GRE Test Prep

tumultuous

(adj) Riotous, violently agitated, marked by disturbance, violence or uproar; noisy, chaotic loud, excited, and emotional

decadent

(adj) decaying or decayed, especially in terms of morals having low morals and a great love of pleasure, money, fame, etc.

ubiquitous

(adj) existing everywhere at the same time

glib

(adj) fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity

morose

(adj) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable, ill-humored

salubrious

(adj) healthful, promoting health

facetious

(adj) joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things

incorrigible

(adj) not able to be corrected; beyond control

reticent

(adj) not talking much; private (of a person), restrained, reserved Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

mercurial

(adj) quickly unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty (adj.) characterized by rapid change or temperament (Though he was widely respected for his mathematical proofs, the mercurial genius was impossible to live with.)

Stultifying

(adj) rendering useless or ineffectual; causing to appear stupid or ridiculous having a dulling effect; causing to be ineffective

complacent

(adj) self-satisfied, smug; overly content (and therefore lazy, neglectful, or some other bad quality)

hackneyed

(adj) so commonplace as to be stale; not fresh or original

profound

(adj) very insightful, penetrating deeply into a subject; pervasive intense, "down to the very bottom;" at the very bottom

wary

(adj) watchful, motivated by caution, on guard against danger

prudent

(adj) wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future

retrospective

(adj, n) looking to the past or backward; applying to the past, retroactive (adj); an art exhibit of an artist's work over a long period of time (n)

unctuous

(adj.) Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable (The unctuous receptionist seemed untrustworthy, as if she was only being helpful because she thought we might give her a big tip.)

obsequious

(adj.) Marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons

resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly; able to withstand adversity (The resilient ballplayer quickly recovered from his wrist injury.)

brusque

(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

copious

(adj.) abundant; plentiful; wordy, verbose

fortuitous

(adj.) accidental, occurring by a happy chance

palatable

(adj.) agreeable to the taste or sensibilities (Despite the unpleasant smell, the exotic cheese was quite palatable.)

sinister

(adj.) appearing evil or dangerous; threatening evil or harm

cognizant

(adj.) aware, mindful (Jake avoided speaking to women in bars because he was cognizant of the fact that drinking impairs his judgment.)

gauche

(adj.) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy

terse

(adj.) brief and to the point

effervescent

(adj.) bubbly, lively (My friend is so effervescent that she makes everyone smile.)

voluble

(adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent

convivial

(adj.) characterized by feasting, drinking, merriment (The restaurant's convivial atmosphere put me immediately at ease.); SOCIABLE

blithe

(adj.) cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned

consummate

(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection

solicitous

(adj.) concerned, attentive (Jim, laid up in bed with a nasty virus, enjoyed the solicitous attentions of his mother, who brought him soup and extra blankets.)

egregious

(adj.) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense) (adj.) extremely bad (The student who threw sloppy jokes across the cafeteria was punished for his egregious behavior.)

commensurate

(adj.) corresponding in size or amount (Ahab selected a very long roll and proceeded to prepare a tuna salad sandwich commensurate with his enormous appetite.), equal; proportionate

rustic

(adj.) country-like; simple, plain; awkward; (n.) one who lives in the country

affable

(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to Friendly

Quotidian

(adj.) daily (Ambika's quotidian routines include drinking two cups of coffee in the morning.)

somber

(adj.) dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

malignant

(adj.) deadly, extremely harmful, evil; spiteful, malicious

specious

(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit

sadistic

(adj.) delighting in cruelty, excessively cruel

destitute

(adj.) deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in

pejorative

(adj.) derogatory, uncomplimentary (The evening's headline news covered an international scandal caused by a pejorative statement the famous senator had made in reference to a foreign leader.)

epicurean

(adj.) devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of good food;comfort and ease; believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be avoided;

unscrupulous

(adj.) dishonest; not guided or controlled by moral principles

prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic of prose, not poetic

vapid

(adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force

vicious

(adj.) evil, bad; spiteful; having bad habits or an ugly disposition; painfully severe or extreme

scrupulous

(adj.) exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled

recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding hard to understand, abstruse, over one's head

stolid

(adj.) expressing little sensibility, unemotional (Charles's stolid reaction to his wife's funeral differed from the passion he showed at the time of her death.); lacking sensitivity

skittish

(adj.) extremely nervous and easily frightened; shy or timid; extremely cautious; unstable, undependable

sham

(adj.) fake, not genuine; (n.) something false pretending to be genuine; a pretender; a decorated pillow covering; (v.) to pretend

impeccable

(adj.) faultless, beyond criticism or blame

apprehensive

(adj.) fearful or anxious, especially about the future, or that something bad or unpleasant will happen

truculent

(adj.) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh (adj.) ready to fight, cruel (This club doesn't really attract the dangerous types, so why was that bouncer being so truculent?)

squalid

(adj.) filthy, wretched, debased adj. having a dirty or lowly appearance

inveterate

(adj.) firmly established, long-standing; habitual

evanescent

(adj.) fleeting, momentary (My joy at getting promoted was evanescent because I discovered that I would have to work much longer hours in a less friendly office.)

belligerent

(adj.) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; (n.) one at war, one engaged in war Hostile, Aggressive, Quarrelsome

taciturn

(adj.) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

providential

(adj.) happening as though through divine intervention; characterized by good fortune

arduous

(adj.) hard to do, requiring much effort, very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure

deleterious

(adj.) harmful (She experienced the deleterious effects of running a marathon without stretching her muscles enough beforehand.) destructive, detrimental

fetid

(adj.) having a foul odor (I can tell from the fetid smell in your refrigerator that your milk has spoiled.)

voracious

(adj.) having a huge appetite, greedy, ravenous; engaging in an activity with great eagerness or enthusiasm. "she's a voracious reader"

vital

(adj.) having life, living; necessary to life, essential; key, crucial

perceptive

(adj.) having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation insightful, discerning

ethereal

(adj.) heavenly, exceptionally delicate or refined (In her flowing silk gown and lace veil, the bride looked ethereal.)

exuberant

(adj.) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained; excessive, abundant

inimical

(adj.) hostile, enemylike (I don't see how I could ever work for a company that was so cold and inimical to me during my interviews.) (adj.) tending to cause harm or obstruct developments; being oppositional or adverse

ingenuous

(adj.) innocent, simple; frank, sincere showing innocence or childlike simplicity

naive

(adj.) innocent, unsophisticated, showing lack of worldly knowledge and experience

esoteric

(adj.) intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret

apathetic

(adj.) lacking concern, emotion (Uninterested in politics, Bruno was apathetic about whether he lived under a capitalist or communist regime.) Indifferent

feckless

(adj.) lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak; irresponsible, unreliable

churlish

(adj.) lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude

diaphanous

(adj.) light, airy, transparent (Sunlight poured in through the diaphanous curtains, brightening the room.)

vivacious

(adj.) lively, sprightly, full of energy

gregarious

(adj.) living together in a herd or group; sociable, seeking the company of others

execrable

(adj.) loathsome, detestable, awful (Her pudding is so execrable that it makes me sick.)

