RAAT ihk)

wandering and unpredictable The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ______ turns that surprised the audience. Synonyms: capricious; inconstant; irresolute; whimsical

Peripatetic adj (peh ruh puh TEH tihk)

wandering from place to place, especially on foot Eleana's _____ meanderings took her all over the countryside in the summer months. Synonyms: itinerant; nomadic; wayfaring

Itinerant adj (ie TIHN uhr uhnt)

wandering from place to place; unsettled The ____ tomcat came back to the Johansson homestead every two months. Synonyms: nomadic; vagrant

Encomium noun (ehn KOH me uhm)

warm praise She wrote an ____in praise of the outgoing president. Synonyms: citation; eulogy; panegyric; salutation; tribute

Maelstrom noun (MAYL struhm)

whirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind The transportation system of the city had collapsed in the ____ of war. Synonyms: eddy; turbulence

Perfidious adj (puhr FIH dee uhs)

willing to betray someone's trust The actress's ____ companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist. Synonyms: disloyal; faithless; traitorous; treacherous

Prudence noun (PROO dehns)

wisdom, caution, or restraint The college student exhibited ____ by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her résumé. Synonyms: astuteness; circumspection; discretion; frugality; judiciousness; providence; thrift

Verbose adj (vuhr BOHS)

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

Belfry noun (behl free)

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 ____ of the church. Synonyms: spire; steeple

Impasse noun (ihm PAAS)

a blocked path; a dilemma with no solution The rock slide produced an ___ , so no one could proceed further on the road. Synonyms: cul-de-sac; deadlock; stalemate

Tome noun (tohm)

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

Vicissitude noun (vih SIH sih tood)

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

Collusion noun (kuh LOO zhuhn)

a collaboration; complicity; conspiracy It came to light that the police chief and the mafia had a ___ in running the numbers racket. Synonyms: connivance; intrigue; machination

Phalanx noun (FAY laanks)

a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things A _____of guards stood outside the prime minister's home day and night. Synonyms: legion; mass

Paradox noun (PAR uh doks)

a contradiction or dilemma It is a _____ that those most in need of medical attention are often those least able to obtain it. Synonyms: ambiguity; incongruity

Curmudgeon noun (kuhr MUH juhn)

a cranky person, usually an old one Ernesto was a notorious ___ who snapped at anyone who disturbed him for any reason. Synonyms: coot; crab; grouch

Boor noun (bohr)

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

Imprecation noun (ihm prih KAY shuhn)

a curse Spouting violent ___ , Hank searched for the person who had vandalized his truck.

Malediction noun (maal ih DIHK shun)

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 _____ . Synonyms: anathema; imprecation

Gradation noun (gray DAY shuhn)

a degree or stage in a process; a variation in color The paint store offers so many different ____ of red that it's impossible to choose among them. Synonyms: nuance; shade; step; subtlety

Declivity noun (dih KLIH vih tee)

a downward slope Because the village was situated on the _____ of a hill, it never flooded. Synonyms: decline; descent; grade; slant; tilt; drop; slope; pitch

Estimable adj (EH stuh muh buhl)

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

Overwrought adj (oh vuhr RAWT)

agitated; overdone The lawyer's _____voice on the phone made her clients worry about the outcome of their case. Synonyms: elaborate; excited; nervous; ornate

Diaphanous adj (die AAF uh nuhs)

allowing light to show through; delicate These ____ curtains do nothing to block out the sunlight. Synonyms: gauzy; sheer; tenuous; translucent; transparent

Droll adj (drohl)

amusing in a wry, subtle way Although the play couldn't be described as the funniest thing they had ever seen, it was certainly ___. Synonyms: comic; entertaining; funny; risible; witty

Diatribe noun (DIE uh trieb)

an abusive, condemnatory speech The trucker bellowed a ____ at the driver who had cut him off. Synonyms: fulmination; harangue; invective; jeremiad; malediction; obloquy; tirade

Abyss noun (uh bihs)

an extremely deep hole The submarine dove into the ___ to chart the previously unseen depths. Synonyms: chasm; void

Perfunctory adj (pur FUHNK tuhr ee)

done in a routine way; indifferent The machine-like teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a _____ smile. Synonyms: apathetic; automatic; mechanical

Tacit adj (TAA siht)

