Manhattan Prep GRE 1000+ Mega Test

fulsome

offensively insincere or excessive; disgusting, sickening

oleaginous

oily

venal

open to or marked by bribery or corruption

appease (v.)

pacify, satisfy, relieve; concede to be belligerent demands, sometimes at the expense of principles

pyretic

pertaining to fever

niggling

petty, trivial, inconsequential

spurious

plausible but false "When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the ______________ claims from the authentic ones."

ambrosial

pleasing to the taste or smell

feracious

producing abundantly; prolific

sibylline

prophetic; oracular

oracular

prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous

supercilious

proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority

caviling

quibbling over insignificant details

cede

relinquish possession or control over "Eventually, all parents must _______ control of their growing childrens' educations and allow their offspring some autonomy."

abrogate

revoke or relinquish formally; do away with "As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers ____________ their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance."

circuitous

roundabout, not direct

impertinent

rude and disrespectful

disheveled

rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder

abnegation

self-denial the act of renouncing or rejecting something.

incisive

sharp

resplendent

shining; glowing

brooding

showing deep unhappiness of thought

Arcadian

simple, peaceful, rustic

unfeigned

sincere, real, without pretense

deft

skillful, nimble

adroit

skillful; clever

vilify

slander

defamatory

slanderous, injurious to someone's reputation

soporific

sleep-inducing

somnolent

sleepy, drowsy

suave

smooth in social manner

generative

something related to the power of producing new life

evanescent

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.

urbane

sophisticated

celerity

speed, rapidity "We aim to respond to customers' questions with ___________ and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time."

promulgate

state or announce "The President wanted to __________ the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement."

austerity

sternness or severity of manner or attitude

hale

strong and healthy

besotted

strongly affectionate towards "Never before have I seen my mom so __________, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much."

chic

stylish, fashionable

typic

symbolic, impression stereotypical

protean

tending or able to change frequently or easily. "Peter Sellers was truly a _____________ actor—in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist."

contrition

the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from doing something bad "Those who show __________ during their prison terms--especially when under review by a parole board--often get shortened sentences."

denouement

the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

usury

the illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest.

senescence

the process of aging, whereby the body becomes less strong and efficient

putrefaction

the process of decay or rotting in a body or other organic matter

exiguity

the quality of being meager

preponderance

the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance

jurisprudence

the science or philosophy of law

pensive

thoughtful

stultify

to cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm "As an undergraduate Mark felt _________ by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge."

vindicate

to clear from blame

obfuscate

to confuse; to bewilder

subsume

to contain or include "At many universities, the pre-med courses are _________ in the Biology department rather than given a department of their own."

imperil

to endanger

begrudge

to envy someone for possessing or enjoying something; to give reluctantly. "Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey __________ the happiness of the other children playing outside his window."

presage

to foretell; indicate in advance

hobble

to hold back the progress of something "The space mission to deploy a probe to Uranus, while greeted with much enthusiasm by those in the scientific and lay community alike, has been ________ not so much by the technical challenges of launching a probe into such a distant orbit as by the lack of funding."

elucidate

to make clear

besmirch

to make dirty; to stain

undulate

to move in waves

forebode

to predict or foretell

preclude

to prevent

purport

to profess, suppose, claim

jape

to say or do something jokingly or mockingly

contemn

to scorn or despise

abjudicate

to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion "Only those with the most refined palates were able to ____________ during the barbeque competition."

traduce

to slander someone's reputation

quell

to subdue, put down forcibly

wheedle

to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

transmogrify

transform, especially in a surprising or magical manner

termulous

trembling

accolade

tribute; honor; praise

windfall

unexpected good fortune

contrived

unnatural, forced

superflous

unnecessary

nonplussed

unsure how to act or respond "Shirley was totally __________ when the angry motorist cut her off and then stuck his finger out the window."

slovenly

untidy, dirty, careless

incensed

very angry; enraged

voracious

very hungry; approaching an activity with gusto "Steven was a ___________ reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day."

brio

vigor; vivacity

bellicose

warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome

opulence

wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living "Russian oligarchs are famous for their ___________, living in fancy homes and dining on expensive caviar."

genteel

well-mannered; refined; polite

bedraggled

wet and filthy, as though having been dragged through mud

sagacious

wise

insidious

working in a subtle but destructive way "Plaque is _________: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems."

vermiculate

wormlike in shape.

bombastic

(Of speech or writing) far too showy or dramatic than is appropriate; pretentious

e.g.

(abbre.) for example, such as

Fallacious

(ad) containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic; logically unsound; deceptive

Rife

(adj) (especially of something undesirable or harmful) of common occurrence; widespread.

Malleable

(adj) able to be bent, shaped, or adapted

Plastic

(adj) able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced

Intelligible

(adj) able to understood, clear

aberrant

(adj) abnormal, deviant

Profuse

(adj) abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely

capricious

(adj) acting on impulse, erratic

Orthodox

(adj) adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted

counterintuitive

(adj) against what one would intuitively expect

chronological

(adj) arranged in or relating to time order

Dormant

(adj) asleep, inactive, on a break

Simultaneous

(adj) at the same time

canonical

(adj) authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of accepted rules, standards or artistic works

Presumptive

(adj) based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief

decorous

(adj) behaving with propriety and good taste; polite

Intrinsic

(adj) belonging to the essential nature of a thing

Optimal/Optimum

(adj) best, most desirable or favorable

Partial

(adj) biased, prejudiced, favoring one over the others; having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to)

Hardy

(adj) bold, brave, capable of enduring hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.

Onerous

(adj) burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure

caustic

(adj) capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or sarcastic

Viable

(adj) capable of living (or growing, developing, etc.); practical, workable

Offhand

(adj) casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought; rude in a short way, brusque

deleterious

(adj) causing harm or damage.

archaic

(adj) characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive

Sanguine

(adj) cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish, ruddy (as in rosy-red cheeks indicating health or vitality)

Pretentious

(adj) claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off creating deceptive, false show of worth

Lucid

(adj) clear, easy to understand; rational, sane

Succeeding

(adj) coming after or following

Empirical

(adj) coming from, based on, or able to be verified by experience or experimentation; not purely based on theory

Nascent

(adj) coming into existence, still developing

Mundane

(adj) common, ordinary, everyday

analogous

(adj) comparable, corresponding in some particular way (making a good analogy)

Stark

(adj) complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain

Profligate

(adj) completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful "Judges and juries alike were maddened with excitement, and listened greedily to the lies which poured forth from the lips of ___________ informers."

complementary

(adj) completing; fitting together well; filling mutual needs

Exhaustive

(adj) comprehensive, thorough, exhausting a topic or subject, accounting for all possibilities; draining, tending to exhaust

Solicitous

(adj) concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful

Patronizing

(adj) condescending, having a superior manner, treating as an inferior

Sentient

(adj) conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses

contentious

(adj) controversial; prone to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones

Wily

(adj) crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks or artifice

crafty

(adj) cunning, skillful in deception or underhanded schemes

Quotidian

(adj) daily; everyday, ordinary "Taking the dog on a walk is a _________ event for the elderly couple."

Ingrained

(adj) deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber

counterproductive

(adj) defeating the purpose; preventing the intended goal

derivative

(adj) derived from something else; not original

Pious

(adj) devout; religiously reverent and dutiful

Heterogeneous

(adj) different in type, incongruous; composed of different types of elements

Intractable

(adj) difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn

Explicit

(adj) direct, clear, fully revealed; clearly depicting sex or nudity

disjointed

(adj) disconnected, not coherent, jerky; having the joints separated

Perfidious

(adj) disloyal, treacherous, violating one's trust

Pronounced

(adj) distinct, strong, clearly indicated

disquieting

(adj) disturbing, causing anxiety

Polarized

(adj) divided into sharply opposed groups

Dubious

(adj) doubtful, questionable, suspect, hesitating "Steve tells Catherine he wants to plead manslaughter on grounds of temporary insanity, but she looks _________ about the idea."

Languid

(adj) drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit

Prosaic

(adj) dull, ordinary

Tractable

(adj) easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded

Frugal

(adj) economically, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive

Rudimentary

(adj) elementary, relating to the basics; undeveloped, primitive

avid

(adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous

Fanatical

(adj) excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or zealous in an uncritical way

Officious

(adj) excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy

Inherent

(adj) existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic

Ubiquitous

(adj) existing everywhere at the same time

Subjective

(adj) existing in the mind or relating to one's own thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.; personal, individual, based on feelings

Virtual

(adj) existing only in the mind or by means of a computer network; existing in results or in essence but not officially or in name

Prodigious

(adj) extraordinarily large, impressive, etc.

Objective

(adj) factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased

Equitable

(adj) fair, equal, just

Phony

(adj) fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine

bogus

(adj) fake, fraudulent

Timorous

(adj) fearful, timid

Intrepid

(adj) fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity

Reverent

(adj) feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe

Static

(adj) fixed, not moving or changing, lacking vitality

Glib

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

artless

(adj) free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured

Ingenuous

(adj) genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive

credulous

(adj) gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or without enough evidence

Synchronous

(adj) happening at the same time; occurring at the same rate and thus happening together repeatedly

Posthumous

(adj) happening or continuing after death

Haven

(adj) harbor or port; refuge, safe place

Innocuous

(adj) harmless, inoffensive

benign

(adj) harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not cancerous

Predisposed

(adj) having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible

discerning

(adj) having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish mentally

Principled

(adj) having high moral standards

Salubrious

(adj) healthful, promoting health

Ponderous

(adj) heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored

Modest

(adj) humble; simple rather than showy; decent (esp. "covering up" in terms of dress); small, limited

detached

(adj) impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof

Restive

(adj) impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlled

Implicit

(adj) implied, not stated directly; involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable

Unseemly

(adj) improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or politeness

Pristine

(adj) in an original, pure state; uncorrupted

Pugnacious

(adj) inclined to fight, combative

cosmopolitan

(adj) including or containing people from many different countries.