vociferous

(adj.) loud and noisy; compelling attention

Sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting. Colloquially, we hear the term holier-than-thou. That is a very apt way to describe the attitude of a sanctimonious person.

ostentatious

(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy, Flamboyant, Showy

penurious

(adj.) miserly, stingy (Stella complained that her husband's penurious ways made it impossible to live the lifestyle she felt she deserved.)

abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline

imperative

(adj.) necessary, urgent; (n.) a form of a verb expressing a command; that which is necessary or required

imperturbable

(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness

spurious

(adj.) not genuine, not true, not valid

lax

(adj.) not strict, careless; lacking discipline; not tense, relaxed, negligent

immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constant Unchangeable

sporadic

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order Occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations

frivolous

(adj.) of little importance, not worthy of serious attention; not meant seriously, trivial; silly

sartorial

(adj.) of or pertaining to a tailor or his work; having to do with clothes or dress (especially men's)

antiquated

(adj.) old, out of date (That antiquated car has none of the features, like power windows and steering, that make modern cars so great.)

grandiose

(adj.) on a magnificent or exaggerated scale (Margaret planned a grandiose party, replete with elephants, trapeze artists, and clowns.) grand in an impressive or stately way; absurdly exaggerated; extravagantly or pretentiously imposing in appearance or style. "the court's grandiose facade"

moot

(adj.) open to discussion and debate, unresolved; (v.) to bring up for discussion; (n.) a hypothetical law case argued by students of no matter or consequence, not important

imperious

(adj.) overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

ebullient

(adj.) overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling

pompous

(adj.) overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious Pretentious, characterized by a display of importance

vicarious

(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another

supercilious

(adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority

discursive

(adj.) rambling, lacking order (The professor's discursive lectures seemed to be about every subject except the one initially described.) (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects

compliant

(adj.) ready to adapt oneself to another person's wishes (Sue had very strong opinions about what to do on a first date, and Ted was absolutely compliant.)

pertinent

(adj.) related to the matter at hand, to the point

bovine

(adj.) resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive

boorish

(adj.) rude, unrefined; clumsy

clandestine

(adj.) secret, concealed; underhanded

brazen

(adj.) shameless, impudent; made of brass Bold and without shame

Amorphous

(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

solicitous

(adj.) showing concern or care; fearful or anxious about someone or something

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.

cloying

(adj.) sickeningly sweet (Though Ronald was physically attractive, Maud found his constant compliments and solicitous remarks cloying.)

inane

(adj.) silly and meaningless (Some films are so inane that the psychology of the characters makes absolutely no sense.) senseless, stupid

somnolent

(adj.) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep

surreptitious

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

parsimonious

(adj.) stingy, miserly; meager, poor, small (adj.) stingy, miserly; meager, poor, small

pertinacious

(adj.) stubbornly persistent (Harry's parents were frustrated with his pertinacious insistence that a monster lived in his closet. Then they opened the closet door and were eaten.)

fatuous

(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way

turgid

(adj.) swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive in language

loquacious

(adj.) talkative, wordy; fond of talking

fractious

(adj.) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable

soporific

(adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (n.) something that induces sleep

dilatory

(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

gaunt

(adj.) thin and bony, starved looking; bare, barren

tenuous

(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

timorous

(adj.) timid, fearful (When dealing with the unknown, timorous Tallulah almost always broke into tears.) timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousnes

credulous

(adj.) too ready to believe, easily deceived too trusting; gullible

ominous

(adj.) unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

altruist

(adj.) unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

loath

(adj.) unwilling, reluctant, disinclined

evanesce

(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

punctilious

(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety Paying strict attention to detail; extremely careful

ardent

(adj.) very enthusiastic, impassioned "an ardent supporter of the game"

indigent

(adj.) very poor, impoverished (I would rather donate money to help the indigent population than to the park sculpture fund.)

jaded

(adj.) wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence) bored or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something.

acquiescent

(adj.) willing to carry out someone else's orders or wishes without any protest or dissent; (adj.) submissive ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants.

tortuous

(adj.) winding, twisted, crooked; highly involved, complex; devious

aloof

(adj.) withdrawn, standing apart from others (usually as a matter of choice); At a distance

impromptu

(adj., adv.) without preparation, offhand, suddenly or hastily done; (n.) an extemporaneous composition or remark; a minimal piece suggestive of improvisation

poised

(adj., part.) balanced, suspended; calm, controlled; ready for action having a composed and self-assured manner

reprobate

(n) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; (adj.) wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled; (v.) to disapprove of, condemnexpress or feel disapproval of. (v) express or feel disapproval of.

anarchy

(n) a lack of government and law; confusion

temperance

(n) moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol (n.) moderation in action or thought (Maintaining temperance will ensure that you are able to think rationally and objectively.)

sycophant

(n) servile flatterer, parasitic person, one who fawns in order to get ahead

eulogy

(n) speech of praise or written work of praise, esp. a speech given at a funeral

platitude

(n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark

panache

(n.) a confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display (n) Flair, style, swagger; a flamboyant or grand way of acting

niche

(n.) a decorative recess in a wall; a suitable place or position for a person or thing

schism

(n.) a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions

amnesty

(n.) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

avarice

(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

levity

(n.) a lack of seriousness or earnestness, especially about things that should be treated with respect; buoyancy, lightness in weight, frivolity.

demagogue

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

tirade

(n.) a long, angry speech, usually very critical

peccadillo

(n.) a minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming I'm going to propose to Melinda tomorrow —sure, she has her peccadilloes, like anyone, but she's the perfect woman for me. "The sexual peccadilloes of celebrities aren't necessarily news"

propensity

(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward

laggard

(n.) a person who moves slowly or falls behind; (adj.) falling behind; slow to move, act, or respond

impediment

(n.) a physical defect; a hindrance, obstacle

panacea

(n.) a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems

cadence

(n.) a rhythm, progression of sound (The pianist used the foot pedal to emphasize the cadence of the sonata.)

epitome

(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality (n.) a perfect example, embodiment (My mother, the epitome of good taste, always dresses more elegantly than I do.)

accord

(n.) agreement, harmony; (v.) to agree, be in harmony or bring into harmony; to grant, bestow on

connoisseur

(n.) an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgments, especially in one of the fine arts

condolence

(n.) an expression of sympathy in sorrow (Brian lamely offered his condolences on the loss of his sister's roommate's cat.)