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

Fallow noun (FAA loh)

dormant; unused This field should lie ____ for a year so the soil does not become completely depleted. Synonyms: idle; inactive; unseeded

Ambiguous adj (aam BIHG yoo uhs)

doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways The directions he gave were so ___ that we disagreed on which way to turn. Synonyms: cloudy; doubtful; dubious; equivocal; indeterminate; nebulous; obscure; unclear; vague

Terrestrial adj (tuh REH stree uhl)

earthly; down-to-earth; commonplace Many "extraterrestrial" objects turn out to be ____ in origin, as when flying saucers turn out to be normal airplanes. Synonyms: earthbound; mundane; sublunary; tellurian; terrene

Volatile adj (VAH luh tuhl)

easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive His ______ personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything. Synonyms: capricious; erratic; fickle; inconsistent; inconstant; mercurial; temperamental

Gullible adj (GUH luh buhl)

easily deceived The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool ___ bank customers into giving him their account information. Synonyms: credulous; exploitable; naïve

Lissome adj (LIHS uhm)

easily flexed; limber; agile The ___ yoga instructor twisted herself into shapes that her students could only dream of. Synonyms: graceful; lithe; supple

Irascible adj (ih RAH suh buhl)

easily made angry Attila the Hun's _____ and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives. Synonyms: cantankerous; irritable; ornery; testy

Rhetoric noun (REH tuhr ihk)

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

Audacious adj (aw DAY shuhs)

fearless and daring The ____ 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; unafraid; undaunted; valiant; valorous; venturesome; venturous

Intrepid adj (ihn TREH pihd)

fearless; resolutely courageous Despite freezing winds, the ____ hiker completed his ascent. Synonyms: brave

Fecund adj (FEE kuhnd)

fertile; fruitful; productive The ___couple yielded a total of 20 children. Synonyms: flourishing; prolific

Metaphor noun (MEHT uh fohr)

figure of speech comparing two different things The ______"a sea of troubles" suggests a multitude of troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea. Synonyms: allegory; analogy; simile; symbol

Veracity noun (vuhr AA sih tee)

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

Mores noun (MAWR ayz)

fixed customs or manners; moral attitudes In keeping with the _____of ancient Roman society, Nero held a celebration every weekend. Synonyms: conventions; practices

Panache noun (puh NAHSH)

flamboyance or dash in style and action; verve Leah has such ____ when planning parties, even when they're last-minute affairs.

Glib adj (glihb)

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

Fetid adj (FEH tihd)

foul-smelling; putrid The ___ stench from the outhouse caused Francesca to wrinkle her nose in disgust. Synonyms: funky; malodorous; noisome; rank; stinky

Frenetic adj (fruh NEHT ihk)

frantic; frenzied The employee's ____ schedule left her little time to socialize. Synonyms: corybantic; delirious; feverish; mad; rabid; wild

Pristine adj (prih STEEN)

fresh and clean; uncorrupted Since concerted measures had been taken to prevent looting, the archeological site was still _____when researchers arrived. Synonyms: innocent; undamaged

Mirth noun (muhrth)

frivolity; gaiety; laughter Vera's hilarious jokes contributed to the general ____ at the dinner party. Synonyms: glee; hilarity; jollity; merriment

Sportive adj (SPOHR tihv)

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

Disparate adj (DIH spuh ruht)

fundamentally different; entirely unlike Although the twins are physically identical, their personalities are ____ . Synonyms: different; dissimilar; divergent; diverse; variant; various

Tawdry adj (TAW dree)

gaudy, cheap, or showy The performer changed into her ___ , spangled costume and stepped out onto the stage to do her show. Synonyms: flashy; loud; meretricious

Meretricious adj (mehr ih TRIHSH uhs)

gaudy; falsely attractive The casino's ____ decor horrified the cultivated interior designer. Synonyms: flashy; insincere; loud; specious; tawdry

Chaos noun (KAY ahs)

great disorder; a confused situation The tornado blew the roof off the house and reduced an impeccably ordered living room to a state of ____ : furniture was overturned and books and window Synonyms: clutter; confusion; disarrangement; disarray; disorder; disorderliness; disorganization; jumble; mess; muddle; scramble; snarl; turmoil*

Cupidity noun (kyoo PIH dih tee)

greed; strong desire The thief stared at the shining jewels with ____ in his gleaming eyes. Synonyms: avarice; covetousness; rapacity