Erratic

(adj) inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed course

Inconsequential

(adj) insignificant, unimportant; illogical

disingenuous

(adj) insincere, not genuine

didactic

(adj) intended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson

Extraneous

(adj) irrelevant; foreign, coming from without, not belonging

Jocular

(adj) joking or given to joking all the time; jolly, playful

Facetious

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

Incipient

(adj) just beginning; in a very early stage

Inchoate

(adj) just begun, undeveloped, unorganized

Warranted

(adj) justified, authorized (warrant can mean to justify or a justification, but can also mean to vouch for or guarantee)

conversant

(adj) knowledgeable about or experienced with

arcane

(adj) known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret

Trite

(adj) lacking freshness or originality, lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliche

Ephemeral

(adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting

Tenuous

(adj) long and thin, slender; flimsy, having little substance

Mendacious

(adj) lying, habitually dishonest

Eloquent

(adj) marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive, emotionally moving

Whimsical

(adj) marked or motivated by whims (odd, fanciful ideas); erratic, unpredictable

Figurative

(adj) metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); related to portraying human or animals figures

Erroneous

(adj) mistaken, in error; improper, morally incorrect

Qualified

(adj) modified, limited, conditional on something else

base

(adj) morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit

Unprecedented

(adj) never before known or seen, without having happened previously

Novel

(adj) new, fresh, original

Indifferent

(adj) not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial

ambiguous

(adj) not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations

Scant

(adj) not enough or barely enough

Indeterminate

(adj) not exactly known, established, or defined.

Stingy

(adj) not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give

Secular

(adj) not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things

Lackluster

(adj) not shiny; dull, mediocre, lacking brilliance or vitality

Taciturn

(adj) not talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation

Reticent

(adj) not talking much; private (of a person), restrained, reserved

Opaque

(adj) not translucent; not allowing light, hear, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid

compliant

(adj) obeying, submissive; following the requirements

Sporadic

(adj) occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations

apocryphal

(adj) of questionable authenticity; false

Homogeneous

(adj) of the same kind; uniform throughout

Tangential

(adj) only slightly relevant, going off topic

candid

(adj) open, sincere, honest

adverse

(adj) opposing, harmful

Pedestrian

(adj) ordinary, dull, commonplace

Obsolete

(adj) out of date, no longer in use

Incongruous

(adj) out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious

Egregious

(adj) outstandingly bad; shocking; glaring

Fleeting

(adj) passing quickly, transitory

Placid

(adj) peaceful, calm, tranquil

eccentric

(adj) peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm esp. in a whimsical way

Sedulous

(adj) persevering, persistent, diligent in one's efforts

Skeptic

(adj) person inclined to doubting or questioning generally accepted beliefs

Gawky

(adj) physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often used to describe teenagers)

Sportive

(adj) playful, merry, joking around, done "in sport" (rather than intended seriously)

copious

(adj) plentiful, bountiful

Feasible

(adj) possible; logical or likely; suitable

Prospective

(adj) potential, in the future

Pragmatic

(adj) practical; dealing with actual facts and reality

Futile

(adj) producing no useful result, ineffective; trivial unimportant

Eminent

(adj) prominent, distinguished, of high rank

Remedial

(adj) providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill

Mercurial

(adj) quickly unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty

imminent

(adj) ready to occur, impending

conciliatory

(adj) reconciling, appeasing, attempting to make the peace

Egalitarian

(adj) related to the belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social spheres

Pathological

(adj) relating to or caused by disease; relating to compulsive bad behavior

Peripheral

(adj) relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance

Germane

(adj) relevant and appropriate, on topic

abrasive

(adj) rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance

Sacrosanct

(adj) sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism

Erudite

(adj) scholarly, knowledgeable; possessing a deep, often systematic, knowledge

covert

(adj) secret, veiled, undercover

Specious

(adj) seemingly true but actually false; deceptively attractive

Eclectic

(adj) selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources

autonomous

(adj) self-governing, independent

complacent

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

Obsequious

(adj) servile, very compliant, fawning

Incendiary

(adj) setting on fire, pertaining to arson; arousing strife, rebellion, etc.; "inflaming" the senses

austere

(adj) severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined, ascetic; without luxury or ease; sober or serious

Scathing

(adj) severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)

Keen

(adj) sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense (of a feeling)

Hackneyed

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

Gregarious

(adj) sociable, pertaining to a flock or crowd

Obstinate

(adj) stubborn or hard to control

Replete

(adj) supplied in abundance, filled, gorged (used with with)

Gauche

(adj) tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude "So how do you let guests know where you registered without seeming __________?"

Meticulous

(adj) taking extreme care in regards to details; precise, fussy

Loquacious

(adj) talkative, wordy

Garrulous

(adj) talkative, wordy, rambling

Transitory

(adj) temporary, short-lived, not lasting

Prohibitive

(adj) tending to forbid something, or serving to prevent something

Pervasive

(adj) tending to spread throughout

commensurate

(adj) the same in size, extent, etc., equivalent; proportional

cynical

(adj) thinking the worst of others' motivations; bitterly pessimistic

Presumptuous

(adj) too bold or forward; going beyond that which is proper

Trifling

(adj) trivial, not very important; so small as to be unimportant; frivolous, shallow

convoluted

(adj) twisted; very complicated

Impartial

(adj) unbiased, fair

disinterested

(adj) unbiased, impartial; not interested

dispassionate

(adj) unbiased, not having a selfish or personal motivation; calm, lacking emotion

ambivalent

(adj) uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once

Esoteric

(adj) understood by or intended for only a few; secret

Tacit

(adj) understood without being said; implied, not stated directly; silent

Stolid

(adj) unemotional, showing little emotion, not easily moved

Inadvertent

(adj) unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless

brazen

(adj) unrestrained by convention or propriety "Their large "donations" to the local police department gave the drug cartel the _____________ confidence to do their business out in the open."

Precarious

(adj) unstable, insecure, dangerous

Laconic

(adj) using few words, concise

Judicious

(adj) using good judgment; wise, sensible

Volatile

(adj) varying, inconstant, fleeting; tending to violence, explosive

audacious

(adj) very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way; extremely original

craven

(adj) very cowardly, lacking courage

arduous

(adj) very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure

Spartan

(adj) very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere; suggestive of the ancient Spartans

Elated

(adj) very happy, in high spirits

Torrid

(adj) very hot, parching, burning; passionate

Profound

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

Exacting

(adj) very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention

affable

(adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable

Prodigal

(adj) wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish

Wary

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

Timely

(adj) well-timed, happening at a suitable time

Fanciful

(adj) whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality

Prudent

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

Sagacious

(adj) wise; showing good judgment and foresight

Verbose

(adj) wordy

Estimable

(adj) worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be estimated

Laudable

(adj) worthy of praise

ascetic

(adj, n) abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an austere and simple like without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for religious reasons

Soporific

(adj, n) causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj); something that causes sleep (noun)

aesthetic

(adj, n) concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste, pertaining to the science of what is beautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of a particular time and place (noun)

Partisan

(adj, n) devoted to a particular group, cause, etc. (adj); fervent supporter of a group, party, idea, etc.; guerilla fighter (noun)

Liberal

(adj, n) favorable to progress or reform; believing in maximum possible individual freedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous (adj); a person with such beliefs or practices (noun)

Stoic

(adj, n) indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without complaint (adj); person indifferent to pleasure or pain (noun) The __________ offer made laughter bubble within her.

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)

Patent

(adj, n) obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj); a letter from the government guaranteeing an inventor rights to his or her invention (noun)

bygone

(adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)

Vintage

(adj, n) related to items of high quality from a previous era, old-fashioned, antique (adj); the wine of a particular year (noun)

Rustic

(adj, n) relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive; made of rough wood (adj); a rural or uncultured person (noun)

Lavish

(adj, v) abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess (adj); give very generously (verb)

Net

(adj, v) remaining after expenses or other factors have been deducted; ultimate (adj); to bring in as profit or to catch as in a net (verb)

Slack

(adj, v, n) loose, negligent, lazy, weak (adj); neglect to so one's duties; loosen up, relax (verb); period of little work (noun)

Slight

(adj, v, n) small, not very important, slender or delicate (adj); treat as though not very important; snub, ignore (verb); an act of treating in this way, a discourtesy (noun)

articulate

(adj, verb) using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb)

plodding

(adj.) (of movement) slow and laborious "Charlie may seem to run at a ______________ pace, but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten hours at a stretch."

untenable

(adj.) (of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified "Despite the concerted efforts of her supporters, the mayor's actions were clearly ____ , rendering even the most impassioned pleas superfluous."

toothsome

(adj.) - delicious, luscious

unctuous

(adj.) Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable

want

(adj.) Lacking; deficient. To be without; be destitute of; lack: as, to want knowledge or judgment; to want food, clothing, or money. "It was not for a _____ of effort that Emerson found himself near the middle of the class; after all, he was attending one of the most competitive law programs in the country."

protracted

(adj.) Prolonged; continued.

