Combo with "GRE Ragshas - (Filtered)" and 27 others

Astigmatism

(n) - Eye defect that prevents proper focus. As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from ---, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.

Belabor

(v) - Argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail; Assail verbally. The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by ---ing his point.

Lineaments

(n) A distinctive feature or characteristic, esp. of the face A linear feature on the earth's surface, such as a fault. A ___ is a fancy, literary word that means "a part of a person's face," like his eyes, ears, or nose. She quickly sketched the ___ of his face. Synonyms: noun: Features.

Innuendo

(n) An allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one. Speaking in ___ is when you say something indirectly — often of a hurtful or sexual nature. ___ in Latin means "to point to" or "nod to." Synonyms: noun: Insinuation, Hint, Allusion.

Percussion

(n) Musical instruments played by striking with the hand or with a stick or beater, or by shaking, including drums, cymbals, xylophones, gongs, bells, and rattles. The striking of one solid object with or against another with some degree of force. The action of tapping a part of the body as part of a diagnosis. Synonyms: adjective: percussive noun: Crash, Bang, Smash, Clash, Bump, Thump, Thwack, Whack; Impact, Collision, Striking, Beating, Shock, Knock.

Deposition

(n) Testimony under oath. The process of giving sworn evidence. ___ means the act of putting something aside, whether you're putting aside a ruler, or putting aside legal testimony to be used later in a trial. He made his __ in the judge's chamber. Synonyms: noun: DEPOSIT, Testimony.

Trough

(n) a narrow open container for feeding farm animals. Lowest point(wave, business, cycle). a channel or conduit for conveying water, as a gutter.

Malapropism

(n)- Comic misuse of a word. the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an amusing effect (e.g. 'dance a flamingo ' instead of flamenco ). When Mrs. Malaprop criticizes Lydia for being "as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile," she confuses "allegory" and "allegator" in a typical malapropism. synonyms: Wrong word, SOLECISM, Error, Misuse, Misusage, Misapplication, Infelicity.

Rapport

(n)- Emotional closeness; Harmony. A relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people ___ is a good sense of understanding and trust. If you have good ___ with your neighbors, they won't mind if you kick your ball onto their property every now and then.

Insomnia

(n)- Habitual sleeplessness; Inability to sleep. Wakefulness. He refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it gave him ____. Synonyms: noun: Sleeplessness, Wakefulness, Vigilance.

Harbinger

(n)- Something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone. A forerunner of something. Foreshadow or presage. A ____ is something that comes before and that shows what will follow in the future. The robin is a ____ of spring--its presence means spring is coming soon. Synonyms: verb: herald, forebode, betoken, presage, foreshadow, announce noun: herald, forerunner, PRECURSOR, messenger, portent, presage.

Remission

(n)- Temporary moderation of disease symptoms; Cancellation of a debt; Forgiveness or pardon. ___ refers to a stage of lesser intensity, when something subsides or improves. ___ is usually a good thing — like when your cancer is in remission, it means that it is manageable and not getting any worse.

Argot

(n)- The jargon or slang of a particular group or class. In the -- of the underworld, she "was taken for a ride." Synonyms: (n): Slang, Cant, Jargon, Patter.

Incense

(n,v) - Enrage; Infuriate. Make furious. A substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned. Unkindness to children ___ her. ___ means both "to make angry" and a stick that burns slowly and emits a strong smell. If your new college roommate burns ___ in your tiny dorm room, you might get __ and storm out. Synonyms: verb: Enrage, Infuriate, Anger, Provoke, Exasperate, Irritate, Vex. noun: Frankincense.

Manacle

(n,v) - Restrain; Handcuff. The police immediately ___ the prisoner so he could not escape. Synonyms: Shackle, Fetter, Chain, Chain up, Put in chains, Handcuff, Restrain, Tie, Secure.

Strut

(n,v) - To walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others. A proud stiff pompous gait. A rod or bar forming part of a framework and designed to resist compression. Synonyms: verb: Swagger, Prance. noun: Prop, Support, Shore, Stanchion, Brace, Swagger.

approbation

(n.) approval, sanction, endorsement, assent, indorsement, acceptance, indorsation, applause Approval or praise the opera met with high approbation

audacity

(n.) boldness, daring, courage, hardihood, impudence, insolence,nerve, impertinence, temerity, effrontery, hardiness, audaciousness, forwardness. The willingness to take bold risks her audacity came in handy during our most recent emergency Rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence she had the audacity to pick up the receiver and ask me to hang up

avarice

(n.) greed, cupidity, greediness, avidity, miserliness, rapacity, parsimony, stinginess, covetousness. Synonyms: noun: greed, cupidity, greediness, avidity, miserliness, rapacity, parsimony, stinginess, covetousness Extreme greed for wealth or material gain

apathy

(n.) indifference, unconcern, torpor, listlessness, nonchalance; a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern widespread apathy among students

Emanate

(of a feeling, quality, or sensation) issue or spread out from (a source). originate from; be produced by. give out or emit (a feeling, quality, or sensation). When you use the word __ , you're usually talking about lights, sounds or unseen forces coming out of a specific source. If you hear creepy sounds __ from an old house, that might mean it's haunted. A strong odor of sulfur __ from the spring. Synonyms: verb: Issue, Arise, Originate, Proceed.E merge, flow, pour, ENSUE, come out, come forth, spread out, come; be uttered, be emitted, be transmitted; Stem, derive, spring, start, exude, give off, give out, send out, send forth, pour out, throw out, discharge, disgorge, Exhale, Radiate.

Pert

(of a girl or young woman) Attractively lively or cheeky. (of a young person or their speech or behavior) Impudent. (of a bodily feature or garment) Attractive because neat and jaunty. Synonyms: adjective: Saucy, Impertinent, Cheeky, Insolent, Impudent, Perky, Bold, Audacious.

Seethe

(of a person) Be filled with intense but unexpressed anger. (of a place) Be crowded with people or things moving about in a rapid or hectic way. If a liquid ____ , it is boiling, but if it's a person who's seething, watch out! He or she is really angry! Synonyms: verb: Boil, Bubble noun: Ebullition, Boiling.

Germinate

(v) - (of a seed or spore) begin to grow and put out shoots after a period of dormancy. Come into existence and develop. cause to grow or sprout. To ___ is to grow or to develop. When a tiny seedling cracks through a seed casing and sprouts, it has ___ . The term is used for other things too, like when an idea ____ into a film or book. Synonyms: verb: sprout, bud, burgeon, germ.

Palpitate

(v) - (of the heart) Beat rapidly, strongly, or irregularly. Shake; tremble. Synonyms: verb: Throb, Pulsate, Tremble, Quaver, Flutter, Quiver, Beat, Dither, Shiver, Pulse, Shake, Vibrate.

Scruple

(v) - A ethical or moral principle that inhibits action. Uneasiness about the fitness of an action. Hesitate or be reluctant to do something that one thinks may be wrong. A unit of weight equal to 20 grains, used by apothecaries. A very small amount of something, esp. a quality. Synonyms: verb: Hesitate, Shilly-shally, Vacillate, Waver. noun: Qualm, Doubt, Compunction, Hesitation.