Anathema

(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation; If something is anathema (n.), he, she, or it is the source of somebody's hate. (v) anathematize : to curse

tenet

(n.) an opinion, belief, or principle held to be true

mendicant

(n.) beggar; (adj.) depending on begging for a living

acrimony

(n.) bitterness, discord (Though they vowed that no girl would ever come between them, Biff and Trevor could not keep acrimony from overwhelming their friendship after they both fell in love with the lovely Teresa.), angry

camaraderie

(n.) brotherhood, jovial unity (Camaraderie among employees usually leads to success in business.) mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.

equanimity

(n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic

prudence

(n.) cautious, circumspect (After losing a fortune in a stock market crash, my father vowed to practice greater prudence in future investments.)

deference

(n.) courteous yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission, as to a superior

prowess

(n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or ability (The musician had never taken a guitar lesson in his life, making his prowess with the instrument even more incredible.)

renown

(n.) fame, glory

conceit

(n.) feelings of excessive pride an elaborate extended metaphor

parsimony

(n.) frugality, stinginess (Many relatives believed that my aunt's wealth resulted from her parsimony.)

odium

(n.) hatred, contempt; disgrace or infamy resulting from hateful conduct

acclaim

(n.) high praise (Greg's excellent poem won the acclaim of his friends.) accolade (n.) high praise, special distinction (Everyone offered accolades to Sam after he won the Noble Prize.)

circumlocution

(n.) indirect and wordy language (The professor's habit of speaking in circumlocutions made it difficult to follow his lectures.)

lucubration

(n.) laborious study or thought, especially at night; the result of such work meditation

clemency

(n.) mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness

agnostic

(n.) one who believes that nothing can be known about God; a skeptic; (adj.) without faith, skeptical

toady

(n.) one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors (The other kids referred to the teacher's pet as the Tenth Grade Toady.)

despot

(n.) one who has total power and rules brutally (The despot issued a death sentence for anyone who disobeyed his laws.)

renegade

(n.) one who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw; (adj.) traitorous; unconventional, unorthodox

effrontery

(n.) shameless boldness, impudence

gourmand

(n.) someone fond of eating and drinking (My parents, who used to eat little more than crackers and salad, have become real gourmands in their old age.)

animosity

(n.) strong dislike; bitter hostility

allegiance

(n.) the loyalty or obligation owed to a government, nation, or cause

atrophy

(n.) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away

demeanor

(n.) the way a person behaves, overall impression made by comportment, manner, etc.; facial appearance, mien

veracity

(n.) truthfulness, accuracy (With several agencies regulating the reports, it was difficult for her to argue against its veracity.)

probity

(n.) virtue, integrity (Because he was never viewed as a man of great probity, no one was surprised by Mr. Samson's immoral behavior.) noun: integrity, strong moral principle

lassitude

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

iniquity

(n.) wickedness, sin; a grossly immoral act

virulence

(noun) extreme hostility; extreme harmfulness The strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease.

blue

(of a person or mood) melancholy, sad, or depressed.

emulate

(v) copy in an attempt to equal or be better than To imitate

aver

(v) declare or affirm with confidence

obviate

(v) prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary

concocted

(v) put together, made, or prepared by combining various materials, elements, or ingredients; fabricated

contend

(v) to fight, struggle; to compete; to argue earnestly

assimilate

(v.) to absorb fully or make one's own; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully

ratify

(v.) to approve, give formal approval to, confirm

impute

(v.) to ascribe, blame (The CEO imputed the many typos in the letter to his lazy secretary.)

enthrall

(v.) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprison

pander

(v.) to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others

absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt to forgive or free from blame; to free from sin; to free from an obligation

vindicate

(v.) to clear from hint or charge of wrongdoing; to defend successfully against opposition; to justify (v.) to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free (The attorney had no chance of vindicating the defendant with all of the strong evidence presented by the state.)

cajole

(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises

proscribe

(v.) to condemn, outlaw (The town council voted to proscribe the sale of alcohol on weekends.) Prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish

debauch

(v.) to corrupt by means of sensual pleasures (An endless amount of good wine and cheese debauched the traveler.)

decry

(v.) to criticize openly (The kind video rental clerk decried the policy of charging customers late fees.)

denounce

(v.) to criticize publicly (The senator denounced her opponent as a greedy politician.)

cow

(v.) to crouch or shrink away from in fear or shame

curtail

(v.) to cut short, bring to a halt or end sooner than expected; to reduce

embellish

(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details

estrange

(v.) to drift apart or become unfriendly; to cause such a separation; to remove or keep at a distance

imbibe

(v.) to drink; to take in, absorb

immure

(v.) to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate

abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy) (The spy succeeded only because he had a friend on the inside to abet him.)

capitulate

(v.) to end resistance, give up, surrender

deprecate

(v.) to express mild disapproval; to belittle

deplore

(v.) to feel or express regret or disapproval

enamor

(v.) to fill with love, fascinate, usually used in passive form followed by "of" or "with" (I grew enamored of that boy when he quoted my favorite love poem.) (adj.) inspired by love; captivated; (adj.) marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness

disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking

abstain

(v.) to freely choose not to commit an action (Everyone demanded that Angus put on the kilt, but he did not want to do it and abstained.)

circumvent

(v.) to get around (The school's dress code forbidding navel-baring jeans was circumvented by the determined students, who were careful to cover up with long coats when administrators were nearby.) To circle AROUND and therefore bypass; to avoid by artful maneuvering

succumb

(v.) to give way to superior force, yield to yield or submit; to die

pulverize

(v.) to ground or pound to a powder or dust; to destroy or overcome (as though by smashing into fragments)

militate

(v.) to have effect or force on or against someone or something, fight against

chastise

(v.) to inflict physical punishment as a means of correction; to scold severely

inoculate

(v.) to introduce a microorganism, serum, or vaccine into an organism in order to increase immunity to illness; to vaccinate

relinquish

(v.) to let go, give up

wane

(v.) to lose size, strength, or power (v.) to decrease in size, dwindle (Don't be so afraid of his wrath because his influence with the president is already beginning to wane.) To decrease in strength or intensity

expiate

(v.) to make amends for, atone (To expiate my selfishness, I gave all my profits to charity.)

invalidate

(v.) to make valueless, take away all force or effect weaken; destroy

flout

(v.) to mock, treat with contempt; (v.) to disregard or disobey openly (I flouted the school's dress code by wearing a tie-dyed tank top and a pair of cut-off jeans.)

rebut

(v.) to offer arguments or evidence that contradicts an assertion; to refute

liquidate

(v.) to pay a debt, settle an account; to eliminate v. To settle the affairs of a business; to convert into cash.

ascertain

(v.) to perceive, learn, To find out(With a bit of research, the student ascertained that some plants can live for weeks without water.)

enchant

(v.) to please greatly; to charm, put under a magic spell to bewitch, cast a spell on, fascinate

concoct

(v.) to prepare by combining ingredients; to devise (v.) to fabricate, make up (She concocted the most ridiculous story to explain her absence.)

refute

(v.) to prove wrong (Maria refuted the president's argument as she yelled and gesticulated at the TV.) To disprove; to successfully argue against, deny

castigate

(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely

entail

(v.) to put a burden on, impose, require, involve; to restrict ownership of property by limiting inheritance; (n.) such a restriction

sublimate

(v.) to redirect the energy of a biological or instinctual impulse into a higher or more acceptable channel

abhor

(v.) to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

venerate

(v.) to regard with reverence, look up to with great respect

reconcile

(v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign 1. (v.) to return to harmony (The feuding neighbors finally reconciled when one brought the other a delicious tuna noodle casserole.) 2. (v.) to make consistent with existing ideas

recapitulate

(v.) to review a series of facts; (v.) to sum up, repeat (Before the final exam, the teacher recapitulated the semester's material.)

disseminate

(v.) to scatter or spread widely The politician disseminated his ideas across the town before the election.

berate

(v.) to scold sharply

rebuke

(v.) to scold, criticize (When the cops showed up at Sarah's party, they rebuked her for disturbing the peace.)

reproach

(v.) to scold, disapprove (Brian reproached the customer for failing to rewind the video he had rented.); Blame, disgrace (noun); criticize, express disappointment in (verb)

reprimand

(v.) to scold; find fault with; (n.) a rebuke a formal expression of disapproval.

discern

(v.) to see clearly, recognize, to distinguish one thing from another, (v.) to perceive, detect (Though he hid his emotions, she discerned from his body language that he was angry.)

avenge

(v.) to seek revenge (The victims will take justice into their own hands and strive to avenge themselves against the men who robbed them.)