Verdant adj (VUHR duhnt)

green with vegetation; inexperienced He wandered deep into the _____ woods in search of mushrooms and other edible flora. Synonyms: grassy; leafy; wooded

Indolent adj (IHN duh luhnt)

habitually lazy or idle Her ___ ways got her fired from many jobs. Synonyms: faineant, languid, lethargic, slothful, sluggish

Fortuitous adj (fohr TOO ih tuhs)

happening by chance; fortunate It was ___ that he won the lotto just before he had to pay back his loans. Synonyms: chance; fortunate; haphazard; lucky; propitious; prosperous

Obdurate adj (AHB duhr uht)

hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion The president was completely _____ on the issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind. Synonyms: inflexible; intransigent; recalcitrant; tenacious; unyielding

Innocuous adj (ih NAHK yoo uhs)

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

Keen adj (keen)

having a sharp edge; intellectually sharp; perceptive With her ____ intelligence, she figured out the puzzle in seconds flat. Synonyms: acute; canny; quick

Pejorative adj (peh JAW ruh tihv)

having bad connotations; disparaging The teacher scolded Mark for his unduly ____ comments about his classmate's presentation. Synonyms: belittling; dismissive; insulting

Prescient adj (PREH shuhnt)

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

Ignoble adj (ihg NOH buhl)

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 ____ act of pick-pocketing. Synonyms: lowly; vulgar

Salubrious adj (suh LOO bree uhs)

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

Neophyte noun (NEE oh fiet)

novice; beginner A relative ____ at bowling, Rodolfo rolled all of his balls into the gutter. Synonyms: apprentice; greenhorn; tyro

Quotidian adj (kwo TIH dee uhn)

occurring daily; commonplace The sight of people singing on the street is so ____ in New York that passersby rarely react to it. Synonyms: everyday; normal; usual

Homogeneous adj (hoh muh JEE nee uhs)

of a similar kind The class was fairly ____ since almost all of the students were journalism majors. Synonyms: consistent; standardized; uniform; unvarying

Apocryphal adj (uh PAHK ruh fuhl)

of questionable authority or authenticity There is no hard or authoritative evidence to support the ___ tales that link the Roswell, New Mexico, incident to a downed UFO. Synonyms: disputed; doubtful; fictitious; fraudulent

Umbrage noun (UHM brihj)

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

Exponent noun (ihk SPOH nuhnt)

one who champions or advocates The vice president was an enthusiastic ___ of computer technology. Synonyms: representative; supporter

Toady noun (TOH dee)

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

Iconoclast noun (ie KAHN uh klaast)

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ____ . Synonyms: maverick; nonconformist; rebel; revolutionary

Apostate noun (uh pahs tayt)

one who renounces a religious faith So that he could divorce his wife, the king scoffed at the church doctrines and declared himself an ____ . Synonyms: defector; deserter; traitor

Banal adj (buh NAAL)

predictable; clichéd; boring His conversation consisted of ____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

Axiom noun (aak see uhm)

premise; postulate; self-evident truth Halle lived her life based on the _____ her grandmother had passed on to her. Synonyms: adage; apothegm; aphorism; maxim; rule

Pithy adj (PIH thee)

profound or substantial yet concise, succinct, and to the point Martha's ____ comments during the interview must have swayed the minimalist hiring manager, because she got the job. Synonyms: brief; compact; laconic; terse

Salient adj (SAY lee uhnt)

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

Decorous adj (DEH kuhr uhs)

proper; tasteful; socially correct The countess trained her daughters in the finer points of ____ behavior, hoping they would make a good impression when she presented them at Court. Synonyms: appropriate; comme il faut; courteous; polite

Opprobrium noun (uh PRO bree uhm)

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

Hyperbole noun (hie PUHR boh lee)

purposeful exaggeration for effect When the mayor claimed his town was one of the seven wonders of the world, outsiders classified his statement as a ____ . Synonyms: embellishment; inflation; magnification

Insurrection noun (ihn suh REHK shuhn)

rebellion After the emperor's troops crushed the ____ , its leaders fled the country.