Unequivocal

(adj.) admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion

salutary

(adj.) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome

vitriolic

(adj.) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)

haphazard

(adj.) by chance; not planned; lacking order

consummate

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

sadistic

(adj.) delighting in cruelty, excessively cruel

vapid

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

petulant

(adj.) easily irritated or annoyed "Although the three year old was often described as mature for his age, he was ____________ and whiny whenever his father forgot to remove the crust from his sandwiches."

febrile

(adj.) feverish; pertaining to or marked by fever; frenetic

mettlesome

(adj.) filled with courage or valor; resilient; coping well

gaudy

(adj.) flashy, showy; not in good taste

redolent

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura

porous

(adj.) full of tiny holes; able to be penetrated by air or water Having pores; porose; pervious by means of minute interstices.

cavalier

(adj.) given to haughty disregard of others "Whether bottled water is healthier than non-bottled water is moot from an ecological standpoint — the hazard discarded plastic bottles pose to the environment clearly suggests we should be less ________ about our unbridled consumption."

garish

(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way

dilapidated

(adj.) in terrible condition "The main house has been restored but the gazebo is still ________________ and unusable."

Naive

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

sordid

(adj.) involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive "The marriage between the duke and the duchess was a ____ affair, one that quickly devolved into public altercations operatic in scope."

jejune

(adj.) lacking in nutritive value; lacking in interest or substance; immature, juvenile

penurious

(adj.) lacking money; poor; miserly "Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is ____________, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical."

lackadaisical

(adj.) lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

ethereal

(adj.) light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)

punctilious

(adj.) marked by precise accordance with details "Even minutes before the guests were set to arrive, she fussed over the smallest detail, ______________ rearranging the silverware lest a fork should be set askew."

saturnine

(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood

picayune

(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

spurned

(adj.) rebuffed (by a lover) without warning

insolent

(adj.) rude and arrogant "Lilian could not help herself from being _____________, commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too much toe."

clandestine

(adj.) secret, concealed; underhanded

deferential

(adj.) showing respect "If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be ___________."

surreptitious

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

clairvoyant

(adj.) supernaturally perceptive; (n.) one who possesses extrasensory powers, seer

harried

(adj.) troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances "_____ by a swarm of tabloid reporters, their camera flashes creating an incessant whir, the celebrity made a quick escape into a limousine with tinted windows."

austere

(adj.) unadorned in style or appearance; practicing self-denial "Compared to the rococo flourishes typical of Thomas Chippendale's creations, Matthew Taylor's armoires were positively ________."

conspicuous

(adj.) without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious "Those of Maasai heritage who eschew city life in favor of their traditional communities are expected to utilize varying clothing styles and colors, along with other ______________ body adornments, to signal their status within society."

callow

(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

Likewise

(adv) also, in addition to; similarly, in the same way

Moreover

(adv) besides; in addition to what was just stated

Nevertheless/Nonetheless

(adv) however, even so, despite that

conversely

(adv) in an opposite way; on the other hand

Inasmuch

(adv) in like manner, considering that (contradiction of "in as much," generally followed by "as")

Respectively

(adv) in the order given

Whereas

(conjunction) while on the contrary, considering that

Spectrum

(n) a broad range of nevertheless related qualities or ideas, esp. those that overlap to create a continuous series (as in a color spectrum, where each color blends into the next in a continuous way)

Metamorphosis

(n) a complete change or transformer (in biology, a change such as a caterpillar becoming a pupa and then a butterfly)

Slew

(n) a large number or quantity

Layperson

(n) a person who is not a member of the clergy or not a member of a particular profession (such as medicine, law, etc.)

disposition

(n) a person's general or natural mood; tendency

Gradation

(n) a progression, a process taking place gradually, in stages; one of these stages

Hierarchy

(n) a ranked series; a classification of people according to rank, ability, etc.; a ruling body

Nuance

(n) a subtle difference in tone, meaning, and expression

Dogma

(n) a system of principles laid down by an authority; established belief

anarchy

(n) absence of law or government; chaos, disorder

Implication

(n) act of implying or that which is implied; close connection, esp. in an incriminating way

artifact

(n) any object made by humans, especially those from an earlier time, such as those excavated by archaeologists

credibility

(n) believability, trustworthiness

Plausible

(n) believable; having the appearance of truth

diatribe

(n) bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant

Tirade

(n) bitter, abusive criticism or verbal attack

catalyst

(n) causer of change

Idiosyncrasy

(n) characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirk

alacrity

(n) cheerful or speedy willingness

Guile

(n) clever deceit, cunning, craftiness

Propriety

(n) conforming to good manners or appropriate behavior; justness

Paradox

(n) contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true

counterpoint

(n) contrasting item, opposite; a complement; the use of contrast or interplay in a work of art

Pith

(n) core, essence; significance or weight

Juncture

(n) critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together

Mores

(n) customs, manners, or morals of a particular group

Hyperbole

(n) deliberate exaggeration for effect

anomaly

(n) deviation from what is common; inconsistency

discrepancy

(n) difference or inconsistency

Philanthropy

(n) efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money

Surfeit

(n) excess, excessive amount, overindulgence

Status Quo

(n) existing state or condition

connoisseur

(n) expert, especially in the fine arts; person of educated, refined tastes

Fidelity

(n) faithful, loyalty; strict observance of duty; accuracy in reproducing a sound or image

affectation

(n) fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression

chauvinism

(n) fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.

bureaucracy

(n) government characterized by many bureaus and petty administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements

Zeal

(n) great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause, person, etc.; tireless diligence in furthering that cause; passion, ardor

cacophony

(n) harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds "The ______________ of bleats, chomping and scuffling of hooves drowned out her words."

dissonance

(n) harsh, inharmonious sound; cacophony; disagreement

Entitlement

(n) having the right to certain privileges; believing, sometimes without cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges

zenith

(n) high point, culmination

Probity

(n) honesty, integrity, strong moral principles

Notoriety

(n) ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful reason

Prologue

(n) introductory part to a book, play, etc.

Preamble

(n) introductory statement, preface

Levity

(n) lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lack of seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriate way "Maybe a little _________ would help."

Penchant

(n) liking or inclination

din

(n) loud, confused noise, esp. for a long period of time

Gist

(n) main idea, essence

cartography

(n) mapmaking

Hodgepodge

(n) mixture of different kinds of things, jumble

Paradigm

(n) model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.

Temperance

(n) moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol

Libertine

(n) morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion)

illiberality

(n) narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity

apathy

(n) not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern

Hedonist

(n) person devoted to pleasure

Exponent

(n) person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate, or representative "As an ____________ of universal evolution Haeckel is more consistent than Spencer."

Recluse

(n) person who lives in seclusion

Ranks

(n) personnel; a group of people considered all together

Kudos

(n) praise, honor, congratulations

Enigma

(n) puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or contradictory person

Maverick

(n) rebel, individualist, dissenter

deference

(n) respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of another

conundrum

(n) riddle, the answer to which involves a play on words; any mystery

boor

(n) rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country bumpkin

Potentate

(n) ruler, person of great power

Monotony

(n) sameness or repetitiousness to the point of being boring; lack of variation, uniformity, esp. repetition in sound

Paucity

(n) scarcity, the state of being small in number

Sycophant

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

Torpor

(n) sluggishness, lethargy, or apathy; a period of inactivity

Peccadillo

(n) small sin or fault

Pariah

(n) social outcast, untouchable

Precursor

(n) something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way

Incentive

(n) something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward

deterrent

(n) something that restrains or discourages

buffer

(n) something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions

Eulogy

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

crescendo

(n) steady increase in force, intensity, or the loudness of a musical passage; a climactic moment or peak

Spate

(n) sudden outpouring or rush; flood

acme

(n) summit, peak, highest point

Rhetoric

(n) the art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing; language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little

Goosebumps

(n) the bumps created by hairs standing up on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc.

activism

(n) the practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations

Efficacy

(n) the quality of being able to produce the intended effect

Resolution

(n) the quality of being firmly determined; resolving to do something; a formal judgment, esp. decided by a vote

Lassitude

(n) tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference "He was crippled by an incipient disease of the brain, which inflicted an unconquerable ______________ and depression."

Veracity

(n) truthfulness, accuracy; habitual adherence to the truth

Quandary

(n) uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma

Jargon

(n) vocabulary specific to a group or occupation; convoluted or unintelligible language

Makeshift

(n, adj) a temporary, often improvised, substitute (noun); improvised for temporary use (adj)

Landmark

(n, adj) object (such as a building) that stands out and can be used to navigate by; very important place, event, etc.