Usurp

(v.) to seize by force, take possession of without right (The rogue army general tried to usurp control of the government, but he failed because most of the army backed the legally elected president.)

malign

(v.) to slander, to smear, to libel, to defame, to speak evil of

mollify

(v.) to soften, make gentle, pacify; to calm, allay (as an emotion), assuage, appease, placate; to reduce in intensity

sully

(v.) to soil, stain, tarnish, defile, besmirch (v.) to smear and dishonor; (v.) to pollute or contaminate, damage thr integrity and purity of

fortify

(v.) to strengthen, build up

commiserate

(v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

appropriate

(v.) to take, make use of (The government appropriated the farmer's land without justification.)

inure

(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure (v.) to cause someone or something to become accustomed to a situation (Twenty years in the salt mines inured the man to the discomforts of dirt and grime.)

importune

(v.) to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently

Exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

Desecrate

(v.) to violate the sacredness of a thing or place (They feared that the construction of a golf course would desecrate the preserved wilderness.); Tombs, graves, churches, shrines and the like can all be victims of desecration. One, however, cannot desecrate a person, regardless of how holy that person may be.

wither

(verb) to shrivel up or lose liveliness or freshness To become dry; shriveled, shrunken, dried-up

incarnate

1. (adj.) existing in the flesh, embodied (In the church pageant, I play the role of greed incarnate.) 2. (v.) to give human form to (The alien evaded detection by incarnating himself in a human form.)

incendiary

1. (n.) a person who agitates (If we catch the incendiary who screamed "bomb" in the middle of the soccer match, we're going to put him in jail.) 2. (adj.) inflammatory, causing combustion (Gas and lighter fluid are incendiary materials that should be kept out of hot storage areas.)

incumbent

1. (n.) one who holds an office (The incumbent senator is already serving his fifth term.) 2. (adj.) obligatory (It is incumbent upon this organization to offer aid to all who seek it.)

apprehend

1. (v.) to seize, arrest (The criminal was apprehended at the scene.) 2. (v.) to perceive, understand, grasp (The student has trouble apprehending concepts in math and science.)

vice

A bad habit, such as laziness, that inclines us to choose the evil rather than the good.

epitaph

A brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone

rapport

A close and harmonious relationship (n.) mutual understanding and harmony (When Margaret met her paramour, they felt an instant rapport

subpoena

A court order requiring a person to appear in court and give testimony

critique

A detailed analysis and assessment. An analysis or assessment of a thing or situation for the purpose of determining its nature, limitations, and conformity to a set of standards.

aside

A device in which a character in a drama makes a short speech which is heard by the audience but not by other characters in the play

plebiscite

A direct vote in which a country's people have the opportunity to approve or reject a proposal

traversty

A false or distorted representation a grotesque or shameful imitation; a mockery; a perversion

euphoria

A feeling of great happiness or well-being

oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

conviction

A fixed or strong belief

cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds Tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

altercation

A heated argument

echelon

A level, rank or grade; the people at that level (n.) One of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a step-like formation or arrangement

paramour

A lover, often secret, not allowed by law or custom

paradigm

A model; an example

fete

A party or festival, especially one held out of doors. to honor or entertain (someone) lavishly (n.) a party or celebration

vivarium

A place, such as a laboratory, where live animals or plants are kept under conditions simulating their natural environment, as for research.

paternalism

A policy of treating subject people as if they were children providing for their needs but not giving them rights

liberalism

A political attitude that favors evolutionary transformation is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality.

predilection

A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something

nonviable

A product, idea, concept, or opportunity that cannot meet its intended strategic goals or expectations. Not capable of growth

archetype

A prototype or original model The original pattern or model; a perfect example

adage

A proverb, wise saying

carnelian

A reddish color

perfidy

A state or act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness; treachery.

non sequitur

A statement that does not follow logically from evidence

allegory

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. A work that functions on a symbolic level

penchant

A strong liking

strut

A structural support or brace

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point A short, astute statement of a general truth.

rasher

A thin slice of bacon

pandemonium

A wild uproar, din, or commotion

cliche

A worn-out idea or overused expression

acumen

Keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment

lacklustre

Lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring, dull, uninspiring, likeless

diffident

Lacking self-confidence

atonement

Amends, reparation, or expiation made from wrong or injury.

volition

An act of choosing, using one's own will in a conscious choice; free will

epithet

An adjective or adjective phrase applied to a person or thing that is frequently used to describe a characteristic or quality. an epithet used as a term of abuse. "the woman begins to hurl racial epithets at them"

denouncement

Last part of something (usually resolved). the falling action of a plot or the resolution; means untying so that the tangles of the plot are untied and mysteries are solved.

proliferation

An increase in number, multiplication

euphemism

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

misnomer

An unsuitable or misleading name

viviparous

Bearing live young

decorous

Behaving with propriety and good taste; polite (adj.) socially proper, appropriate (The appreciative guest displayed decorous behavior toward his host.)

pantheism

Belief that the divine reality exists in everything the idea that nature is god

fatalist

Believing that all events in life are inevitable and determined by fate

impudence

Bold disrespect or rudeness impertinence; insolence

laconic

Brief and to the point

brevity

Briefness; short duration 1. Concise and exact use of words. 2. Shortness of time.

caustic

Burning

Calamitous

Causing great misfortune

circumspect

Cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances and consequences

colloquial

Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing

witty

Clever or amusing; Facetious

ingenuity

Cleverness, inventiveness, resourcefulness

profligate

Completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful

metaphysical

Concerned with abstract thought, related to metaphysics (branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the nature of being and of the world); very subtle or abstruse highly abstract or theoretical; lacking physical form

secular

Concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters

incessant

Continuing without interruption

Polemic

Controversial argument, esp. one attacking a specific idea (n.) an aggressive argument against a specific opinion (My brother launched into a polemic against my arguments that capitalism was an unjust economic system.)

cogent

Convincing and well reasoned

enumerate

Count or list; specify one-by-one

inquisitive

Curious; asking many questions

pragmatic

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations practical, as opposed to idealistic

malice

Desire to harm others

intricacies

Details, especially of an involved or perplexing subject

partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause, One-sided

contempt

Disrespect; a feeling that a person or thing is inferior and undesirable, disdain; disgrace

extemporaneous

Done without preparation (esp. of a speech), or with some preparation but no notes; improvised, done on the spur of the moment

ephemeral

Lasting a very short time, fleeting, deciduous "There remain some truths too ephemeral to be captured in the cold pages of a court transcript"

erudite

Learned, scholarly, bookish

eke

Manage to support oneself or make a living with difficulty to survive or subsist by means of hard labor or strenuous effort

stigma

Mark of disgrace, a figurative stain or mark on someone's reputation

delineate

Mark the outline of; sketch; describe in detail

avid

Enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous

superfluous

Exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess

pedantic

Excessively concerned with book learning and formal rules boringly scholarly or academic

prolix

Excessively long and wordy (of a person, piece of writing, etc.)