Foray

(v) - A raid. A sudden attack or incursion into enemy territory, esp. to obtain something; An attempt to become involved in a new activity or sphere The company staged a midnight ___ against the enemy outpost. Synonyms: verb: pillage, raid, ravage. noun: raid, inroad, incursion, invasion, attack, aggression.

Scourge

(v) - A whip used as an instrument of punishment. Something causing misery or death. A person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering. Whip (someone) as a punishment. Cause great suffering to. Synonyms: verb: Whip, Flog, Lash, Flagellate, Castigate, Punish, Chastise, Chasten noun: Whip, Plague, Lash, Pest.

Exuberant

(v) - Abundant; Effusive; Lavish. Full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness. Growing luxuriantly or profusely. His speeches were famous for his ___ language and vivid imagery. Synonyms: adjective: Luxuriant, Rank, Lush, Rampant, Rich, Profuse, Opulent.

Incriminate

(v) - Accuse; Serve as evidence against. Suggest that someone is guilty. Bring an accusation against; Level a charge against. Is your homework in shreds and the dog chewing something? Then you can ___ poor Fido for eating your homework. To ___ someone (or some dog) of a crime, is more than just accusing them; it's offering some evidence they're guilty. Synonyms: verb: Inculpate, Accuse, Charge, Impeach, Indict, Blame, Arraign, Tax, Criminate.

Consort

(v) - Agree or be in harmony with. keep company with; hang out with. (n) - A wife, husband, or companion, in particular the spouse of a reigning monarch. "We frequently judge people by the company with whom they __." Synonyms: verb: associate noun: spouse, mate, husband, partner, wife, yokefellow

Denizen

(v) - An inhabitant or occupant of a particular place. A plant or animal naturalized in a region. Ghosts are __ of the land of the dead who return to earth. Synonyms: verb: naturalize noun: Inhabitant, Resident, Habitant, Dweller, Occupant, Citizen.

Rankle

(v) - Annoy or irritate . Continue to be painful; Cause annoyance or resentment that persists. ___ is a cranky-sounding verb that means to eat away at or aggravate to the point of causing anger. If you want to rankle a cat, try splashing it with water and then putting it in the bathtub. Synonyms: verb: Fester, Suppurate, Fret. Grate. Annoy.

Haggle

(v) - Argue about prices. Dispute or bargain persistently, esp. over the cost of something. A period of such bargaining. I prefer to shop in a store that has a one-price policy because, whenever I ___ with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased. Synonyms: verb: bargain, chaffer, huckster, higgle, palter, dicker.

Supplicate

(v) - Ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly, as in prayer. Synonyms: (v): Beg, Entreat, Pray, Plead, Implore, Beseech, Adjure, Invoke, Crave, Appeal, Solicit, Petition, Conjure, Importunity.

Tout

(v) - Attempt to sell (something), typically by pestering people in an aggressive or bold manner. Attempt to persuade people of the merits of (someone or something). Advertize in strongly positive terms. show off. someone who advertises for customers in an especially brazen way.

Impute

(v) - Attribute or credit to; Attribute (responsibility or fault) to a cause or source. ASCRIBE. Represent (something, esp. something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; The verb __ can be used to blame someone for doing something bad, give credit for good work, or just tell it like it is, like when you __ your lateness to my not telling you where to meet me. Synonyms: verb: Attribute, Ascribe, Accuse, Accredit.

Temporize

(v) - Avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time. Synonyms: (v): Procrastinate, balk, Delay, Equivocate, Hedge, Hesitate, Stall, Stall for time.

Shirk

(v) - Avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility, work). MALINGER. Be unwilling to do (something difficult). Brian has a strong sense of duty; he would never ____ any responsibility.

Pummel

(v) - BEAT. Strike repeatedly with the fists. Criticize severely. The severity with which he was ___ was indicated by the bruises he displayed on his head and face.

Rusticate

(v) - Banish to the country; Dwell in the country. I like city life so much that I can never understand how people can ___ in the suburbs.

Bode

(v) - Be an omen or Portent of a particular outcome. The gloomy skies and the sulfurious odors from the mineral springs seemed to -- evil to those who settled in the area. Synonyms: verb: presage, portend, foretell, augur, predict, forebode, omen, foreshadow, prophesy, prognosticate, divine, betoken.

Gestate

(v) - Be pregnant with. Carry a fetus in the womb from conception to birth. Evolve, as in prenatal growth. Develop over a long period. Have the idea for While this scheme was being ___ by the conspirators, they maintained complete silence about their intentions.

Lambaste

(v) - Beat; Thrash verbally or physically. Criticize (someone or something) harshly. It was painful to watch the champion ___ his opponent, tearing into him mercilessly. Synonyms: verb: Beat, Thrash, Trounce.

Genuflect

(v) - Bend the knee as in worship. KNEEL Lower one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect. Show deference or servility. A proud democrat, he refused to ___ to any man.

Condescend

(v) - Bestow courtesies with a superior air. Show feelings of superiority; be patronizing. Do something in a haughty way, as though it is below one's dignity or level of importance. "The king __ to grant an audience to the friends of the condemned man." Synonyms: verb: deign, vouchsafe, stoop.

Suborn

(v) - Bribe or otherwise induce (someone) to commit an unlawful act such as perjury. Procure (false testimony or perjury). Synonyms: (v): Bribe, Corrupt, Tamper, Nobble, Buy, Instigate, Foment, Abet.

Subjugate

(v) - Bring under domination or control, esp. by conquest. Make someone or something subordinate to. put down by force or intimidation. Synonyms: verb: Conquer, Subdue, Subject, Enslave, Vanquish, Submit, Overpower.

Smolder

(v) - Burn slowly with smoke but no flame. Be liable to break out at any moment. Have strong suppressed feelings. Exist in a suppressed or concealed state. The rags ___ for hours before they burst into flame.

Convene

(v) - Call people together for (a meeting). Assemble or cause to assemble for a common purpose. "Because much is needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to __in special session by January 15." Synonyms: verb: Assemble, Convoke, Summon, Muster, Meet, Call, Gather, Congregate.

Perpetrate

(v) - Carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action). Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation. It's possible to __ a good deed, but not likely. That's because ___ means to commit or be responsible for something — usually something mischievous or bad. Synonyms: verb: Commit, Perform, Make.

Slough

(v) - Cast off. Shed or remove (a layer of dead skin). Get rid of (something undesirable or no longer required). Each spring, the snake ____ off its skin. When you ____ , you get rid of the rough. To ___ is to remove an outer layer, like filing dry skin from feet. You can ___ away emotions too, like the heebie-jeebies you get thinking about dead skin from people's feet. Ew.

Disband

(v) - Cause (an organized group) to break up. (of an organized group) Break up and stop functioning as an organization. You know how rock bands are always forming and then breaking up? When they break up, they __ . The word ___ refers to any group or unit of folks who decide to go their separate ways. The chess club __ after its disastrous initial season. Synonyms: verb: Dissolve, Disperse, Dismiss, Break up, Dissipate

Veer

(v) - Change direction suddenly or abruptly; Suddenly change an opinion, subject, type of behavior. to change direction clockwise. Synonyms: (v): turn, curve, cut, sheer, slew, slue, swerve, deviate, diverge.