Fringe

(n, adj) on the margin, periphery (adj); the people in a group who hold the most extreme views (noun)

Standing

(n, adj) status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely, not movable (adj)

Occult

(n, adj, v) the supernatural (noun); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj); to hide, to shut off from view

Lampoon

(n, v) a harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize (verb)

Reproach

(n, v) blame, disgrace (noun); criticize, express disappointment in (verb)

countenance

(n, v) facial expression or face (noun); approve or tolerate (verb)

Sanction

(n, v) permission or approval, something that gives support or authority to something else (noun); to allow, confirm, ratify (verb); OR a legal action against another country to get it to comply (noun); to place sanctions or penalties on (verb)

Lull

(n, v) soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calm or quiet (noun)

dispatch

(n, v) speed, promptness; send off or deal with in a speedy way

censure

(n, v) strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue such disapproval or reprimand (verb)

Sap

(n, v) the inner fluid of a plant or any essential body fluid; energy, vitality; a person taken advantage of (noun); undermine, weaken, tire out (verb)

Eclipse

(n, v) the obscuring of one thing by another, such as the sun by the moon or a person by a more famous or talented person (noun); to obscure, darken, make less important (verb)

Finesse

(n, v) use tact or diplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (verb); extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacy in handling a sensitive situation or in a performance or skill (noun)

braggadocio

(n.) A boasting fellow; a braggart.

misnomer

(n.) A misnaming; the act of applying a wrong name or designation.

legion

(n.) An extraordinary number; a great multitude. "Once ______ across the Western plains, the buffalo has seriously diminished in number."

dearth

(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

stricture

(n.) a limitation or restriction; a criticism; (medicine) a narrowing of a passage in the body drawing tight; contraction; compression; binding.

chauvinist

(n.) a person who believes in the superiority of their group "The ____________ lives on both sides of the political spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideas are not consistent with his own."

bulwark

(n.) a strong defense or protection, a solid wall-like structure for defense; (v.) to provide such defense or protection

abandon (n.)

(n.) complete lack of inhibition or restraint.

rapacity

(n.) inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder

clemency

(n.) leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice "Ignoring the crowd's entreaties for _______, the judge remained implacable, meting out a punishment that was as harsh as it was arbitrary."

aesthete

(n.) one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature "A true _____________, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso."

derelict

(n.) someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; (adj.) left abandoned; neglectful of duty

beatification

(n.) the action of rendering supremely blessed and extremely happy; a state of supreme happiness "Often we imagine all monks to wear the ___________ smile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk can have a bad day and not look very happy."

venality

(n.) the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption "Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to ______________, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls."

gall

(n.) the trait of being rude and impertinent "The speeding _______ had the gall to switch five lanes at once, run through a red light, and then cut off a police car before finally coming to a stop in front of a sea of flashing red lights."

austerity

(n.) the trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures) "Mahatma Gandhi was famous for his ____________, fasting as a form of protest and spinning his own yarn to make cloth."

moribund

(of a person) at the point of death.

discriminating

(of a person) having or showing refined taste or good judgment. make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, sex, or age.

amenable

(of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.

cogent

(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.

indelible

(of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed.

amicable

(of relations between people) having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor.

dismiss

(v) allow to disperse or leave; fire from a job; put aside or reject, esp. after only a brief consideration

Rescind

(v) annul, repeal, make void

Savor

(v) appreciate fully, taste or smell with pleasure

concur

(v) approve, agree

denote

(v) be a name or symbol for

Spearhead

(v) be the leader of

denigrate

(v) belittle, attack the reputation of

Skirt

(v) border, lie along the edge of , go around; evade

Implode

(v) burst inward

Elicit

(v) call forth, bring out, evoke

Mollify

(v) calm or soothe (an angry person); lessen or soften

Overshadow

(v) cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important

alienate

(v) cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant

deflect

(v) cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a straight course; avoid

Exculpate

(v) clear from guilt or blame

Incorporate

(v) combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to

coalesce

(v) come together, unite; fuse together

Extrapolate

(v) conjecture about an unknown by projecting information about something known; predict by projecting past experience

confer

(v) consult, compare views; bestow or give

Speculate

(v) contemplate; make a guess or educated guess about; engage in a risky business transaction, gamble

Emulate

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

Enumerate

(v) count or list; specify one-by-one

castigate

(v) criticize severely; punish in order to correct

Gainsay

(v) declare false, deny; oppose

aver

(v) declare or affirm with confidence

Embellish

(v) decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a story) with fictional or fanciful details

debase

(v) degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality

Negate

(v) deny or refute; make void or cause to be ineffective

Divest

(v) deprive or strip of rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (opposite of invest)

abhor

(v) detest, regard with disgust

diverge

(v) differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path

Unearth

(v) dig up, uncover, expose

daunt

(v) discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of

Divine

(v) discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive by insight

Underscore

(v) emphasize (or, literally, to underline text)

debunk

(v) expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims

default

(v) failure to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a court of law.

ascertain

(v) find out with certainty

abdicate

(v) formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility)

disabuse

(v) free someone from a mistake in thinking

Flag

(v) get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop

concede

(v) give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing a war)

abjure

(v) give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath) "With the crusade, Ninoslav was baptized, only to ______ Christianity in 1233.

Render

(v) give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become

digress

(v) go off-topic when speaking or writing

burgeon

(v) grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant)

Surmise

(v) guess, infer, think, or make an opinion with incomplete information

Reap

(v) harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one's effort

Impede

(v) hold back, obstruct the progress of

abstain

(v) hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote

Foment

(v) incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part

Proliferate

(v) increase or spread rapidly or excessively

Foreshadow

(v) indicate or suggest beforehand, presage

discredit

(v) injure the reputation of, destroy credibility of or confidence in

Inform

(v) inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be the characteristic quality of

construe

(v) interpret or translate

deem

(v) judge; consider

Table

(v) lay aside to discuss later, often as a way to postpone discussion indefinitely

alleviate

(v) lessen, make easier to endure

Hearken

(v) listen, pay attention to

Facilitate

(v) make easier, help the progress of

clinch

(v) make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together

aggrandize

(v) make greater; exaggerate

antagonize

(v) make hostile or unfriendly

Mitigate

(v) make less severe; lessen or moderate (damage, grief, pain, etc.)

assuage

(v) make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm "I did what little I could to _____________ my guilt."

Quibble

(v) make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important

Exacerbate

(v) make worse (more violent, severe, etc.), inflame; irritate or embitter (a person)

Impair

(v) make worse, weaken

delineate

(v) mark the outline of; sketch; describe in detail

Sound

(v) measure the depth of (usually water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand (usually as sound the depths)

admonish

(v) mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something

converge

(v) move towards one another or towards a point; unite

clamor

(v) noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous noise

condone

(v) overlook, tolerate, regard as harmless

Fathom

(v) penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand; measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line

contextualize

(v) place in context, such as by giving the background or circumstances

Plummet

(v) plunge, fall straight down

Supplicate

(v) pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way

Obviate

(v) prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary

Pre-empt

(v) prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can

Proscribe

(v) prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish

Refute

(v) prove to be false

distill

(v) purify; extract the essential elements of

Enhance

(v) raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.

Elevate

(v) raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a higher rank or status or raise up to a higher spiritual or intellectual plane

culminate

(v) reach the highest point or final stage

Requite

(v) reciprocate, repay, or revenge

abridge

(v) reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea

abate

(v) reduce, diminish

balk

(v) refuse to proceed or to do something

Repudiate

(v) reject, cast off, deny that something has authority

Supersede

(v) replace, take the position of, cause to be disregarded as void or obsolete

Venerate

(v) revere, regard with deep respect and awe

anoint

(v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by ceremony that includes applying oil to someone

Placate

(v) satisfy or calm down (angry or dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures

disseminate

(v) scatter, spread about, broadcast

disperse

(v) scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish

Relegate

(v) send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else

Eschew

(v) shun, avoid, abstain from

Subside

(v) sink, settle down, become less active; return to a normal level

Saturate

(v) soak or imbue thoroughly; cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance

Permeate

(v) spread or penetrate throughout

constrict

(v) squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom of

adhere

(v) stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief

bolster

(v) strengthen or support

Fortify

(v) strengthen, invigorate, encourage

Substantiate

(v) support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to

Document

(v) support with evidence, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of

corroborate

(v) support, add evidence to

Outstrip

(v) surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind

Forfeit

(v) surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation

Oscillate

(v) swing back and forth; waver, change one's mind

desiccate

(v) thoroughly dried up, dehydrated

Satiate

(v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)

belie

(v) to give a false representation to; misrepresent "The smile on her face _________ the pain she must feel after the death of her husband."

consolidate

(v) unite, combine, solidify, make coherent

deface

(v) vandalize, mar the appearance of

Vituperate

(v) verbally abuse, rebuke or criticize harshly

Vacillate

(v) waver in one's mind or opinions, be indecisive

Undermine

(v) weaken cause to collapse by digging away at the foundation (of a building or an argument); injure or attack in a secretive or underhanded way

Enervate

(v) weaken, tire

aggregate

(v, adj) gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj)

Stymie

(v, n) block, hinder, or thwart (verb); an obstacle (noun)

Levy

(v, n) collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service (verb); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (noun)

Offset

(v, n) counteract, compensate for (verb); a counterbalance (noun)

dissent

(v, n) disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view

Resolve

(v, n) find a solution to; firmly decide to do something; decide by formal vote (verb); firmness of purpose (noun)

Log

(v, n) keep a record of, write down; travel for or at a certain distance or speed (verb); a written record (noun)

console

(v, n) lessen the suffering or grief of (verb); a control panel, or small table or cabinet (noun)

Lament

(v, n) mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret (verb); an expression of grief, esp. as a song or poem (noun)

advocate

(v, n) speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (noun)

buttress

(v, n) support or encourage (verb); a support or prop, esp. projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (noun)

disbar

(v.) To exclude someone from something.

countermand

(v.) a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command "By the time the colonel _______________ed his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire."

stultify

(v.) cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm "As an undergraduate Mark felt ____________ by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge."