fastidious

Excessively particular, difficult to please; painstaking, meticulous, requiring excessive attention to detail (adj.) meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards (Mark is so fastidious that he is never able to finish a project because it always seems imperfect to him.)

maudlin

Excessively sentimental

dogma

Expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles

dogmatic

Expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles, Opinionated

penury

Extreme poverty

meticulous

Extremely careful about details

antediluvian

Extremely old and antiquated

trepidation

FEAR AND ANXIETY

fidelity

Faithfulness; loyalty

intrepid

Fearless

entrench

Fortify; reinforce; secure.

artless

Free of deceit or craftiness, guileless; natural

abjure

Give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath) TO REJECT; ABANDON FORMALLY

diligent

Hard working, (adj.) showing care in doing one's work (The diligent researcher made sure to check her measurements multiple times.)

innocuous

Harmless, inoffensive

psychosomatic

Having an effect on the body, but mental or emotional in origin

haggard

Having an exhausted appearance

impecunious

Having little or no money

perspicacious

Having penetrating insight or good discernment keen mindedness

esthete

He has an unusual appreciation of beauty

insinuate

Hint, suggest slyly; introduce (an idea) into someone's mind in a subtle, artful way

impervious

IMPOSSIBLE TO PENETRATE; INCAPABLE OF BEING AFFECTED

Parochial

Narrow-minded; Limited in range or scope, provincial

shunned

Ignored; deliberately avoided

capricious

Impulsive and unpredictable Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

insensible

Incapable of feeling; unconscious, unaware

apathy

Indifference Lack of interest or emotion

derogatory

Insulting or intended to insult Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude

didactic

Intended to teach

fervor

Intense and passionate feeling.

intriguing

Interesting; stirring curiosity

futilitarian

Thinks everything is Pointless The futilitarian worker doesn't try to improve his status because he can't see any chance of success.

comprehensive

Thorough (adj.) including everything (She sent me a comprehensive list of the ingredients needed to cook rabbit soufflé.)

placate

To appease, soothe, pacify

disparage

To belittle, to undervalue Regard or represent as being of little worth

endure

To carry on through despite hardships; to put up with to tolerate, withstand, sustain, undergo, bear hardship

amble

To casually walk; stroll

perpetrate

To commit, as a crime or other antisocial act

excommunicate

To declare that a person or group no longer belongs to a church

assent

To express agreement

evict

To force out of property by taking legal action.

intimidate

To frighten, especially by threatening someone

accede to

To give consent, approval, or adherence; agree

ameliorate

To make better; to improve

facilitate

To make easier

alleviate

To make more bearable

exacerbate

To make worse or more severe

recede

To move back or away from

impede

To obstruct or interfere with; to delay

conciliate

To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease, placate to reconcile, to pacify, to renew a friendship

laud

To praise

recuperate

To regain health or strength

shore up

To reinforce or strengthen

prattle

To speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly meaningless, foolish talk

vacillate

To sway physically; to be indecisive (v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

admonish

To warn, to reprove

trifling

Trivial, not very important; so small as to be unimportant; frivolous, shallow

irresolute

UNSURE OF HOW TO ACT; WEAK (adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating

disinterested

Unbiased, impartial; not interested

Catholic

Universal, broad-minded, comprehensive

mundane

WORLDLY AS OPPOSED TO SPIRITUAL; CONCERNED WITH THE ORDINARY

exiguous

[Adj] Scanty; meager; small; slender

amazon

a big, strong, masculine woman

idiosyncrasy

a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual.

fiasco

a complete, ridiculous failure, debacle, a major disaster

predicament

a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation

dichotomy

a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

prevarication

a false or deliberate misstatement; lie. the act of not telling the truth by not directly answering a question

animus

a feeling of animosity; ill will; bitterness

malaise

a feeling of depression, uneasiness, of being unwell

crochet

a form of knitting or needlework

dirge

a funeral hymn or mournful speech "The bagpipers played a dirge as the casket was carried to the cemetery."

virago

a loud-voiced, ill-tempered, scolding woman; shrew.

inhibition

a mental restraint or hindrance

squabble

a noisy argument, esp. over an unimportant matter

hypochondriac

a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses

perpetrator

a person who commits a crime

patron

a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause

contrarian

a person who thinks differently from other people; a person who does the opposite of what is expected

aurist

a physician specializing in the treatment of ear diseases otologist

elegy

a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.

premise

a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.

enterprise

a project or undertaking, especially a bold or complex one.

neurosis

a psychological condition in which anxiety is prominent

nocturne

a romantic melody or composition dealing with evening or night; a reverie / painting of a night scene

favela

a slum community in a Brazilian city

gaucherie

a socially awkward or tactless act

paean

a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving

martinet

a strict disciplinarian

pedagogue

a teacher, especially one who is dull and narrow-minded

oriental

a term used to describe people with descent from Asia and the Middle East

bromide

a trite or obvious remark commonplace remark intended to calm; platitude

termagant

a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman;.

negligee

a woman's loose dressing gown, often of soft sheer fabric

Apostasy

abandonment or rejection of faith or loyalty

versatile

able to do many things well; capable of many uses

articulate

able to speak clearly and expressively

diplomatic

able to take a broad view of negotiations between states tactful

abstinent

abstaining; voluntarily not doing something, especially something pleasant that is bad for you or has a bad reputation

affluence

abundance; wealth

credence

acceptance of something as true

wont

accustomed; habituated; to become or cause to become accustomed.

transgression

act of trespassing or violating a law or rule wrongdoing; sin

indelible

Not able to be erased or removed; memorable

unconscionable

Not guided by conscience; morally wrong, unjust, unreasonable

heterodox

Not in agreement with accepted beliefs; holding unorthodox opinions

imprudent

Not showing care for the consequences of an action, unwise, not careful

overwrought

Overly nervous, agitated, or excited; too ornate, elaborate, or fussy; overdone

dupe

Person who is easily fooled or used (noun); to fool or exploit (verb)

dilettante

Person who takes up an art or activity for amusement only or in a superficial way

juxtapose

Place side by side (either physically or in a metaphorical way, such as to make a comparison or contrast) "black-and-white photos of slums were starkly juxtaposed with color images"

prospective

Potential, in the future

ascetic

Practicing self-denial; Abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an austere and simple life without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for religious reasons

prompting

Providing an additional stimulus to elicit a desired response; using silence and brief statements of encouragement to draw others out

contentious

Quarrelsome, inclined to argue

Impetuous

Quick to act without thinking Impulsive

rapacious

Seizing everything, excessively greedy; taking by force

axiom

Self-evident truth requiring no proof; universally or generally accepted principle

skein

Series of similar related things a length of thread or yarn, loosely coiled and knotted

felon

Serious crime

demur

Show reluctance or object, especially for moral reasons; to express doubts or objections

assiduous

Showing great care and perseverance

abreast

Side-by-side. The more common "abreast of" means keeping up with, staying aware of, or remaining equal in progress with.