Transmute

(v) - Change in form, nature, or substance. Change in outward structure or looks. Synonyms: (v): Transform, Convert, Change, Metamorphose, Turn, Alter, Transfigure

Petrify

(v) - Change into stone. make rigid and set into a conventional pattern. Cause to become stonelike or stiff or dazed and stunned. If you scare someone so much they can't move, you ___ them. ___ is to make something like a stone or to literally turn to stone. Synonyms: verb: Fossilize.

Swerve

(v) - Change or cause to change direction abruptly. (n) - An abrupt change of direction. Synonyms: (v): Deviate, Digress, Deflect. (n): Deviation, Deflection, Digression.

Stanch

(v) - Check flow of blood. Stop the flow of a liquid. WATERTIGHT. It is imperative that we ___ the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries.

Masticate

(v) - Chew. "dentition affects how well food is ___ and absorbed" We must ___ our food carefully and slowly in order to avoid digestive disorders. synonyms: Chew, Munch, Champ, Chomp, Crunch, Eat; RUMINATE, Chew the cud.

Clamber

(v) - Climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet. An awkward and laborious climb or movement. "She -- over the wall." Synonyms: verb: Climb, Scramble, Scale.

Collate

(v) - Collect and combine (texts, information, or data). Compare and Analyse (two or more sources of information). "They -- the newly found manuscripts to determine their age." Synonyms: verb: Compare, Contrast, Confront.

Memorialize

(v) - Commemorate. Preserve the memory of. Let us ___ his great contribution by dedicating this library in his honor.

Vie

(v) - Compete eagerly with someone in order to do or achieve something. Synonyms: verb: compete, rival, contend, emulate, contest

Consummate

(v) - Complete. Make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse. Complete (a transaction or attempt); Make perfect. (adj) - Showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect. "I have never seem anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; you must be a ___ idiot." Synonyms: adjective: perfect, complete, thorough, utter, absolute, accomplished. verb: accomplish, complete, fulfill, fulfil, finish, perfect, achieve.

Secrete

(v) - Conceal; Hide. (of a cell, gland, or organ) Produce and discharge (a substance). Synonyms: verb: Conceal, Hide, Excrete, Mask.

Comport

(v) - Conduct oneself; Behave. Accord with; Agree with. Behave in a certain manner. Behave well or properly. "He ___ himself with great dignity." Synonyms: verb: behave, agree, deport oneself, conduct oneself, act.

Fluster

(v) - Confuse. Make (someone) agitated or confused An agitated or confused state. The teacher's sudden question ___ him and he stammered his reply. Synonyms: verb: confuse noun: Excitement, Confusion, Flurry.

Hatch

(v) - Conspire to devise (a plot or plan). Cause (a young animal) to emerge from its egg. (n) - Deck opening; Lid covering a deck opening. The latch on the ___ failed to catch, so the __ remained unlatched. Synonyms: verb: incubate, brood noun: hatchway

Contravene

(v) - Contradict; Oppose: Infringe on or transgress. Offend against the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct). conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), especially to its detriment. "Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to ___ his will by eloping with Robert Browning." Synonyms: verb: Infringe, Violate, Transgress, Break.

Foil

(v) - Contrast. Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of. You can serve as a ___ to someone if you show them to be better than you by contrast. If you can't dance but your friend Lisa can, you can be a ___ to Lisa's grace. In "Star Wars," dark, evil Darth Vader is a perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker. Synonyms: verb: Frustrate, Thwart, Prevent, Defeat.

Reconcile

(v) - Correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrel. Come to terms. Bring into consonance or accord. Reach for the verb ___ to make different things come together or resolve a matter.

Hurtle

(v) - Crash; Rush. Move at a great speed, typically in a wildly uncontrolled manner Cause to move in such a way The runaway train ___ toward disaster. Synonyms: verb: Dash.

Denigrate

(v) - Criticize unfairly; disparage. Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone. All attempts to __ the character of our late President have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory. Synonyms: verb: Blacken, Slander, Defame, Vilify, Asperse, Malign, Calumniate, Disparage, Decry, Backbite.

Snivel

(v) - Cry and sniffle. Run at the nose; Snuffle. Whine. Don't you come ____ to me complaining about your big brother. Sometimes, when you really want something, you might resort to whining and blubbering to get it — in other words, you'll ___ . It's never pretty, so try to keep your dignity, and don't ___!

Hew

(v) - Cut to pieces with ax or sword. The cavalry rushed into melee and ___ the enemy with their swords. Synonyms: verb: chop, cut, hack, carve, fell

Undermine

(v) - Damage or weaken. destroy property or hinder normal operations. hollow out as if making a cave or opening. Synonyms: (v): sap, mine, subvert, cave.

Sully

(v) - Damage the purity or integrity of; defile. Synonyms: (v): Taint, Stain, Besmirch, Tarnish, Smear, Smirch, Smudge, Foul, Defile, Blot, Befoul, Pollute, Spot, Soil.

Besmirch

(v) - Damage the reputation of (someone or something) in the opinion of others. Make (something) dirty or discolored. The scandalous remarks in the newspaper -- the reputations of every member of the society. Synonyms: verb: soil, defile, stain, smirch, sully, smear, tarnish, besmear, pollute, foul, smudge, befoul.

Hoodwink

(v) - Deceive; delude. Deceive or trick (someone). Having been ___ once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car. Synonyms: verb: DECEIVE, Cheat, Bamboozle, Trick, Delude, Beguile, Swindle, Fool, Dupe, Mislead.

Garnish

(v) - Decorate. Decorate or embellish (something, especially food). (n) - A small amount of food used to decorate other food.. "___ each serving with a dollop of sour cream" Parsley was used to ___ the boiled potato. synonyms: Decorate, Adorn, Trim, Dress, Ornament, Embellish, Enhance, Grace, Beautify, Prettify.

Consign

(v) - Deliver (something) to a person's custody, typically in order for it to be sold. Send (goods) by a public carrier . Assign; commit decisively or permanently. "The court __ the child to her paternal grandmother's care." Synonyms: verb: commit, send, dispatch, entrust, deposit

Render

(v) - Deliver; Provide; Represent. Provide or give (a service, help, etc.). He ___ aid to the needy and indigent.

Delineate

(v) - Describe or portray (something) precisely. Indicate the exact position of (a border or boundary). Synonyms: (v): Describe, Depict, Sketch, Outline, Picture, Adumbrate, Portray, Draw, Paint, Depicture.

Depose

(v) - Dethrone; Remove from office suddenly and forcefully. Testify to or give (evidence) on oath, typically in a written statement. Question (a witness) in deposition. When you force someone in authority out of office — a politician, a king, or a cheerleading captain — you ___ them. The army attempted to __ the king and set up a military government. Synonyms: verb: Testify, Dismiss.

Exhume

(v) - Dig out (something buried, esp. a corpse) from the ground. Expose (a land surface) that was formerly buried. Because of the rumor that he had been poisoned, his body was __ in order that an autopsy might be performed. Synonyms: verb: Disinter, Unearth, Disentomb.

Delve

(v) - Dig; Investigate. The verb __ means to dig into, loosen, or investigate. She __ into her family's history and discovered an inventor, a checkers champion, and a circus equestrian in her ancestry. Synonyms: verb: Dig, Excavate noun: Hollow, Cavity, Hole, Cave, Pit

Dwindle

(v) - Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength. They spent so much money that their funds __ to nothing. Synonyms: verb: Diminish, Wane, Decrease, Lessen, Decline, Abate, Shrink.