Contumacious adj (kahn tuh MAY shuhs)

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

Vernal adj (VUHR nuhl)

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

Palatial adj (puh LAY shuhl)

relating to a palace; magnificent After living in a cramped studio apartment for years, Siobhan thought the modest one bedroom looked downright ____. Synonyms: grand; stately

Kinetic adj (kih NEH tihk)

relating to motion; characterized by movement The ___ sculpture moved back and forth, startling the museum visitors. Synonyms: active; dynamic; mobile

Lapidary adj (LAA puh der ee)

relating to precious stones or the art of cutting them Most ____ work today is done with the use of motorized equipment.

Repose noun (rih POHZ)

relaxation; leisure After working hard every day in the busy city, Mike finds his ____ on weekends playing golf with friends. Synonyms: calmness; tranquility

Redress noun (RIH drehs)

relief from wrong or injury Seeking ____ 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

Deference noun (DEH fuh ruhn(t)

respect; courtesy The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost ____. Synonyms: courtesy; honor; obeisance; respect; reverence; veneration

Venerable adj (VEH nehr uh buhl)

respected because of age All of the villagers sought the _____ old woman's advice whenever they had a problem. Synonyms: distinguished; elderly; respectable

Rejoinder noun (rih JOYN duhr)

response Patrick tried desperately to think of a clever ____ to Marianna's joke, but he couldn't. Synonyms: retort; riposte

Doctrinaire adj (dahk truh NAYR)

rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic The professor's manner of teaching was considered ____ for such a liberal school. Synonyms: dictatorial; inflexible

Waver verb (WAY vuhr)

to fluctuate between choices If you ____ too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for, you may not get your first choice. Synonyms: dither; falter; fluctuate; oscillate; vacillate

Divine verb (dih VIEN)

to foretell or know by inspiration The fortune-teller _____ from the pattern of the tea leaves that her customer would marry five times. Synonyms: auger; foresee; intuit; predict; presage

Ingratiate verb (ihn GRAY shee ayt)

to gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage The new intern tried to ___ herself with the managers so that they might consider her for a future job. Synonyms: curry favor; flatter

Garner verb (GAHR nuhr)

to gather and store The director managed to ____ financial bacto gather and store The director managed to garner financial backing from several different sources for his next project. Synonyms: acquire; amass; glean; harvest; reap

Laud verb (lawd)

to give praise; to glorify Parades and fireworks were staged to ____ the success of the rebels. Synonyms: acclaim; applaud; commend; compliment; exalt; extol; hail; praise

Abdicate verb (aab duh kayt)

to give up a position, right, or power With the angry mob clamoring outside the palace, the king ____ his throne and fled. Synonyms: cede; quit; relinquish; resign; yield

Glower verb (GLOW uhr)

to glare or stare angrily and intensely The cranky waiter ____ at the indecisive customer. Synonyms: frown; lower; scowl

Fawn verb (fahn)

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

Coalesce verb (koh uh LEHS)

to grow together to form a single whole The sun and planets eventually ____ out of a vast cloud of gas and dust. Synonyms: amalgamate; blend; condense; consolidate; fuse; unite

Inure verb (ih NYOOR)

to harden; accustom Eventually, Hassad became _____ to the sirens that went off every night and could sleep through them. Synonyms: condition; familiarize; habituate

Grovel verb (GRAH vuhl)

to humble oneself in a demeaning way Thor ____ to his ex-girlfriend, hoping she would take him back. Synonyms: bootlick; cringe; fawn; kowtow; toady

Abase verb (uh bays)

to humble; disgrace My intention was not to ___ the comedian. Synonyms: demean, humiliate

Proliferate verb (proh LIH fuhr ayt)

to increase in number quickly Although he only kept two guinea pigs initially, they ____to such an extent that he soon had dozens. Synonyms: breed; multiply; procreate; propagate; reproduce; spawn

Aggrandize verb (uh GRAAN diez)

to increase in power, influence, and reputation The supervisor sought to ___ himself by claiming that the achievements of his staff were actually his own. Synonyms: amplify; apotheosize; augment; dignify; elevate; enlarge; ennoble; exalt; glorify; magnify; swell; uplift

Imbue verb (ihm BYOO)

to infuse, dye, wet, or moisten Marcia struggled to ____ her children with decent values, a difficult task in this day and age. Synonyms: charge; freight; impregnate; permeate; pervade

Edify verb (EH duh fie)

to instruct morally and spiritually The guru was paid to ____ the actress in the ways of Buddhism. Synonyms: educate; enlighten; guide; teach