anachronism

Something that is not in its correct historical time; a mistake in chronology, such as by assigning a person or event to the wrong time period

pervasive

Spread throughout

robust

Strong and healthy

censure

Strong disapproval or official reprimand (n); to issue such disapproval or reprimand (v) To criticize harshly

intractable

Stubborn (adj.) difficult to manipulate, unmanageable (There was no end in sight to the intractable conflict between the warring countries.)

refractory

Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manage

Recalcitrant

Stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority

glykys

Sweet

appease

TO CALM; PACIFY; PLACATE

gainsay

TO DENY; DISPUTE; OPPOSE

daunt

TO DISCOURAGE; INTIMIDATE; DISHEARTEN

founder

TO SINK; FAIL; COLLAPSE

abeyance

Temporary suspension, inactivity

expiation

The act of "making right" or fully atoning for sin. In the NT the death of Jesus is the atoning sacrifice that establishes peace between sinful humans and God.

Ascension

The act of rising.

dilapidation

The condition of being run-down or in need of repairs state of ruin

arson

The crime of deliberately setting fire to something

regalia

The fancy clothing of a king

lynching

The practice of an angry mob hanging a perceived criminal without regard to due process. In the South, blacks who did not behave as the inferiors to whites might be lynched by white mobs.

tardiness

The quality or fact of being late

syncopate

The shortening of a word by omission of a sound, letter, or syllable from the middle of the word; for example, bos'n for boatswain. A brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary deficiency of oxygen in the brain; blackout.

archaism

The use of deliberately old-fashioned language.

chagrin

irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration To her chagrin, the party ended just as she arrived.

benignant

kindly and benevolent, favorable, beneficial

benevolence

kindness, generosity, charity Inclination to perform charitable acts

lethargy

lack of energy; sluggishness

impertinence

lack of respect; rudeness

indecorous

lacking good taste; improper

insipid

lacking interest or flavor dull; bland; boring

humdrum

lacking variety or excitement; dull

bemoan

lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of

billow

large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows

enduring

lasting over a period of time; surviving;

vegetate

lead a dull, inactive, useless life

lascivious

lecherous; sexually perverted driven by lust

persiflage

light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter

vulpine

like a fox; crafty

deliberation

long and careful consideration or discussion

discomposure

loss of mental or physical composure, agitation; loss of poise

tepid

lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest

rarefied

made less dense (of a gas) of high moral or intellectual value

adjudicate

make a formal judgement on a disputed matter "the Committee adjudicates on all betting disputes" pronounce or declare judicially.

deride

make fun of; mock (v.) to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

addle

make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

indemnify

make secure against loss; compensate for loss (Eg: The city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project. )

precocity

manifesting or characterized by unusually early development or maturity, especially in mental aptitude demonstrating an exceptional talent at an early age

modus vivendi

manner of living, way of life; lifestyle

cartographer

mapmaker

chivalrous

marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

bout

match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking

orthopedist

medical doctor who specializes in bone, joint, and muscle conditions

clerical

member of the clergy

fussy

meticulous, fastidious; finicky; easily upset

tiff

minor quarrel; fit of annoyance

botch

mismanage; blow

congenital

adj. present since birth; being an essential characteristic

Extenuating

adj: making less guilty or more forgivable "The jury acquitted the thief because of the extenuating factor of his wife's disease."

harried

adj: troubled persistently especially with petty annoyance feeling strained as a result of having demands persistently made on one; harassed

petulant

moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance; Easily irritated or annoyed

desultory

aimless; haphazard; digressing at random Lacking consistency or order, disconnected, sporadic; going off topic

Rambling

aimlessly wandering, discursive

attainment

an accomplishment, the act of achieving

nonchalance

an appearance of indifference; calm and composed

lyricism

an artist's expression of emotion in an imaginative and beautiful way; the quality of being lyrical.

precedent

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances prior in time, order etc.

reprisal

an injury done in return for injury

Cardinal

chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: that shows quantity rather than order; of primary importance; fundamental

puerile

childish, immature, or silly (adj.) juvenile, immature (The judge demanded order after the lawyer's puerile attempt to object by stomping his feet on the courtroom floor

adroitness

cleverness or skill; the ability to handle a situation or problem skillfully

maladroit

clumsy; unskillful

Labyrinthine

complicated; highly convoluted, puzzling (adj.) - intricate, maze-like

coda

concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes

confound

confuse; puzzle

gourmet

connoisseur of food and drink

purist

conservative; one who insists on correct forms of language etc.; perfectionist a person who follows a certain idea strictly

persistent

continuing firmly or obstinately in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. refusing to give up or let go; preserving obstinately.

perversion

corruption; turning from right to wrong (n.) the alteration of something from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended. sexual behaviour that is considered abnormal and unacceptable. "his book revolutionized ideas about sexual perversion"

omnibus

covering many things at once

pusillanimous

cowardly; without courage

disingenuous

crafty, dishonest, giving false impression of being honest; not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does. "this journalist was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical"

hamstring

cripple (a person or animal) by cutting their hamstrings.

exigency

crisis; urgent requirements

denigrate

criticize unfairly; disparage (v.) to belittle, diminish the opinion of (The company decided that its advertisements would no longer denigrate the company's competitors.) to attack the reputation of; to speak ill of

Execrate

curse; express abhorrence for; detest

retrenchment

curtailment; reduction; retreat to reassess

gangrene

death of tissue associated with loss of blood supply

subterfuge

deceit used in order to achieve one's goal. "he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions"

contrite

deeply sorrowful or repentant for a wrong

eschew

deliberately avoid using (v.) to shun, avoid (George hates the color green so much that he eschews all green food.)

condemn

denounce, criticize, judge against

extradite

deport from one country back to the home country

bereaved

deprived or left desolate, especially through death

bent

determined; natural talent or inclination

aberrant

deviating from what is normal or expected

obscure

difficult to understand; partially hidden, vague

vexation

discomfort or distress; irritation, annoyance

tarnish

disgrace (v) To lessen or destroy the luster of in any way.

dissolution

disintegration; looseness in moral

conservative

disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

vivisection

dissection, surgery, or painful experiments performed on a living animal for the purpose of scientific research

aggrieved

distressed, wronged (The foreman mercilessly overworked his aggrieved employees.) Angry or resentful due to unjust treatment.

maleficent

doing harm or evil, or causing hurt

torpor

dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity

irascible

easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts

perspicuous

easy to understand, brilliantly clear

braggadocio

empty boasting; bragging; a boasting person; braggart.

circe

enchantress who helped Odysseus

florid

excessively decorated or embellished

uxorious

excessively devoted to one's wife overly fond of one's wife

feral

existing in a wild or untamed state

opulence

extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance

ravenous

extremely hungry

plummet

fall suddenly and steeply

deciduous

falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth

squalor

filth; wretched, degraded, or repulsive living conditions

carnal

fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body

coquette

flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings

bibulous

fond of or addicted to drink; absorbent; spongy.