Incapacitate

(v) - Disable. Prevent from functioning in a normal way. Deprive (someone) of their legal capacity. Make unable to perform a certain action. Injure permanently. If you are ___ , you can't do what you normally do, what you're being asked to do — or perhaps, much of anything. To ___ someone is to cause him or her to be unable to function normally, like a bad cold that ___ you. Synonyms: verb: Disable, Disqualify.

Exude

(v) - Discharge; Give forth. To __ is to give off small amounts, usually of liquids or gases, through small openings, such as pores. Think of how you __ sweat after a workout. The maple syrup is obtained from the sap that the trees __ in early spring. Synonyms: verb: Ooze, Excrete.

Discombobulated

(v) - Disconcert or confuse (someone); discomposed. Walking through the door to your house only to find out all your friends have gathered to throw you a surprise party can leave you feeling happy though somewhat ___ . If something __ you, it confuses and slightly pains you. The novice square dancer became so ___ that he wandered into wrong set.

Faze

(v) - Disconcert; dismay or Disturb (someone) No crisis could ___ the resourceful hotel manager. Synonyms: verb: Embarrass, Disturb, Perturb, Disconcert, Confound, Distract.

Disconcert

(v) - Disturb the composure of; unsettle. Confuse; Upset; Embarrass. To ___ is to unsettle someone, make them feel confused and out of sorts. It's a mixture of to embarrass and to creep out. The lawyer was __ by the evidence produced by her adversary. Synonyms: verb: Confuse, Confound, Abash, Baffle, Embarrass, DISCOMFIT, Puzzle, Bewilder, Perturb, Perplex, Disturb, Nonplus, Discompose.

Deign

(v) - Do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity. Condescend to give (something). She did not __ to answer the maid's question. __ means to reluctantly agree to do something you consider beneath you. When threatened with the loss of her fortune, an heiress might __ to get a job, but she might look down her nose at the people she'd have to work with. Synonyms: verb: Condescend, Vouchsafe.

Primp

(v) - Dress or groom oneself with care. Spend time making minor adjustments to one's hair, make-up, or clothes. She ____ for hours before a dance.

Imbibe

(v) - Drink alcohol. Drink In. Absorb or assimilate ideas or knowledge. (esp. of seeds) Absorb (water) into ultramicroscopic spaces or pores. Place seeds in water in order to absorb it. ___ is a fancy word for "drink." If you need to ___ ten cups of coffee just to get out of the house, you might have a caffeine problem. The dry soil ___ the rain quickly. Synonyms: verb: Absorb, Drink, Soak up, Drink in, Soak, Assimilate.

Gloat

(v) - Dwell on one's own success or another's misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure. Malicious satisfaction. If you ___ , you express great satisfaction at the misfortune of others. If your team scores a big win, it would be better not to __. Be happy for your win, but don't laugh at their loss.

Gorge

(v) - Eat a large amount greedily; fill oneself with food. A deep ravine (usually with a river running through it). Overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself The gluttonous guest ____ himself with food as though he had not eaten for days. Your ___ refers to your throat, your stomach, and/or the passage between the two. Use this word figuratively when you want to indicate disgust. Your ____ will most likely rise at the sight of the roasted monkey knuckles. Synonyms: verb: gormandize, gobble, devour, guzzle, cram noun: ravine, throat, gully, gullet

Scintillate

(v) - Emit flashes of light; SPARKLE. Fluoresce momentarily when struck by a photon or charged particle. Synonyms: verb: Sparkle, Twinkle, Glitter, Glisten, Glint, Gleam, Flash, Shimmer, Spark, Glister.

Underscore

(v) - Emphasize. Give extra weight to (a communication). Draw a line or lines underneath to call attention to Synonyms: (v): Underline, Emphasize, Stress, Accentuate, Accent, Punctuate, Italicize. (n): underline

Endue

(v) - Endow or provide with a quality or ability. He was __ with a lion's courage. Synonyms: verb: endow, indue, vest.

Incarnate

(v) - Endowed with flesh; Personified. (esp. of a deity or spirit) Embodied in flesh; in human form Represented in the ultimate or most extreme form. Your attitude is so fiendish that you must be a devil ___. Synonyms: adjective: Embodied verb: Embody, Personify, Epitomize.

Disport

(v) - Enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; Frolic. Amuse. A pastime, game, or sport. Play boisterously. ___ means to play in a carefree way or to amuse yourself in a lighthearted fashion. Synonyms: verb: Recreate

Savor

(v) - Enjoy; Have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality. Relishing his triumph, Costner especially ___ the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure. Whether it's a feeling of joy or a piece of pecan pie — when you ___ something, you enjoy it to the fullest.

Conscript

(v) - Enlist (someone) compulsorily, typically into the armed services.A person enlisted compulsorily. "Did Rambo volunteer to fight in Vietnam, or was he a __, drafted against his will?" Synonyms: verb: enlist, draft, levy, recruit, draught, induct noun: draftee, recruit.

Mire

(v) - Entangle; Stick in swampy ground. Cause to become stuck in mud. Their rear wheels became ___ in mud.

Regale

(v) - Entertain. entertain or amuse (someone) with talk. John __ us with tales of his adventures in Africa.

Expunge

(v) - Erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant) To __ is to cross out or eliminate. After Nicholas proved he had been in school on the day in question, the absence was __ from his record. Synonyms: verb: Obliterate, Delete, Erase, Efface, Rub out, Wipe out, Strike out, Scratch out, Scratch, Deface.

Ensconce

(v) - Establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place The parents thought that their children were __ safely in the private school and decided to leave for Europe.

Appraise

(v) - Estimate the value of. It is difficult to appraise old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless. Synonyms: (v): Evaluate, Estimate, Assess, Value, Rate, Appreciate, Measure, Judge, Gauge, Price, Esteem, Prize.

Explicate

(v) - Explain; Interpret; Clarify. Harry Levin ___ James Joyce's novels with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake seemed comprehensible to his students. Synonyms: verb: Explain, Expound, Interpret, Elucidate, Develop.

Debunk

(v) - Expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief);Reduce the inflated reputation of (someone), esp. by ridicule. When you __ something you show it to be false. Columbus __ the idea that the world was flat: he showed clearly that it was round. Synonyms: verb: Unmask, Expose.

Relapse

(v) - Fall back or sink again .Take a turn for the worse. (of a sick or injured person) deteriorate after a period of improvement. Return to (a less active or a worse state). The economy __ into a depression from the peak. Worsen, Deteriorate, Degenerate, Sicken, Weaken, Fail, Sink.

Splice

(v) - Fasten together; Unite. Join or connect (a rope or ropes) by interweaving the strands at the ends. Before you ___ two strips of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly. Interweave, Braid, Plait, Entwine, Intertwine, Interlace, Knit, Mesh, Join, Unite, Connect, Bind, Fasten, Tie.