allay

(v.) to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve

rankle

(v.) to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness (with the suggestion that the pain grows worse with time) "Though the recent row between the much loved prime minister and the ambassador from the erstwhile colonial power will, in all likelihood, not foment outright protests—the way an incursion by this same foreign power into the country's airspace did—surely such discord will only serve to further ______________ a people long since wary of foreign influence."

fete

(v.) to celebrate a person "After World War II, war heroes were ___________ at first but quickly forgotten."

galvanize

(v.) to excite or inspire (someone) to action "At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding a banner that read, "Go Kyle"; _____________, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less than 20 minutes."

portend

(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of

explicate

(v.) to make plain or clear, explain; to interpret

malign

(v.) to speak evil of, slander; (adj.) evil

buttress

(v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure

yoke

A burden or something that oppresses; a frame for attaching animals (such as oxen) to each other and to a plow or other equipment to be pulled, or a bar across a person's shoulders to help carry buckets of water, etc. (noun); to unite together or to burden (verb)

subpoena

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

malediction

A curse

abyss

A deep and vast space or cavity; anything profound or infinite

dirge

A funeral or mourning song or poem

rift

A gap or fissure (such as in rock), a break in friendly relations

maxim

A general truth or fundamental principle, esp. expressed as a proverb or saying

sinecure

A job or position that pays while requiring little or no work

demagogue

A leader who lies and gains power by arousing the passions and especially prejudices of the people

echelon

A level, rank or grade; the people at that level

modicum

A little bit or limited quantity

hallmark

A mark indicating quality, purity, genuineness, etc.; any distinguishing characteristic

repast

A meal (noun); to eat or feast (verb)

eponym

A name of a place, people, or period derived from that of a person.

sobriquet

A nickname

platitude

A shallow, overused statement; cliche

strut

A structural support or brace

whitewash

A substance used to whiten walls, wood, etc. (noun); deception, covering up of wrongs, errors, misdeeds, etc. (verb)

interregnum

A time in between two reigns or regimes during which there is no ruler; a period during which government does not function; any period of freedom from authority or break or interruption in a series

scintilla

A tiny bit or trace

fledgling

A young bird that has just recently gotten its feathers, an inexperienced person (noun); new or inexperienced (adj)

pallid

Abnormally pale (as skin); lacking color or vitality

dither

Act indecisively (verb); a state of fear or trembling excitement

felicitous

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

proxy

Agent, substitute, person authorized to act on behalf of another

accede

Agree, give consent; assume power (usually as "accede to")

hermetic

Airtight, sealed, isolated; reclusive; pertaining to alchemy, occult

albeit

Although, even though

equivocal

Ambiguous; intentionally misleading

egress

An exit or the action of exiting

pundit

An expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public.

phlegmatic

Apathetic, sluggish, not easily excited or made emotional

ersatz

Artificial, synthetic; being an inferior substitute

ascribe

Assign or credit to a certain cause or source

supposition

Assumption, hypothesis, something that has been supposed

impugn

Attack the truth or integrity of

assail

Attack violently, assault

besiege

Attack, overwhelm, crowd in on or surround

iconoclast

Attacker of cherished beliefs or institutions

propitiate

Attempt to reconcile with, satisfy, or reduce the animosity of (a person who is angry, offended, etc.)

meretricious

Attractive in a vulgar or flashy way, tawdry; deceptive

hedge

Avoid commitment by leaving provisions for withdrawal or changing one's mind; protect a bet by also betting on the other side

curmudgeon

Bad-tempered, difficult person; grouch

surly

Bad-tempered, hostile, unfriendly, or rude

antedate

Be older than, precede in time; assign to an earlier date

ossify

Become bone or become hard like bone; become inflexible in attitudes, opinions, etc.

mendicant

Beggar, or religious follower who lives by begging

tyro

Beginner

neophyte

Beginner, novice; person newly converted to a religion

disparage

Belittle, put down; bring shame upon, discredit

treacherous

Betraying trust, not faithful or trustworthy; not dependable; dangerous or deceptive

amalgamate

Blend, merge, or unite

incarnadine

Blood red or flesh-colored

plucky

Brave, spirited

inter

Bury (a dead body) or place in a tomb

convoke

Call together, as to a meeting

halcyon

Calm and peaceful, carefree; prosperous, successful, happy

imperturbable

Calm, not able to be upset or agitated

pathogenic

Capable of producing disease

coagulate

Cause a liquid to become solid or semisolid

precipitate

Cause to happen suddenly or prematurely; fling, plunge, or hurl down

grievous

Causing grief or suffering; very serious, grave; flagrant, outrageous

circumspect

Cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances and consequences

expurgate

Censor; remove objectionable or offensive parts

vicissitude

Changes or variations over time, esp. regular changes from one thing to another

winsome

Charming, engaging, esp. in a sweet and innocent way

bilk

Cheat or defraud

coffer

Chest for storing valuables; financial resources, a treasury

cardinal

Chief, most important

arrogate

Claim or take presumptuously or without the right to do so

exonerate

Clear from blame or accusation; free from a responsibility

limpid

Clear, transparent; completely calm

clamber

Climb awkwardly or with difficulty, scramble

coterie

Close or exclusive group, clique

imperious

Commanding, domineering; acting like a high-ranking person; urgent

grouse

Complain or grumble (verb); a reason for complaint (noun)

equanimity

Composure, evenness of mind; mental or emotional stability, esp. under stress

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

compendium

Concise but complete summary; a list or collection

précis

Concise summary, abstract

terse

Concise, brief and to the point (sometimes to the point of rudeness)

confound

Confuse, frustrate; mix up or make worse

welter

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

collude

Conspire; cooperate for illegal or fraudulent purposes

scurvy

Contemptible, mean

polemic

Controversial argument, esp. one attacking a specific idea

pusillanimous

Cowardly, timid

machination or machinations

Crafty schemes or plots

impute

Credit, attribute; lay blame or responsibility for (sometimes falsely)

grovel

Creep or crawl with one's face to the ground, prostrate oneself as a token of subservience, degrade or abase oneself

squelch

Crush, squash; suppress or silence; walk through ooze or in wet shoes, making a smacking or sucking sound

imprecation

Curse; prayer for harm to come to someone

abscission

Cutting off; sudden termination; the separation of leaves, petals, or other parts from a plant or animal

mar

Damage, spoil, ruin

aspersions

Damaging remarks, defamation, slander

duplicity

Deceit, double-dealing, acting in two different ways for the purpose of deception

parry

Deflect or avoid (esp. a blow or attack); skillfully evade (a question)

abase

Degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem

forestall

Delay, hinder, prevent by taking action beforehand

abscond

Depart suddenly and secretively

turpitude

Depravity, baseness of character, corrupt or depraved acts

antithetical

Directly opposed, opposite; involving antithesis (the rhetorical act of placing two phrases opposite one another for contrast, as in love me or hate me)

jettison

Discard, cast off; throw items overboard in order to lighten a ship in an emergency

discomfiting

Disconcerting, confusing, frustrating

parley

Discussion, negotiation, esp. between enemies (noun); to have such a discussion (verb)

blight

Disease that kills plants rapidly, or any cause of decay or destruction (noun); ruin or cause to wither (verb)

opprobrium

Disgrace and disapproval that result from outrageously shameful actions

squalid

Disgusting, filthy, foul, extremely neglected

cloying

Disgustingly or distastefully sweet

pejorative

Disparaging, derogatory, belittling (adj); a name or word that is disparaging (noun)

reprobate

Disreputable, unprincipled, or damned person (noun); shameless, depraved (adj)

dissolution

Dissolving, the state of having been dissolved; breaking bonds or breaking up of a group of people; death, disintegration; sinking into extreme hedonism, vice, and degradation

aloof

Distant physically or emotionally; reserved; indifferent

disparate

Distinct, very different "An inherent flaw in the university system is that faculty and students often have _____ aims: professors constantly strive to gain tenure at the expense of pedagogy, while most students earnestly seek to obtain the best education possible."

multifarious

Diverse, having a lot of variety

dichotomy

Division into two parts or into two contradictory groups

beneficent

Doing good

ridden

Dominated or burdened by

hegemony

Domination, authority; influence by one country over others socially, culturally, economically, etc.

furtive

Done secretly; stealthy, sly, shifty

perfunctory

Done superficially, without much care, or merely as routine

extemporaneous

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

declivity

Downward slope

insipid

Dull, stale, lacking taste or interest

aerie

Dwelling or fortress built on a high place; the nest of a bird of prey, such as an eagle or hawk, built on a mountain or cliff

complaisant

Eager to please; cheerfully complying

voluble

Easily fluent in regards to speech

inveigle

Entice, lure; get something by flattery, cleverness, or offering incentives

milieu

Environment, atmosphere; the environmental setting in which something happens or develops

stasis

Equilibrium, a state of balance or inactivity, esp. caused by equal but opposing forces

travesty

Exaggerated, debased, or grotesque imitation

plethora

Excess; excessive amount

jingoism

Excessive, loud patriotism and aggressive, warlike foreign policy

inordinate

Excessive, not within proper limits, unrestrained

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

maudlin

Excessively sentimental, showing sadness or some other emotion in a foolish or silly way

blasé

Exhausted by enjoyment, especially by sensuous pleasures; having the healthy energies exhausted; weary and disgusted with life. "Whether bottled water is healthier than non-bottled water is moot from an ecological standpoint — the hazard discarded plastic bottles pose to the environment clearly suggests we should be less ________ about our unbridled consumption."