moron

fool; person of low intelligence; imbecile; simpleton

enlightened

free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding

latitude

freedom to choose how to act or what to do.

vain

full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity

libidinous

full of sexual lust; lewd; lascivious.

voluptuous

full of, characterized by, or ministering to indulgence in luxury, pleasure, and sensuous enjoyment; directed toward or concerned with sensuous enjoyment or sensual pleasure. pleasant to the senses; luxurious; pleasure-seeking; extra full and shapely (of a woman) curvaceous and sexually attractive.

dolorous

full of, expressing, or causing pain or sorrow; grievous; mournful.

buxom

full-bosomed; plump; jolly (of a woman) plump, with a full figure and large breasts. "a buxom blonde"

obsequies

funeral rites or ceremonies

magnanimity

generosity

wince

give a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of or in anticipation of pain or distress.

burlesque

give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly

invigorate

give strength/energy to."the shower had invigorated her"

mendacious

given to lying or deception; dishonest Lying; untruthful: a mendacious child. False: a mendacious statement

saturnine

gloomy, dark, sullen, morose

tribulation

great trouble or suffering

covet

greatly desired (v) to desire something belonging to another

sophomore

half sophisticated, half foolish; a student in the second year of high school or college.

bait

harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals

prostitute

harlot, strumpet

detrimental

harmful; damaging; N. detriment

noxious

harmful; poisonous; lethal

tart

having a sharp or sour taste; sharp in manner or tone

androgynous

having both male and female characteristics

effete

having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted

ignoble

having low moral standards; not noble in character; mean

tendentious

having or showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose.

coterminous

having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning.

prurience

having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc. sexual longing or curiosity

timid

hesitant; lacking in courage or boldness lacking self-confidence

obnoxious

highly offensive, arousing strong dislike

modesty

humility; Respect in the way you dress, speak, and act with regard to sexuality

restive

impatient, uneasy, or restless

relentless

implacable, persistent, unyielding, harsh, without pity

content

in a state of peaceful happiness.

querulous

inclined to complain; irritable

stoic

indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast

lurid

adj. causing shock or horror; tastelessly vivid; glowing like fire through a haze

neophyte

novice; beginner

fulsome

of large size or quantity; generous or abundant. "the fulsome details of the later legend" complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. "the press are embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation"

infidel

one who does not accept a particular faith; unbeliever

iconoclast

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

Machinator

one who plots, esp. with an evil purpose

recidivist

one who returns to criminal habits

seminal

original, important, creating a field

brooch

ornamental clasp; pin

verbiage

overabundance of words

cadaverous

pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse

tenacious

persistent, stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose

eloquent

persuasive and moving, especially in speech Marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive

linguist

pertaining to language

lupine

pertaining to or resembling the wolf; savage; ravenous; predatory;

Ecclesiastical

pertaining to the church

fugacious

pertaining to the passing of time; tending to disappear; fleeting

uxorial

pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting, a wife

badger

pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema;

badinage

playful, teasing conversation; banter; joking talk

euphony

pleasant, harmonious sound

hedonistic

pleasure-seeking, Epicurean engaged in the pursuit of pleasure; sensually self-indulgent

indigence

poverty

impotent

powerless; lacking strength

prophesy

predict, foretell, forecast (n) prophecy

mercenary

primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics. "she's nothing but a mercenary little gold-digger"

cavalcade

procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry

salient

prominent, standing out, conspicuous;

discretion

prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary

brisk

quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor

advert

refer to in speaking or writing. "he had failed to advert to the consequences that his conduct was having"

pecuniary

relating to money

atavistic

relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.

doctrinaire

rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic

precarious

risky; lacking in security or stability Unstable, insecure, dangerous

solarium

room or glassed-in area exposed to the sun

sanguine

ruddy; cheerfully optimistic, hopeful

Exegesis

scholarly explanation or interpretation especially of biblical (of the bible) passages

Excoriate

scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off

infidelity

sexual activity outside of one's marriage unfaithfulness

barefaced

shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie

acuity

sharpness (mental or visual)

tardy

slow; late; overdue; delayed

artful

slyly crafty or cunning; deceitful; tricky; exhibiting artistic skill

cavalry

soldiers on horseback

chauvinist

someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs

epicure

someone who appreciates good food and drink

detractor

someone who belittles something else

braggart

someone who boasts

glutton

someone who eats too much

somniloquent

someone who talks in his or her sleep

anodyne

something that calms or soothes pain

deterrent

something that discourages or hinders

supposition

something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

balm

soothing, healing influence something that heals or soothes

urbane

sophisticated; refined; elegant

lugubrious

sorrowful; mournful; dismal

grandeur

splendor; majesty; greatness

affirm

state as a fact; assert strongly and publicly. "he affirmed the country's commitment to peace"

crescendo

steadily increasing in volume or force (n.) a steady increase in intensity or volume (The crescendo of the brass instruments gave the piece a patriotic feel.)

equable

steady; unvarying; serene, tranquil; of even calm temper;

embezzling

steal or misappropriate (money placed in one's trust or belonging to the organization for which one works).

sally

suddenly rush forth a clever, witty, or fanciful remark; an outburst or flight of passion, fancy, etc.; an excursion or trip, usually off the main course; a sudden rushing forth or activity; a sortie of troops from a besieged place upon an enemy.

boosterish

supporting or promoting something enthusiastically, and often uncritically.

besiege

surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually Attack, overwhelm, crowd in on or surround

commandeer

take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes

blowhard

talkative boaster; braggart

confide

tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about

harridan

termagant, virago, ill tempered and loud mouthed woman

impalpable

that which cannot be felt by touching; not easily understood

embellishment

the act of adding extraneous decorations to something

Syncretic

the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties; one that combines elements of different religions

synergy

the combined force of two distinct elements that is more powerful then each alone.

stature

the importance and respect that a person has because of their ability and achievement

patriarch

the male head of a family or tribe a man who rules a family clan; a very respected old man

semblence

the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different

prescience

the power to foresee the future

propriety

the quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs

phonics

the science of sounds, used as a method of teaching reading

languor

the state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness or inertia lassitude;

phonetics

the study of the sounds of a language

rumination

think deeply about something in the context of aggression, rumination involves repeatedly thinking about and reliving an anger-inducing event, focusing on angry thoughts and feelings, and perhaps even planning or imagining revenge.

accost

to approach and speak first to a person (v.) to confront verbally (Though Antoinette was normally quite calm, when the waiter spilled soup on her for the fourth time in 15 minutes she stood up and accosted the man.)

bicker

to argue about petty and trivial matters

remonstrate

to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

congregate

to assemble into a group

fraternize

to associate in a friendly manner

meld

to blend; to cause to merge

foster

to bring up, give care to; to promote, encourage;

exonerate

to clear from a charge or accusation To free from blame

exculpate

to clear from blame; prove innocent

rationalize

to come up with self-satisfying but incorrect excuses justify; give reason for

adjure

to command solemnly, as under oath, to appeal to

vie

to compete

propitiate

to conciliate; to appease

befuddle

to confuse; to perplex

connive

to cooperate secretly in wrongdoing (v.) to plot, scheme (She connived to get me to give up my vacation plans.)