Repine

(v) - Feel or express discontent; fret. The verb ___ describes expressing gloom or discontent. Brooding, fretful, and sad — these are the traits of people who __ at their circumstances in life. Synonyms: verb: Complain, Grumble, Murmur. Mope, Languish, Eat one's heart out, be/feel miserable, be/feel upset, be/feel despondent, Brood; Lament, Grieve, Mourn, Sorrow, Pine, Agonize.

Deplore

(v) - Feel or express strong disapproval of (something). The verb __ is used to express strong disapproval of something. If you really, really hate the way your mom makes meatloaf, then it's safe to say you __ it. Although I __ the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely. Synonyms: verb: Bewail, Regret, Mourn, Lament, Bemoan, Rue, Weep.

Replenish

(v) - Fill (something) up again. Restore (a stock or supply of something) to the former level or condition. To ____ something is to refill it. If you have a pet pooch, you're probably obligated to replenish his food bowl to avoid being barked at incessantly. Synonyms: verb: Refill, Fill.

Circumvent

(v) - Find a way around (an obstacle). Overcome (a problem or difficulty) in a clever and surreptitious way. "In order to -- the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign." Synonyms: verb: Deceive, Cheat, Outwit.

Upbraid

(v) - Find fault with (someone); severely scold; Reprimand, Censure. Express criticism towards. to find fault with or reproach severely. Synonyms: (v): rebuke, reproach, reprove, chide, reprehend, scold, blame, twit, reprimand, objurgate, censure.

Flux

(v) - Flowing; series of changes. The noun ___ describes something that constantly changes. If your likes, dislikes, attitudes, dreams, and even friends are changing all the time, you may be in ___. While conditions are in such a state of ___, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair. Synonyms: verb: Run, Melt, Fuse, Flow, Thaw, Stream, Liquefy noun: Flow, Stream, Tide, Flood.

Flit

(v) - Fly; Dart lightly; Pass swiftly by. Move swiftly and lightly. Leave one's home or move, typically secretly so as to escape creditors or obligations. Like a bee ___ from flower to flower, Rose ___ from one boyfriend to the next. Synonyms: verb: fly, flutter

Fodder

(v) - Food, esp. dried hay or feed, for cattle and other livestock. A person or thing regarded only as material for a specific use. One of Nancy's chores at the ranch was to put fresh supplies of ___ in the horses' stalls. Synonyms: verb: Feed. noun: Forage, Feed, Provender.

Extrude

(v) - Force or push out. Thrust or force out. Shape (a material such as metal or plastic) by forcing it through a die. Lava was being __ from the volcano Synonyms: verb: Expel. Squeeze out, Express, Press out, Eject, Release, Give off, Emit, Void, Exude, Excrete.

Prognosticate

(v) - Foretell or prophesy (an event in the future) Synonyms: verb: Forecast, Foretell, Predict, Presage, Augur, Prophesy, divine, Forebode, PORTEND, Foreshadow, Bode, Omen.

Granulate

(v) - Form (something) into grains or particles. (of a substance) Take the form of grains or particles.Form into grains. Sugar that has been __dissolves more readily than lump sugar. Synonyms: verb: grain

Discourse

(v) - Formal disscussion; Conversation If you use the word ___, you are describing a formal and intense discussion or debate. Synonyms: verb: talk, speak, converse noun: talk, speech, conversation, oration, address, lecture

Intimidate

(v) - Frighten (someone), esp. in order to make them do what one wants. to make timid; fill with fear. Synonyms: (v): Frighten, cow, daunt, browbeat, scare, threaten, Appal, Overawe.

Titter

(v) - Give a short, half-suppressed laugh. Synonyms: verb: giggle, snigger, chuckle, tehee, snicker noun: giggle, snigger, snicker, tehee, cackle, chuckle

Foreshadow

(v) - Give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigure. Be a warning or indication of (a future event) In retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin's defiance of the attempted coup ____ his emergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic. Synonyms: verb: Presage, Portend, Forebode, Augur, Bode, Prognosticate, Betoken, Predict, Foretell, ADUMBRATE. noun: Presage, Omen, Augury.

Enjoin

(v) - Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority. To ___ is to issue an urgent and official order. If the government tells loggers to stop cutting down trees, they are ___ the loggers to stop. Synonyms: verb: Order, Command, PRESCRIBE, Ordain, Prohibit, Forbid, Decree, Tell, Bid, Dictate, Direct, Ban.

Enrapture

(v) - Give intense pleasure or joy to. Please intensely. The audience was __ by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration. Synonyms: verb: ravish, enchant, charm, fascinate, delight, bewitch, ENTRANCE.

Forgo

(v) - Give up; Do without. Omit or decline to take (something pleasant or valuable); go without. Refrain from. Determined to lose weight for the summer, Ida decided to __ dessert until she could fit into a size eight again. Synonyms: verb: Renounce, Forego, Relinquish, Waive, Resign, Abnegate.

Suffuse

(v) - Gradually spread through or over. Permeate, Spread over, Spread throughout, Pervade, Imbue, Fill, A blush ___ her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair.

Pander

(v) - Gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.). Yield (to); give satisfaction to A pimp. Arrange for sexual partners for others. A person who assists the baser urges or evil designs of others. To ___ is to appease or gratify, and often in a negative, self-serving way. Synonyms: verb: Procure. noun: Procurer.

Maul

(v) - Handle roughly. Treat (something) savagely or roughly. Handle (someone) roughly, especially for sexual gratification. The rock star was ___ by his overexcited fans. Synonyms:: Molest, Feel, Fondle, Handle roughly, Handle clumsily, Manhandle, Paw, Touch up, Goose.

Ensue

(v) - Happen or occur afterward or as a result. The evils that __ were the direct result of the miscalculations of the leaders. Synonyms: verb: follow, result, succeed.

Incubate

(v) - Hatch; Scheme. Sit on (eggs). grow under conditions that promote development When a chicken sits on an egg, it ___ it. To ___ means to keep something safe and warm so that it can grow. Synonyms: verb: Hatch, Brood, Sit.

Flinch

(v) - Hesitate; Shrink. Draw back, as with fear or pain. To ___ is to react to pain by wincing, pulling away, or cringing. Often it's used to describe a person who shows a moment of weakness or fright: he was so tough, I thought he'd never ___, but snakes really freak him out. He did not ___ in the face of danger but fought back bravely. Synonyms: verb: Recoil, Wince, Blench. noun: Wince.

Scotch

(v) - Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of. Make a small cut or score into. adj - Avoiding waste.

Thwart

(v) - Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of. To oppose successfully. Prevent from accomplishing a purpose. A crosspiece spreading the gunnels of a boat. Used as a seat in a rowboat. Synonyms: (adj): Transverse, Transversal, Traverse, Cross (v): Frustrate, Foil, Prevent, Cross, Obstruct (adv): Across, Athwart.

Mortify

(v) - Humiliate; Punish the flesh. Cause to feel shame; Hurt the pride of. Cause (someone) to feel very embarrassed or ashamed. Practice self-denial of one's body and appetites She was so ___ by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears. To ___ someone is to cause them extreme embarrassment. Your mother may not have been trying to ___ you when she showed up at your senior prom with a bunch of unicorn balloons, but she did.

Immure

(v) - Imprison; Shut up in confinement. For the two weeks before the examination, the student ____ himself in his room and concentrated upon his studies. Synonyms: verb: Incarcerate, CONFINE, Imprison, Shut in, JAIL, Gaol.