fulminate

Explode, detonate; attack verbally in a vehement, thunderous way

opine

Express an opinion

indigence

Extreme poverty

penury

Extreme poverty or scarcity

quixotic

Extremely impractical but very romantic, chivalrous, or idealistic; impulsive

virulent

Extremely infectious, poisonous, etc.; hateful, bitterly hostile

harrow

Farming tool that breaks up soil (noun); painfully disturb or distress (verb)

propitious

Favorable, giving good signs for the future, likely to work out; kind or forgiving

xenophobia

Fear or hatred of foreigners or that which is foreign

solidarity

Fellowship in interests, feelings, responsibilities, etc., such as among a group of people or among classes, nations, etc.

distaff

Female, esp. relating to the maternal side of the family; women or women's work; a staff that holds wool or flax for spinning

inconstancy

Fickleness, unreliability; the state of changing without good reason

truculent

Fierce, cruel, savage; belligerent

coda

Final part of a musical composition; an ending, esp. one that sums up what has come before

upbraid

Find fault with, criticize or scold severely

delimit

Fix, mark, or define the boundaries of

panache

Flair, style, swagger; a flamboyant or grand way of acting

lissome

Flexible, supple, agile

inundate

Flood, cover with water, overwhelm

fatuous

Foolish, silly, esp. in a smug or complacent manner

dictum

Formal or authoritative pronouncement; saying or proverb

panegyric

Formal or lofty expression of praise

phalanx

Formation of soldiers carrying shields close together for defense; any very close group of people

erstwhile

Former, previous (adj); in the past, formerly (adv)

shard

Fragment of some brittle substance, esp. a sharp fragment of pottery, glass, etc.

aseptic

Free from germs

bonhomie

Friendliness, open and simple good heartedness

gambol

Frolic; skip or leap playfully

fecund

Fruitful, fertile; capable of abundantly producing offspring, vegetation, or creative or intellectual work

wily

Full of wiles; subtle; cunning; crafty; sly.

orotund

Full, rich, and clear (of the voice or speaking); pompous, bombastic

livid

Furiously angry, enraged

garner

Gather and store; amass, collect

tawdry

Gaudy, cheap or cheap-looking; indecent

largess or largesse

Generosity, the giving of money or gifts (esp. with the implication that the giver is a bit superior to the recipient)

munificent

Generous, giving liberally

unsparing

Generous, lavish (as in not sparing any help or gifts to others); unmerciful, harsh (as in not sparing any criticism)

adumbrate

Give a rough outline of; foreshadow; reveal only partially; obscure

querulous

Given to complaining, grumbling

morose

Gloomy, sullen

accretion

Gradual increase; an added part or addition

amortize

Gradually pay off a debt, or gradually write off an asset

hand-wringing

Grasping, squeezing, etc. of the hands as an expression of nervousness, guilt, etc.; extend debate over what to do about an issue

cupidity

Greed, great or excessive desire

verdant

Green, such as with vegetation, plants, grass, etc.; young and inexperienced

bevy

Group of birds or other animals that stay close together; any large group

faction

Group or clique within a larger organization; party strife and dissension

lurid

Gruesome or excessively vivid; sensational, shocking, unrestrained

dyspeptic

Grumpy, pessimistic, irritable; suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion)

fortuitous

Happening by chance; lucky

discordant

Harsh or inharmonious in sound; disagreeing, incongruous

invidious

Hateful, offensive, injurious

misanthrope or misanthropist

Hater of humankind

militate

Have a great effect, weigh heavily (often as militate against)

mannered

Having a particular manner, esp. an artificial one

resurgent

Having a revival, renewing, rising or surging again

pungent

Having a sharp taste or smell; biting, stimulating, sharp

prescient

Having foreknowledge or foresight, seeing the future

perspicacious

Having penetrating insight or good discernment

verisimilar

Having the appearance of truth, probable

magnanimous

High-minded, noble, lofty; generous in forgiving others, free of resentment

apposite

Highly appropriate, suitable, or relevant

insinuate

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

homage

Honor or respect demonstrated publicly

inimical

Hostile, adverse, harmful

baying

Howling in a deep way, like a dog or wolf

idolatry

Idol worship; excessive or unthinking devotion or adoration

kindle

Ignite, cause to begin burning; incite, arouse, inflame

steeped

Immersed (in), saturated (with)

impermeable

Impassable, not allowing passage through (such as by a liquid)

impervious

Impenetrable, not able to be harmed or emotionally disturbed

normative

Implying or attempting to establish a norm; expressing value judgments or telling people what to do (rather than merely describing that which is happening)

nontrivial

Important or big enough to matter

ameliorate

Improve; make better or more bearable

searchingly

In a searching or penetrating manner; while examining closely or probing for answers

hotly

In an intense, fiery, or heated way

attuned

In harmony; in sympathetic relationship

trope

In rhetoric, a figurative use of a word; a word or expression used in a different sense from that which properly belongs to it, or a word changed from its original signification to another for the sake of giving spirit or emphasis to an idea, as when we call a stupid fellow an ass, or a shrewd man a fox.

inert

Inactive; having little or no power to move

infallible

Incapable of error; certain

insensible

Incapable of feeling; unconscious, unaware

sedition

Inciting rebellion against a government, esp. speech or writing that does this

proclivity

Inclination, natural tendency

apprise

Inform, give notice to

iniquity

Injustice, wickedness, sin

avarice

Insatiable greed; a miserly desire to hoard wealth

graft

Insert part of a plant into another plant, where it continues to grow; join living tissue (such as skin) to part of the body where it will continue to live and grow; attach as if by grafting (verb); the part so grafted (as in a graft of skin); the act of acquiring money or other benefits through illegal means, esp. by abusing one's power (noun)

ardor

Intense heat: as, the ardor of the sun's rays. A bright or effulgent spirit.

interplay

Interaction, reciprocal relationship or influence

per se

Intrinsically; by itself; in itself

investiture

Investing; formally giving someone a right or title

irascible

Irritable, easily angered

nettle

Irritate, sting, or annoy

grating

Irritating; harsh or discordant (of a noise); scraping

dovetail

Join or fit together

mirth

Jollity, merriment; amusement or laughter

peripatetic

Journeying from place to place; traveling on foot

blithe

Joyous, merry; excessively carefree (so as to ignore more important concerns)

arbiter

Judge, umpire, person empowered to decide matters at hand

puerile

Juvenile, immature

acumen

Keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment

diffident

Lacking confidence, shy, distrust showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence "As a young girl she was _________ and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive."

desultory

Lacking consistency or order, disconnected, sporadic; going off topic

banal

Lacking freshness and originality; cliché

tome

Large or scholarly book; one of the volumes in a set of several books

perennial

Lasting through the years or indefinitely, enduring; recurring

lethargic

Lazy, drowsy, or sluggish

indolent

Lazy, slothful

vanguard

Leading units at the front of an army; leaders in a trend or movement, people on the "cutting edge"; the forefront of a trend or movement

savant

Learned person, scholar, someone admitted to membership in a scholarly field; a person with amazing mental abilities despite having a cognitive difference or disability

fallow

Left unplanted (of land); not in use

inquest

Legal or judicial inquiry, especially before a jury and especially made by a coroner into the cause of someone's death; the results of such an inquiry

missive

Letter, written message

seraphic

Like an angel; serene, spiritually carried off or transported

sublime

Lofty or elevated, inspiring reverence or awe; excellent, majestic; complete, utter

rarefied

Lofty, very high up or elevated (in a metaphorical way); exclusive, select; thin, pure, or less dense (as air at the top of a mountain)

harangue

Long, intense verbal attack, esp. when delivered publicly

nadir

Lowest point

providential

Lucky, fortunate, or relating to divine care (the idea that a deity has helped or cared for a person)

emaciate

Make abnormally thin, cause to physically waste away

ingratiate

Make an effort to gain favor with

sully

Make dirty, stain, tarnish, defile

adulterate

Make impure by adding inappropriate or inferior ingredients

palliate

Make less serious or severe; relieve symptoms of an illness

annul

Make void or null, cancel, abolish (usually of laws or other established rules)

calumny

Malicious lie intended to hurt someone's reputation; the act of telling such lies

husband

Manage prudently, sparingly, or economically; conserve

stigma

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

tendentious

Marked by a strong point of view, biased

anodyne

Medicine that relieves pain (noun); soothing, relieving pain (adj)

minatory

Menacing; threatening

stratagem

Military maneuver to deceive or surprise; crafty scheme

puckish

Mischievous; impish; naughtily or annoyingly playful

dissemble

Mislead, conceal the truth, put on a false appearance of

pastiche

Mix of incongruous parts; artistic work imitating the work of other artists, often satirically

paragon

Model of excellence, perfect example

lugubrious

Mournful, gloomy (sometimes in an exaggerated way)

symbiosis

Mutually dependent relationship between two organisms, people, groups, etc.

endemic

Native, local; natural, specific to, or confined to a particular place

propensity

Natural inclination or tendency

myopic

Near-sighted; lacking long-term thinking, short-sighted

neologism

New word or phrase (or a new meaning applied to an existing word or phrase)

vociferous

Noisily crying out, as in protest

fracas

Noisy disturbance or fight; brawl

solecism

Nonstandard use of grammar or words; mistake, esp. in etiquette

implacable

Not able to be appeased, calmed, or satisfied

unassuming

Not assuming; not bold or forward; not arrogant or presuming; humble; modest; retiring "To most, the word 'architecture' connotes a grandeur typically associated with the Old World—flying buttresses, Doric columns, baroque flourishes, byzantine arabesques—and thus many of the more ___________ structures are often thought to be cobbled together instead of following some prescribed architectural idiom."