Nettle verb (NEH tuhl)

to irritate I don't particularly like having blue hair—I just do it to ______ my parents. Synonyms: annoy; vex

Yoke verb (yohk)

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

Satiate verb (SAY shee ayt)

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

Dissemble verb (dihs SEHM buhl)

to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character The villain could ___ 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; dissimulate; fake; feign; mask; masquerade; pose; pretend; put on; sham

Forestall verb (fohr STAHL)

to prevent or delay; to anticipate The landlord ___ sour T.J.'s attempt to avoid paying the rent by waiting for him outside his door. Synonyms: avert; deter; hinder; obviate; preclude

Obviate verb (AHB vee ayt)

to prevent; to make unnecessary The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which _____ the need for a bridge. Synonyms: forestall; preclude; prohibit

Engender verb (ehn GEHN duhr)

to produce, cause, or bring about His fear and hatred of clowns was ____ when he witnessed a bank robbery carried out by five men wearing clown suits and make-up. Synonyms: beget; generate; spawn

Castigate verb (KAA stih gayt)

to punish or criticize harshly Martina ____ her boyfriend for not remembering her birthday. Synonyms: admonish; chastise; chide; rebuke; reprimand; reproach; reprove; scold; tax; upbraid

Abate verb (uh bayt)

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity As the hurricane's force ____, the winds dropped and the sea became calm. Synonyms: ebb; lapse; let up; moderate; relent; slacken; subside; wane

Attenuate verb (uh TEHN yoo ayt)

to reduce in force or degree; to weaken The Bill of Rights _____ the traditional power of government to change laws at will. Synonyms: debilitate; devitalize; dilute; enervate; enfeeble; rarefy; sap; thin; undermine; undo; unnerve; weaken

Enervate verb (ehn UHR vayt)

to reduce in strength The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would _____ the regular army. Synonyms: debilitate; enfeeble; sap; weaken

Repudiate verb (ree PYOO dee ayt)

to reject the validity of The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was ____ by other known relatives. Synonyms: deny; disavow; disclaim; disown; renounce

Abjure verb (aab jur)

to reject; to abandon formally The spy _____ his allegiance to the United States when he defected to Russia. Synonyms: forswear; recall; recant; retract; take back

Supplant verb (suh PLAANT)

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

Venerate verb (VEHN uhr ayt)

to respect deeply In a traditional Confucian society, the young _____their elders, deferring to the elders' wisdom and experience. Synonyms: adore; honor; idolize; revere

Requite verb (rih KWIET)

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

Lampoon verb (laam POON)

to ridicule with satire The mayor hated being ____ by the press for his efforts to improve people's politeness. Synonyms: tease

Stratagem noun (STRAA tuh juhm)

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

Legerdemain noun (lehj uhr duh MAYN)

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

Onerous adj (OH neh ruhs)

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

Implacable adj (ihm PLAY kuh buhl)

unable to be calmed down or made peaceful His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained ___ for weeks. Synonyms: inexorable; intransigent; irreconcilable; relentless; remorseless; unforgiving; unrelenting

Intransigent adj (ihn TRAAN suh juhnt)

uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled The professor was ____ 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

Wanton adj (WAHN tuhn)

undisciplined; unrestrained; reckless The townspeople were outraged by the _____ display of disrespect when they discovered the statue of the town founder covered in graffiti. Synonyms: capricious; lewd; licentious

Stolid adj (STAH lihd)

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

Catholic adj (KAA thuh lihk)

universal; broad and comprehensive His ___ musical tastes included everything from opera to rap. Synonyms: extensive; general

Fractious adj (FRAAK shuhs)

unruly; rebellious The general had a hard time maintaining discipline among his ____ troops. Synonyms: contentious; cranky; peevish; quarrelsome

Unconscionable adj (uhn KAHN shuhn uh buhl)

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

Exigent adj (EHK suh juhnt)

urgent; requiring immediate action The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was ____ to stop the bleeding. Synonyms: critical; imperative; needed; urgent

Euphemism noun (YOO fum ih zuhm)

use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one The funeral director preferred to use the ____ "sleeping" instead of the word "dead."

Laconic adj (luh KAH nihk)

using few words He was the classic ____ native of Maine; he talked as if he were being charged for each word. Synonyms: concise; curt; pithy; taciturn; terse

Variegated adj (VAAR ee uh gayt ehd)

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