Subsume

(v) - Include; Encompass. Contain or include Include or absorb (something) in something else. Does the general theory of relativity contradict Newtonian physics, or is Newton's law of gravity ____ into Einstein's larger scheme?

Apprise

(v) - Inform or tell (someone). When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip. Synonyms: (v): Apprize, Inform, Notify, Advise, Acquaint, Instruct, Announce, Tell, Report.

Impinge

(v) - Infringe; Touch; Collide with. Advance beyond the usual limit. Have an effect or impact, esp. a negative one. Whether you have a habit of standing too close when talking to others or bringing luggage on a crowded rush-hour subway car, you'll find people don't like it when you ___ on their personal space. How could they be married without ___ on one another's freedom? Synonyms: verb: Collide, Hit, Strike, Bump.

Interpolate

(v) - Insert between. Estimate the value of. She talked so much that I could not ___ a single remark. Synonyms: verb: Insert, Interpose.

Sequester

(v) - Isolate or hide away. Confiscate or sieze. Take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority. The word ___describes being kept away from others. If your sister tells you to stay out of the way so she can cook dinner for her new boyfriend, you might __ yourself in your room. Synonyms:: Confiscate, Seize, Sequestrate, Expropriate, Impound, Commandeer, Arrogate.

Behoove

(v) - It is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on. It is appropriate or suitable; it befits. In this time of crisis, it -- all of us to remain calm and await the instructions of our superiors. Synonyms: verb: need, befit

Debauch

(v) - It means to destroy the morals of someone. If you ___ a young girl, you introduce her to immoral activities. A ___ is also an excessive amount of eating or drinking. A vicious newspaper can __ public ideals. Synonyms: verb: Corrupt, Deprave, Pervert, Spoil, Vitiate, Seduce noun: Profligacy.

Beleaguer

(v) - Lay siege to. Beset with difficulties. As soon as the city was -- , the life became more subdued as the citizens began their long wait for outside assitance. Synonyms: verb: besiege, BESET, surround, invest, encircle, environ.

Loll

(v) - Lounge about. Sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way. Hang loosely; droop. Be lazy or idle. Stick out (one's tongue) so that it hangs loosely out of the mouth. They ___ around in their chairs watching television. Synonyms: verb: Lounge, Sprawl.

Concoct

(v) - Make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients. Create or devise (a story or plan). "How did the inventive chef ever -- such strange dish?" Synonyms: verb: Fabricate, Invent, Contrive, Manufacture, Make up, Cook up, Prepare.

Facilitate

(v) - Make (an action or process) easy or easier. Make less difficult. He tried to ___ repayment of the loan by getting a part-time job. Synonyms: verb: Relieve, Ease, Alleviate, Simplify, Lighten.

Extenuate

(v) - Make (guilt or an offense) seem less serious or more forgivable. Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of. Make (someone) thin. It is easier for us to __ our own shortcomings than those of others. Synonyms: verb: Mitigate, Palliate, Allay, Reduce, Abate, Relieve, Diminish, Attenuate, Alleviate, Ease, Lessen, Soften.

Perturb

(v) - Make (someone) anxious or unsettled. Subject (a system, moving object, or process) to an influence tending to alter its normal or regular state or path. Synonyms: verb: Disturb, Trouble, Worry, Unsettle, Upset, Disconcert, Agitate, Disquiet.

Discomfit

(v) - Make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed. Put to rout; Defeat; Disconcert. To ___ someone is to make them feel uncomfortable or upset. An easy way to __ another person is to use the age-old, childish trick of ignoring them. (Of course, we're sure you would never do that, right? Right?) This ruse will __the enemy. Synonyms: verb: Disconcert, Embarrass, Confound, Confuse, Defeat, Baffle.

Stupefy

(v) - Make (someone) unable to think or feel properly. Astonish and shock. Synonyms: (v): Stun, Daze, Flabbergast, Astound, Amaze, Dumbfound

Drone

(v) - Make a continuous low humming sound. Idle person; Male bee. Content to let his wife support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a __. Synonyms: verb: hum, buzz, whir, zoom, whirr noun: buzz, hum, whirr

Limn

(v) - Make a portrait of. Trace the shape of. DELINEATE. ___ is a verb that means to represent or portray. It is most often used to describe the act of drawing or painting a portrait, but it can also refer to describing or outlining a scene or event. Synonyms: verb: Paint, Picture, Depict, Portray, Draw.

Atone

(v) - Make amends or reparation. He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime. Synonyms: (v): Expiate, Redeem.

Stipulate

(v) - Make express conditions, specify. Demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of an agreement. Before agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the president ___ that NATO teams be allowed to inspect Soviet bases.

Indemnify

(v) - Make secure against loss. Compensate (someone) for harm or loss. Secure against future loss, damage, or liability; Give security for. make amends for; pay compensation for. To pay compensation for a loss, damages, or similar expense is to ___. "The insurance company ___its customers for their claims after the severe storm — one customer lost three cars, a row boat, and a golf cart." Synonyms: verb: Compensate, Recompense, Insure, Recoup, Secure, Ensure, Assure, Reimburse, Underwrite.

Blanch

(v) - Make white or pale by extracting color; Bleach. (of a person) Grow pale from shock, fear, or a similar emotion. Although age had -- his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic. Synonyms: verb: whiten, bleach, pale, blench.

Gerrymander

(v) - Manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favour one party or class. Some politicians change the boundaries of their voting districts in order to benefit themselves or their political party. To manipulate the boundaries like this — often viewed as unfair — is to ___. ____ this area in order to favor the majority party.

Mete

(v) - Measure; Distribute. Dispense or allot justice, a punishment, or harsh treatment. He tried to be impartial in his efforts to __ out justice.

Lull

(v) - Moment of calm. Make calm or still. Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a ___ in the rain. See ___, think "calm." It could be the noun form (like "the ___ before the storm") or the verb: one can ___ someone by calming them (as in ___ a baby to sleep with a lullaby). Synonyms: verb: Calm, Pacify, Soothe, Appease, Allay, Quiet, Still, Quieten, Hush, Tranquillize. noun: Calm.

Skulk

(v) - Move furtively and secretly. Keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive. He __ through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends.

Maim

(v) - Mutilate; Injure. Wound or injure (a person or animal) so that part of the body is permanently damaged. The hospital could not take care of all who had been mangled or ___in the railroad accident. "100,000 soldiers were killed or ___" synonyms: Injure, Wound, Hurt, Disable, Incapacitate, Impair, Mar, Mutilate, Lacerate, Disfigure, Deform.

Glean

(v) - Obtain (information) from various sources, often with difficulty. Collect gradually. Gather (leftover grain) after a harvest. Gather, as of natural products. After the crops had been harvested by the machines, the peasants were permitted to ___ the wheat left in the fields. Synonyms: verb: Gather, Collect, Pick up, Pick.

Extort

(v) - Obtain (something) by force, threats, or other unfair means. Wring from; get money by threats, etc. The blackmailer ___ money from his victim. Synonyms: verb: Wring, Exact, BLACKMAIL, force.

Immolate

(v) - Offer as a sacrifice. Kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp. by burning. The tribal kind offered to ___ his daughter to quiet the angry gods. Synonyms: verb: Sacrifice, Victimize.