recondite

Not easily understood, hidden, dealing with an obscure topic

unconscionable

Not guided by conscience; morally wrong, unjust, unreasonable

impassive

Not having or not showing physical feeling or emotion

ignoble

Not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low quality

recalcitrant

Not obedient, resisting authority, hard to manage

impious

Not religious, lacking reverence, ungodly

fitful

Not steady; irregular

lax

Not strict; careless, loose, slack

untempered

Not toned down; not moderated, controlled, or counterbalanced

manifest

Obvious, apparent, perceptible to the eye (adj); to show, make clear, or prove (verb)

salient

Obvious, standing out; projecting, protruding, jutting out

diurnal

Occurring every day; happening in the daytime (rather than at night)

sacerdotal

Of or pertaining to priests, or to the order of priests; relating to the priesthood; priesty.

somatic

Of the body

plebian

Of the common people

umbrage

Offense or annoyance

noisome

Offensive, disgusting; harmful

stratum

One of many layers (such as in a rock formation or in the classes of a society)

ascetic

One who leads a life of self-denial and contemplation; absent of luxury

penumbra

Outer part of a shadow from an eclipse; any surrounding region, fringe, periphery; any area where something "sort of" exists

overwrought

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

analgesia

Pain relief; inability to feel pain

impetuous

Passionately impulsive, marked by sudden, hasty emotion; forceful, violent

pare

Peel or cut off the outer layer (such as peeling fruit with a knife), reduce or trim as if cutting off the outer parts

vim

Pep, enthusiasm, vitality, lively spirit

grandstand

Perform showily in an attempt to impress onlookers

stint

Period of time spent doing something, or a specific, limited amount of work (noun); to be frugal, to get by on little (verb)

imbue

Permeate or saturate, as dye in a fabric; influence throughout

assiduous

Persevering, diligent, constant

philistine

Person deficient in or hostile to culture

sybarite

Person devoted to pleasure and luxury

martinet

Person who adheres to rules extremely closely; strict disciplinarian

doctrinaire

Person who applies doctrine in an impractical or rigid and close-minded way (noun); merely theoretical, impractical, or fanatical about other people accepting one's ideas (adj)

apostate

Person who deserts a party, cause, religion, etc.

dupe

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

pedant

Person who pays excessive attention to book learning and rules, or who uses his or her learning to show off

dilettante

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

epicure

Person with cultivated, refined tastes, esp. in food and wine

bent

Personal inclination or tendency

repertorial

Pertaining to a repertory or repertoire, a stock of available things or a number of theatrical performances presented regularly or in sequence

insular

Pertaining to an island; detached, standing alone; narrow-minded, provincial

glacial

Pertaining to glaciers; cold, icy, slow, unsympathetic

kinetic

Pertaining to motion

bucolic

Pertaining to shepherds; suggesting a peaceful and pleasant view of rural life

spasmodic

Pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by spasm; affected by spasm or spasms; convulsive: as, spasmodic movements; spasmodic asthma; a spasmodic person. "The skirmish between the two beleaguered armies occurred _______ with each side taking much needed rest during the respites."

pulchritude

Physical beauty

apostle

Pioneer of a reform movement (originally, an early follower of Jesus)

juxtapose

Place side by side (either physically or in a metaphorical way, such as to make a comparison)

ford

Place where a river or similar body of water is shallow enough to walk or ride a vehicle across (noun); to cross at such a place (verb)

euphony

Pleasing or sweet sound, especially as formed by a harmonious use of words

burnish

Polish, make smooth and lustrous

impecunious

Poor, without money

impasse

Position or road from which there is no escape; deadlock

latent

Potential; existing but not visible or active

puissance

Power, might

approbation

Praise or approval, especially formal approval

predilection

Preference, tendency or favorability towards

gestation

Pregnancy; the period from conception until birth of an animal or (metaphorically) of an idea or plan

idyllic

Presenting a positive, peaceful view of rural life (as poetry or prose); pleasant in a natural, simple way

posit

Presume, suggest, put forward (an idea)

malinger

Pretend to be sick, esp. to get out of work, duties, etc.

ostentatious

Pretentious, boastful showiness

secrete

Produce and release a substance from a cell or gland of the body for a functional purpose

engender

Produce, give rise to, cause to exist; procreate

ostensible or ostensive

Professed, evident, or pretended; outwardly appearing in a certain way

quiescent

Quiet, still

insurrection

Rebellion or revolt against a government or similarly established authority

contumacious

Rebellious; stubbornly disobedient

wanton

Reckless, vicious, without regard for what is right; unjustifiable, deliberately done for no reason at all; sexually unrestrained or excessively luxurious

florid

Reddish or rosy; flowery, showy, or excessively fancy

intransigent

Refusing to compromise, inflexible, having extreme attitudes

rue

Regret, remorse (noun); to feel regret or remorse (verb)

penitent

Regretful, feeling remorse for one's sins or misdeeds (adj); a person who feels this way (noun)

synoptic

Relating to a synopsis or summary; giving a general view

grandiloquent

Relating to lofty speech, esp. to the point of being pompous, overblown, bombastic

monastic

Relating to or resembling a monastery (where monks or nuns live), esp. by being quiet, secluded, contemplative, strict, and/or lacking luxuries

prophetic

Relating to prophesy, predicting, ominous

terrestrial

Relating to the Earth or to land; worldly

semantic

Relating to the different meanings of words or other symbols

vernal

Relating to the spring; fresh, youthful

inexorable

Relentless, unyielding; not moved by pleading

contrite

Remorseful; feeling sorry for one's offenses or sins

revamp

Renovate, redo, revise (verb); a restructuring, upgrade, etc. (noun)

effigy

Representation or image of a person, esp. a crude facsimile used to mock a hated person

propagate

Reproduce, spread, increase

exigent

Requiring immediate attention, action, or aid; excessively demanding

rejoinder

Response or reply, esp. a witty comeback

recrudescent

Revival, breaking out into renewed activity

asperity

Rigor, severity; harshness or sharpness of tone; roughness of surface

tumultuous

Riotous, violently agitated, marked by disturbance or uproar; noisy, chaotic

plutocracy

Rule by the wealthy

canard

Rumor, a false or baseless story

slake

Satisfy (esp. thirst), cool, or refresh; make less active

gouge

Scooping or digging tool, like a chisel, or a hole made with such a tool (noun); cut or scoop out; force out a person's eye with one's thumb; swindle, extort money from (verb)

sardonic

Scornfully or ironically mocking, cynically derisive

axiom

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

discrete

Separate, distinct, detached, existing as individual parts

appropriate

Set aside or authorize (such as money) for a particular purpose; take for one's own use

redress

Setting something right after a misdeed, compensation or relief for injury or wrongdoing (noun); correct, set right, remedy (verb)

licentious

Sexually unrestrained; immoral; ignoring the rules

brandish

Shake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon

effrontery

Shameless boldness

molt

Shed or cast off, esp. to regularly shed skin, feathers, etc. (as a snake)

refulgent

Shining, radiant

luminous

Shining, radiant, well-lit; brilliant or enlightening

fawn

Show affection or try to please in the manner of a dog; try to win favor through flattery and submissive behavior

demur

Show reluctance or object, especially for moral reasons

politic

Shrewd, pragmatic; tactful or diplomatic

skittish

Shy, fickle, uncertain, or prone to act suddenly due to nervousness; lively in a restless or excessive way

abreast

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

winnow

Sift, analyze critically, separate the useful part from the worthless part

token

Sign, symbol, mark, badge; souvenir, memento; coin-like disk used as currency for subways, arcade games, etc.; sample, or person, thing, idea taken to represent an entire group (noun); of very little or merely symbolic value (adj)

oblique

Slanting or sloping; indirect, misleading, or evasive

legerdemain

Slight-of-hand (magic as performed by a magician); trickery or deception

acidulous

Slightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic

dilatory

Slow, late; procrastinating or stalling for time

toady

Someone who flatters or acts in a servile manner for self-serving reasons

vitriol

Something highly caustic, such as criticism (literally, one of a number of chemicals including sulfuric acid)

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

reactant

Something that reacts; a substance that undergoes a change in a chemical reaction

bane

Something that ruins or spoils

elegy

Song or poem of sorrow, esp. for a deceased person

acerbic

Sour; harsh or severe harsh in tone "Most movie critics are _____________ towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage."

declaim

Speak in an impassioned, pompous, or oratorical manner; give a formal speech

polyglot

Speaking or composed of many languages (of a person, book, etc.); a person who knows several languages

stipulate

Specify; make an open demand, esp. as a condition of agreement

listless

Spiritless, lacking interest or energy

panoply

Splendid, wide-ranging, impressive display or array

diffuse

Spread widely, disseminate (verb); dispersed, widely spread out, or wordy and going off-topic (adj)

glower

Stare in an angry, sullen way

whet

Stimulate, make keen or eager (esp. of an appetite)

fetid

Stinking; having an offensive smell

occlude

Stop up, close, shut in or shut off

prevaricate

Stray from the truth, mislead, lie to speak in an evasive way

circumscribe

Strictly limit a role, range of activity, or area; in math, to be constructed around so as to touch as many points as possible

hew

Strike, chop, or hack (as with an axe, sword. etc.); make or shape something (such as a statue) with a cutting tool

fluke

Stroke of luck, something accidentally successful

obdurate

Stubborn, hardhearted, hardened in wrongdoing

refractory

Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manage

mired

Stuck, entangled (in something, like a swamp or muddy area), soiled

modish

Stylish, contemporary

surrogate

Substitute, person who acts for another (noun); acting as a replacement (adj)

euphemism

Substitution of a mild, inoffensive, or indirect expression for one that is considered offensive or too direct

brook

Suffer or tolerate

connote

Suggest or imply in addition to the precise, literal meaning

palatial

Suitable for or resembling a palace, magnificent

expedient

Suitable, proper; effective, often at the expense of ethics or other considerations

recapitulate

Summarize, repeat in a concise way

preternatural

Supernatural, exceptional

leery

Suspicious or wary

mellifluous

Sweetly flowing or sounding

balloon

Swell or puff out; increase rapidly

distend

Swell, expand, stretch, bloat

turgid

Swollen, inflated; or, metaphorically "inflated," such as in overblown, pompous speech

doff

Take off (such as clothes), put aside; remove one's hat as a gesture

supplant

Take the place of, displace, especially through sneaky tactics

prattle

Talk in an idle, simple-minded, meaningless, or foolish way; chatter, babble

inculcate

Teach persistently, implant (an idea) in a person

rend

Tear violently, esp. to tear one's clothing or hair out of grief; pull apart, split, or tear away

lachrymose

Tearful, mournful

augury

Telling the future, such as through supernatural means

abeyance

Temporary suspension, inactivity

repose

The act or state of resting; peacefulness, tranquility; lying dead in a grave

ethos

The character, personality, or moral values specific to a person, group, time period, etc.