abnegate

to deny oneself things; to reject; to renounce

mulct

to deprive of something, as by fraud, extortion, etc.; swindle; to punish by fine.

dissemble

to disguise one's real intentions or character (v.) to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression

titillate

to excite; to stimulate; to tease

resent

to feel angry or bitter at something She resented the fact that I had children

interdict

to forbid or stop the activities or entry of prohibition; an order forbidding something to be done

disentangle

to free from tangles or complications

baffle

to frustrate, as by confusing; perplex

ingratiate

to gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage

endorse

to give approval or support to

scintillate

to give off sparks; to be animated or brilliant

renounce

to give up voluntarily or by formal declaration; to repudiate; disown

burgeon

to grow and flourish

coalesce

to grow together to form a single whole

dissimulate

to hide or disguise one's true thoughts, feelings, or intentions "a country gentleman who dissimulates his wealth beneath ragged pullovers"

intimate

to hint or imply

rescind

to invalidate; to repeal; to retract (v.) to take back (The company rescinded its offer of employment after discovering that Jane's resume was full of lies.)

abscond

to leave secretly

prevaricate

to lie or deviate from the truth

recoup

to make up for, regain

incense

to make very angry

condone

to overlook, pardon, or disregard

subvert

to overthrow; to cause the downfall, ruin, or destruction of; to undermine the principles of; corrupt.

inundate

to overwhelm; to cover with water

heed

to pay attention to

adulate

to praise or flatter too greatly; fawn over

prognosticate

to predict or foretell a future event

forestall

to prevent by acting first

lampoons

to publicly criticize to criticize someone or something in a humorous way that makes them seem stupid:

abate

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

enervate

to reduce in strength

rebuff

to refuse someone; to reject an offer in a rude way

putrefy

to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor

arbitrate

to settle a disagreement between two parties by having a third party make a decision after hearing both sides

stupify

to shock or surprise; very much, and cause someone to be confused to stun; shock, astonish, or make stupid

beckon

to signal or summon, as by nodding or waving

smirk

to smile in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way

rusticate

to spend time in the country

divest

to strip or remove a title or position of authority deprive; rid; "He was divested off his post."

corroborate

to support with evidence

distend

to swell, inflate, or bloat

patronize

to treat as an inferior; to condescend to treat with an apparent kindness which betrays a feeling of superiority.

persecute

to treat harshly because of political, religious, or other differences; oppress; harass; annoy

perambulate

to walk about; to stroll

plod

to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

brook

tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference;

pellucid

transparently clear (adj.) easily intelligible, clear (Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The Stranger.)

osteopathy

treatment of disease by manipulation of the bones

veracious

truthful

welter

turmoil Confused mass or pile, jumble; confusion or turmoil (noun); roll around, wallow, toss about, writhe (verb)

inhibited

unable to act in a relaxed and natural way because of self-consciousness or mental restraint (of a person) unable to express what one really feels

implacable

unable to be calmed down or made peaceful (adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding

intransigent

uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled, refusing to compromise, often on an extreme opinion (The intransigent child said he would have 12 scoops of ice cream, or he would bang his head against the wall until his mother fainted from fear.)

wanton

undisciplined; unrestrained; reckless (adj.) reckless; heartless, unjustifiable; loose in morals; (n.) a spoiled, pampered person; one with low morals

inequity

unfairness, injustice

blase

unimpressed with or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before. "she was becoming quite blase about the dangers"

unwarranted

unjustified

lecher

unrestrained or excessive indulgence of sexual desire. gross lewdness; lustfulness

disconcerting

upsetting, frustrating, distracting confusing; disturbing; causing emotional disturbance

vituperative

using or containing harsh, abusive censure

attune

v. to bring into harmony to cause (a person, company, etc.) to have a better understanding of what is needed or wanted by a particular person or group

loathe

v. to dislike something greatly feel intense dislike or disgust for

contemplate

v. to look at or think about carefully; to consider as a possibility

hobble

verb: to hold back the progress of something. "Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts.

pronounced

very noticeable or strongly expressed marked, significant, noticeable, distinct

brandish

wave around (a weapon); to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

abrade

wear off or wear down by rubbing or scraping. scrape off. The sharp rocks abraded the skin on her legs, so she put iodine on her abrasions.

sublime

awesome; extremely exalted; lofty; majestic of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.

empirical

based on observation or experiment

somniferous

bearing or inducing sleep

ursine

bearlike; pertaining to a bear

flag

become tired or less enthusiastic or dynamic. "if you begin to flag, there is an excellent cafe to revive you"

palled

becoming boring or uninteresting

tyro

beginner; novice

henpecked

being nagged and dominated by ones wife

cynical

believing that people act only out of selfish motives

jingoism

belligerent support of one's country

acerbity

bitterness of speech and temper

carnage

bloody and extensive slaughter

vaunt

boast about or praise (something), especially excessively.

pithy

brief and full of meaning and substance; concise

pithy

brief and full of meaning and substance; concise (adj.) concisely meaningful (My father's long-winded explanation was a stark contrast to his usually pithy statements.)

bigot

narrow-minded, prejudiced person one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)

obstreperous

noisy and boisterous

bacchanal

noisy party with a lot of drinking wild and drunken

insouciance

nonchalance or a lack of concern "the cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you"

impregnable

not able to be conquered; impenetrable (adj.) resistant to capture or penetration (Though the invaders used battering rams, catapults, and rain dances, the fortress proved impregnable and resisted all attacks.)

intangible

not able to be perceived by touch; vague

phlegmatic

calm; imperturbable (adj.) uninterested, unresponsive (Monique feared her dog was ill after the animal's phlegmatic response to his favorite chew toy.)

credible

capable of being believed

venal

capable of being bribed; willing to do anything for money; corrupt

malleable

capable of being shaped

inadvertently

carelessly; unintentionally; by oversight

untoward

not favorable, troublesome, unruly

incongruous

not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something; Out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious

precipitate

Act Quickly

dither

Act indecisively (verb); a state of fear or trembling excitement (v.) to be indecisive (Not wanting to offend either friend, he dithered about which of the two birthday parties he should attend.)

whimsical

Acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable

orthodox

Adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted

felicitous

Admirably appropriate, very well-suited for the occasion; pleasant, fortunate, marked by happiness

cognition

All the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

cavalier

adjective: given to haughty disregard of other

maverick

an unorthodox or independent-minded person. (n.) an independent, nonconformist person (Andreas is a real maverick and always does things his own way.)

bumpkin

an unsophisticated, awkward person

promulgation

announcement, public declaration to make known by open declaration, publish, proclaim formally

conspicuous

attracting attention, as by being unusual or remarkable; noticeable

decorum

appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety

exurb

area beyond the suburbs

factitious

artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears

contention

assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

presumptuous

assuming too much; arrogant (adj.) disrespectfully bold (The princess grew angry after the presumptuous noble tried to kiss her, even though he was far below her in social status.)

lexicographer

n. a person who writes or compiles dictionaries

occidental

western; opposite of oriental

dabbling

wetting by dipping, splashing, or paddling in the water

deadpan

wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face

verbatim

word for word; exactly as written or spoken