Ken

(v) - One's range of knowledge or sight. Know. Recognize; Identify. I cannot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ___. Synonyms: verb: Know, Recognize, See, Wot, Cognize, Understand. noun: View, Knowledge, Horizon.

Controvert

(v) - Oppose with arguments; Contradict; Deny the truth of (something). Argue about (something). "To __ your theory will require much time but it is essential that we disprove it." Synonyms: verb: Dispute, Contest, Contradict, Deny, Debate, Gainsay, Argue, Refute.

Gouge

(v) - Overcharge or swindle (someone). Obtain money by swindling or extortion. Make a rough hole or indentation in (a surface), especially so as to mar or disfigure it. Cut or force something out roughly or brutally. In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to ___ each other's eyes out. Synonyms: verb: hollow out noun: chisel

Surmount

(v) - Overcome (a difficulty or obstacle). Get the better of. Stand or be placed on top of. He had to ___ many obstacles in order to succeed. Conquer, Get over, Prevail over, Triumph over, Beat, Vanquish, Master.

Rave

(v) - Overwhelmingly favorable review. Speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm or admiration. Talk incoherently, as if one were delirious or mad. Though critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a total ___.

Pillage

(v) - PLUNDER. rob a (place) using violence, especially in wartime. The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins. Ransack, Raid, Loot, Rifle, Sack, Strip, Deprive, Denude, Devastate, Ravage, Harry, Maraud.

Mollycoddle

(v) - Pamper; Indulge excessively. Treat (someone) in an indulgent or overprotective way. Don't ___the boy, Maud! You'll spoil him.

Dismember

(v) - Partition or divide up (a territory or organization). Cut into small parts. When the Austrian Empire was ____, several new countries were established.

Devolve

(v) - Pass on or delegate to another. Be inherited by. Grow worse. You've probably heard about that organisms evolve over time. Well, life is complicated, and sometimes things __ instead — to ___ is to get worse instead of better. It __ upon us, the survivors, to arrange peace terms with the enemy. Synonyms: verb: transfer.

Impale

(v) - Pierce. pierce with a sharp stake or point. Kill by piercing with a spear or sharp pole He was ___ by the spear hurled by his adversary. The verb ___ means to pierce an object with a sharp stick. When you're preparing shish kebabs, you __ chunks of marinated vegetables and meat on pointy metal skewers and then cook them on a grill. Synonyms: verb: Pierce, Transfix.

Sheathe

(v) - Place into a case. Put (a weapon such as a knife or sword) into a sheath. Encase (something) in a close-fitting or protective covering. As soon as he recognized the approaching men, he ___ his dagger and hailed them as friends.

Juxtapose

(v) - Place side by side. Place or deal with close together for contrasting effect Comparison will be easier if you ___ the two objects.

Entreat

(v) - Plead; Ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something. She __ her father to let her stay out till midnight. Synonyms: verb: IMPLORE, Beseech, BEG, Supplicate, Pray, Plead, Adjure, Solicit, Conjure, Crave, Petition.

Prod

(v) - Poke; Stir up; Urge. To push against gently. Poke or thrust abruptly. Urge on; Cause to act. A teacher might use a verbal ___ when students aren't participating in class. A prod is an encouragement, like the threat of a quiz. Just hope the teacher doesn't use the kind of ___ a rancher uses to keep cattle moving! If you ____ him hard enough, he'll eventually clean his room.

Muse

(v) - Ponder. be absorbed in thought. Gaze thoughtfully at. Say to oneself in a thoughtful manner. For a moment he __ about the beauty of the scene, but his thought soon changed as he recalled his own personal problems.

Stymie

(v) - Prevent or hinder the progress of. a thwarting and distressing situation. to hinder, block, or thwart.

Inhibit

(v) - Prevent or prohibit (someone) from doing something. Synonyms: (v): prohibit, prevent, hinder, restrain, impede, debar, forbid, check, obstruct, hamper, interdict, suppress

Avert

(v) - Prevent; Turn away. Turn away (one's eyes or thoughts). She -- her eyes from the dead cat on the highway. Synonyms: (v): Prevent, Divert, Avoid, Head off, Stave off, Preclude, Obviate.

Protract

(v) - Prolong. Lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer. To ____ something is to stretch it out. If you have a disagreement with a friend that you continue for weeks and weeks, you are ____ the argument. Seeking to delay the union members' vote, the management team tried to ___ the negotiations endlessly, but the union representatives saw through their strategy.

Promulgate

(v) - Promote or make widely known (an idea or cause). Make known by official proclamation or publication. As soon as the Civil Service Commission ___ the names of the successful candidates, we shall begin to hire members of our staff.

Prevail

(v) - Prove more powerful or superior. Triumph over Induce. persuade (someone) to do something. be widespread or current in a particular area or at a particular time. He tried to ___ on her to type his essays for him.

Defray

(v) - Provide money to pay (a cost or expense). If your mother says she will __ the cost of your next move, say thank you. She means she will take on some of the expenses for you. Her employer offered to __ the costs of her postgraduate education. Synonyms: verb: Pay, Settle, Disburse, Remunerate.

Skimp

(v) - Provide scantily. Live very economically. They were forced to ___ on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter.

Goad

(v) - Provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction. Drive (an animal) with a spiked stick. (n) - a spiked stick used for driving cattle. A thing that stimulates someone into action. A ___ is a pointy stick or other instrument used to prod something along. To ____ is to poke something with that pointy stick. Either way, the pointiness is really essential for making things leap into action. Synonyms: verb: incite, prod, spur, stimulate, provoke, impel, prompt, urge, egg on noun: spur, stimulus, incentive, prod, impulse, inducement

Entrance

(v) - Put under a spell; carry away with emotion. Shafts of sunlight on a wall could __ her and leave her spellbound. Synonyms: verb: Enchant, Fascinate, Ravish, Charm, Bewitch, ENRAPTURE

Rummage

(v) - Ransack; Thoroughly search. Search unsystematically and untidily through something. When we ___ through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days.

Chastise

(v) - Rebuke or reprimand severely. Punish, especially by beating. Synonyms: verb: Castigate, Punish, Scourge, Penalize, Correct, Discipline. Scold, Upbraid, Berate, Reprimand, Reprove, Rebuke, Admonish, Chide, Censure, Lambaste, Llecture, Criticize.

Recuperate

(v) - Recover from illness or exertion. Recover or regain (something lost or taken) Synonyms: verb: Recover, Convalesce, Retrieve, Rally, Regain.

Reprise

(v) - Recurrent action; Musical repetition; Repeat performance. Repeat an earlier theme of a composition. ___ means "repeat an earlier role." If you're asked to ___ your role as "kid entertainer" at the annual family reunion, that means people want you to do it again this year.

Anneal

(v) - Reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling. After the glass is --- , it will be less subject to chipping and cracking. Synonyms: (v): Roughen, Temper.

Grate

(v) - Reduce to small shreds or pulverize by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface Make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together. Say something in a harsh tone. Have an irritating effect. Synonyms: verb: rasp, creak, scrape, squeak, grit, grind noun: grid, grating, grill, grille, lattice, gridiron, fireplace

Advert

(v) - Refer to in speaking or writing. Since you -- to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important. Synonyms: (v): Refer, Allude, Mention. (n): Advertisement, Ad, Announcement, Notice, Commercial, Publicity.