syntax

The rules governing grammar and how words join to make sentences (or how words and symbols join in writing computer code), the study of these rules, or any system or orderly arrangement

knell

The sound made by a bell for a funeral, or any sad sound or signal of a failure, death, ending, etc. (noun); to make such a sound (verb)

primacy

The state of being first or most important

larceny

Theft

viscid or viscous

Thick, adhesive, or covered in something sticky

contraries

Things that are opposing; either of two opposite things

via

Through, by means of, by way of (by a route that goes through or touches)

dilate

To become wider or make wider, cause to expand; to speak or write at length, elaborate upon

feign

To dissemble; disguise; conceal; To make a false appearance of; counterfeit; simulate; pretend

bifurcate

To fork into two branches or divide into two halves

redound

To have a good or bad effect, esp. as a result of a person's efforts or actions (usually used with to, on, or upon)

hamstring

To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.

trounce

To punish or beat severely; thrash or whip smartly; castigate.

inure

Toughen up; accustom or habituate to pain, hardship, etc.

vestige

Trace or sign of something that once existed

pellucid

Transparent, translucent; clear, easy to understand

peddle

Travel around while selling; sell illegally; give out or disseminate

peregrinate

Travel from place to place, esp. on foot

itinerary

Travel schedule; detailed plan for a journey

itinerant

Traveling from place to place, esp. as part of a job

cosset

Treat as a pet, pamper

lionize

Treat like a celebrity

flout

Treat with disdain, contempt, or scorn (usually of rules)

hoodwink

Trick, deceive

chicanery

Trickery, deception by knowingly false arguments

nominal

Trivial, so small as to be unimportant; in name only, so-called

ruminate

Turn over in the mind, reflect on; chew cud (as a cow)

tortuous

Twisting, winding, complex; devious, not straightforward

immutable

Unchangeable

ingrate

Ungrateful person

catholic

Universal, broad-minded

hapless

Unlucky, unfortunate

wan

Unnaturally pale, or showing some other indication of sickness, unhappiness, etc.; weak, lacking forcefulness

fractious

Unruly, troublemaking; irritable

indefatigable

Untiring, not able to become fatigued

ineffable

Unutterable, indescribable

edify

Uplift, enlighten, instruct or improve in a spiritual or moral way

goad

Urge on (as cattle) with a pointed or electrically charged stick; spur on, stimulate, encourage

equivocate

Use unclear language to deceive or avoid committing to a position

ribald

Using or relating to obscene or vulgar humor

variegated

Varied in color, having multicolored patches or spots; diverse

august

Venerable, majestic; inspiring admiration

rococo

Very elaborate and ornate (in decorating or metaphorically, as in speech and writing); relating to a highly ornate style of art and architecture in 18th-century France

ebullient

Very enthusiastic, lively, excited; bubbling as though being boiled

pernicious

Very harmful or destructive, deadly

fervid

Very hot; heated in passion or enthusiasm

magnate

Very important or influential person, esp. in business

stentorian

Very loud and powerful (generally of a human voice)

hoary

Very old, gray or white as from old age

ardent

Very passionate, devoted, or enthusiastic

diaphanous

Very sheer, fine, translucent

transgression

Violation of a law, moral rule, order, etc.; sin

invective

Violent denunciation; accusations, insults, or verbal abuse

maelstrom

Violent whirlpool; any chaotic, turbulent situation

lumber

Walk in a heavy or clumsy way, sometimes due to being weighed down

forage

Wander in search of; rummage, hunt, make a raid

encomium

Warm, glowing praise, esp. a formal expression of praise

irresolute

Wavering, not sure how to proceed, not firm in one's decision-making

attenuate

Weaken or thin out

frenetic

Wildly excited, frantic, distracted fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.

recant

Withdraw, retract, or disavow something one has previously said, esp. formally

wizened

Withered, shriveled

raconteur

Witty storyteller

laudable

Worthy of praise

heady

[of liquor] potent; intoxicating synonyms: potent, intoxicating, strong; alcoholic, vinous; formalspirituous ";heady wine";

gallimaufry

a confused jumble or medley of things

farrago

a confused mixture

imbroglio

a difficult and embarrassing situation

quagmire

a difficult situation

mortification

a feeling of shame or humiliation

miasma

a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor.

melange

a mixture; a hodgepodge

luddite

a person opposed to new technology or ways of working.

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

anomalous

abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual

uberous

abundant, fruitful

palatable

acceptable to the taste or mind "Mikey didn't partake much in his friends' conversations, but found their presence __________."

inculpate

accuse or blame

perfidy

an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust "Sure, he was the best salesman in the company; but Michael had abused the trust of the firm, sharing product secrets with a competitor, and for such _________ he was terminated."

aeon

an indefinitely long period of time; an age

vex

annoy or bother; puzzle or distress

facile

arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth "Many news shows provide ___________ explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times."

haughty

arrogant, condescending

asperse

attack or criticize the reputation or integrity of

echt

authentic, typical

sanctioned

authorized or approved

arbitrary

based entirely on one's discretion; capricious, unreasonable, or having no basis

behoove

be appropriate or necessary it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on.

aboriginal

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native

irreproachable

blameless; impeccable

pugilism

boxing, fighting with the fists

gallant

brave and noble

cagey

cautious, wary, or shrewd

vagarious

changeable, whimsical, capricious, arbitrary

indiscriminate

choosing at random without careful selection

auspicous

conducive to success; favorable.

debonair

confident, stylish, and charming

graft

corruption, usually through bribery "In countries with rampant __________, getting a driver's license can require no more than paying an official."

pusillanimous

cowardly

droll

curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement.

rakish

dashingly stylish and confident

internecine

deadly to both sides

artifice

deception; trickery

antipathy (n.)

deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance, somtimes without reason

execrate

denounce or curse

bereft

deprived of; made unhappy through a loss

heteroclite

deviating from the common rule; abnormal; atypical

abstruse

difficult to understand

crestfallen

discouraged, dejected, downcast. brought low in spirit "I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment's thought; I was __________."

choleric

easily angered

vacuous

empty

malevolent

evil, spiteful, showing ill will

scrupulous

exact, careful

antipodal

exactly opposite

doting

excessively fond, loving to excess

conceited

excessively proud of oneself; vain

vainglorious

excessively proud or boastful; elated by vanity

despotic

exercising absolute power; tyrannical

deride

express contempt for; ridicule.

sumptuous

extravagantly splendid or costly; luxurious

avidity

extreme eagerness or enthusiasm

penury

extreme poverty; destitution.

parsimony

extreme reluctance to spend money "Katie is so __________________ that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them."

apogee

farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith

temerity

fearless, daring "No child has the ___________ to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted."

procreant

fertile, fruitful

truculent

fierce and cruel; eager to fight

blandishment

flattery intended to persuade

tumaceous

flavorsome

trenchant

forceful or vigorous, effective, keen; caustic, sharp

mephitic

foul-smelling

inveterate

habitual "A _____ procrastinator, Stephen found himself unable to recall a time when he did not put off doing a major assignment."

insalutary

harmful

cabalistic

having a secret or hidden meaning

odoriferous

having or giving off a smell

unscrupulous

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair

pastoral

having to do with the country

empyreal

heavenly

upscale

high class, expensive, intended for wealthy customers

eminence

high rank

veracious

honest; truthful

belligerent

hostile and aggressive

ape

imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)

torpid

inactive, sluggish, dull

fustian

inflated or pretentious language in speech or writing; a cloth made of cotton and flax

jocose

joking; humorous

amoral

lacking a sense of right and wrong, not moral

appreciable

large or important enough to be noticed.

pontifical

like a pontiff, pope, extremely authoritative

dissolute

loose in one's morals or behavior

nethermost

lowest or farthest down

staunch

loyal and committed in attitude

tepid

lukewarm, unenthusiastic

augment

make (something) greater by adding to it; increase.

donnish

marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects

dulcet

melodious; pleasing to the ear

ambivalent

mixed or conflicting emotions about something "Sam was ____________ about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills."

autochthonous

native

perigee

nearest point to the earth in the orbit of a heavenly body

natty

neat; dapper; smart

obstreperous

noisily and stubbornly defiant; willfully difficult to control "When the teacher asked the ______________ student simply to bus his tray, the student threw the entire tray on the floor, shouted an epithet, and walked out."