Sublimate

(v) - Refine. Purify. Remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation. Make more subtle or refined. We must strive to ____ these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities.

Defoliate

(v) - Remove leaves from (a tree, plant, or area of land), for agricultural purposes or as a military tactic. When your mom asks you to __the rose bushes, she wants you to trim them back. In Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to __ the woodlands.

Forswear

(v) - Renounce; Abandon. Agree to give up or do without (something) Swear falsely; Commit perjury. The captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to ___Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith. Synonyms: verb: Abjure, Renounce, Perjure.

Reimburse

(v) - Repay (a person who has spent or lost money). Repay (a sum of money that has been spent or lost) If you buy a basketball for your school team with your own money, and you ask your coach to ____ you, you are asking him to pay you back. To ____ is to compensate for an expense or loss. Synonyms: verb: Repay, Refund, Compensate, Recompense, Recoup, Indemnify.

Evince

(v) - Reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling). Give expression to; Indicate. Show clearly. The verb __ means to show or express clearly; to make plain. Evidence can __ the innocence of the accused, and tears can __ the grief of the mourning. When he tried to answer the questions, he __ his ignorance of the subject matter. Synonyms: verb: Show, Manifest, Demonstrate, Display, Evidence, Indicate, Prove, Reveal.

Rescind

(v) - Revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement). Cancel officially. Synonyms: (v): Cancel, Revoke, Abrogate, Repeal, Annul, Nullify, Quash, Abolish, Reverse, Abate, Undo, Call off, Recall, Invalidate, Avoid, Overrule, Void, Set aside, Countermand, Override.

Fester

(v) - Ripen and generate pus. To __ is to grow and spread, not in a good way. When a cut gets infected it starts to ___ and smell bad. When her finger began to ___, the doctor lanced it and removed the splinter that had caused the pus to form.

Domineer

(v) - Rule over tyrannically. Assert one's will over another in an arrogant way. The verb ___ means to rule with tyranny and absolute power, like what may occur in a dictatorship. Synonyms: verb: Rule, Tyrannize, Dominate, Reign.

Scuttle

(v) - Run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps A metal container with a sloping hinged lid and a handle, used to fetch and store coal for a domestic fire. The amount of coal held in such a container.

Supplicate

(v) - SOLICIT. Petition humbly; Pray to grant a favor. Ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly. We ____ Your Majesty to grant him amnesty.

Sate

(v) - Satisfy (a desire or an appetite) to the full. Satisfy to the full; Cloy. Supply (someone) with as much as or more of something than is desired or can be managed. Its hunger ___, the lion dozed.

Enunciate

(v) - Say or pronounce clearly.Proclaim. Express or state clearly. How will people understand you if you do not ___? Synonyms: verb: Pronounce, Declare, Utter, Proclaim, State, Express.

Strew

(v) - Scatter or spread (things) untidily over a surface or area. Spread randomly; Sprinkle. Preceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl will ___ rose petals along the aisle. Scatter, Spread, Disperse, Distribute, Litter, Toss, Sprinkle, Sow, Broadcast.

Intersperse

(v) - Scatter. Scatter among or between other things; place here and there Diversify (a thing or things) with other things at intervals. The molecules will ____ throughout the space according to the second law of thermodynamics. Synonyms: verb: Strew, Disseminate, Disperse.

Ferret

(v) - Search and discover through persistent investigation. You may be familiar with ___, those adorable little mammals that look like cheap minks. Well, the verb to ___ means to act like a ___: to dig for something until you find it. She was ___ out their secret.

Liquidate

(v) - Settle accounts; Clear up. eliminate by paying off (debts). Convert (assets) into cash. Get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing He was able to ___ all his debts in short period of time. Synonyms: verb: Wind up, Settle.

Whet

(v) - Sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon); Excite or stimulate (someone's desire, interest, or appetite); to stimulate or make more acute. Synonyms: verb: sharpen, grind, hone, stimulate, edge.

Hone

(v) - Sharpen. Sharpen with a whetstone Make sharper or more focused or efficient To make shaving easier, he ___ his razor with great care. Synonyms: verb: SHARPEN, WHET, Grind, Edge noun: Whetstone, Grindstone, Grinder.

Jostle

(v) - Shove; Bump. Push, elbow, or bump against (someone) roughly, typically in a crowd. Struggle or compete forcefully for. In the subway he was ____ by the crowds. Synonyms: verb: Shove, Push, Hustle, Thrust noun: Push, Shove, Thrust.

Exult

(v) - Show or feel elation or jubilation, esp. as the result of a success. Rejoice. We ___when our team won the victory. Synonyms: verb: Jubilate, Rejoice, Triumph, Glory, Crow.

Slither

(v) - Slip or Slide unsteadily on a loose or slippery surface. Move smoothly over a surface with a twisting or oscillating motion. During the recent ice storm, many people ___ down this hill as they walked to the station.

Anoint

(v) - Smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony. Consecrate The prophet Samuel -- David with oil, crowning him king of Israel. Synonyms: (v): Oil, Smear, Lubricate, Grease.

Reek

(v) - Smell strongly and unpleasantly; Stink Be suggestive of something unpleasant or disapproved of. Give off smoke, steam, or fumes. A foul smell. Smoke Synonyms: verb: STINK, Smell, Smoke, Fume noun: Stink, Stench, Fume, Vapour, Vapor, Steam, Smell, Odour, Odor, Smoke.

Smirk

(v) - Smile in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way. CONCEITED SMILE. Wipe that ___ off your face! Simper, Snigger, Leer.

Simper

(v) - Smirk; Smile affectedly. Mile affectedly or derisively. Smile in an affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating manner. Complimented on her appearance, Stella self-consciously ___ . To ___ means to smile in an artificial, coy or self-conscious way. If you hope to please someone by ____, you may wind up annoying him or her.

Macerate

(v) - Soften by soaking in liquid; Waste away. The strawberries had been soaking in the champaign for so long that they had begun to ___: they literally fell apart at the touch of a spoon. Synonyms: Pulp, Mash, Squash, Soften, Liquefy, Soak, Steep, Infuse.

Traduce

(v) - Speak badly of or tell lies about (someone) so as to damage their reputation. Speak unfavorably about. to speak maliciously and falsely of; slander; defame. Synonyms: (v): Slander, Calumniate, Defame, Malign, Vilify, Libel, Backbite, Belie, Asperse, Denigrate, Disparage.

Inveigh

(v) - Speak or write about (something) with great hostility. Complain bitterly Denounce; Utter censure or INVECTIVE. Picture an old man banging his fist on the dinner table, ___ against the evils of teenagers' being allowed to listen to music and dance. __ means to rail against something with hostility and passion. Synonyms: verb: Vituperate, Abuse.

Vilify

(v) - Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner; slander. spread negative information about. Synonyms: (v): slander, defame, traduce, malign, calumniate, asperse, denigrate, libel, revile, rail, vituperate.

Scoff

(v) - Speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way "You, a scientist?" he ___. An expression of scornful derision. An object of ridicule. Eat (something) quickly and greedily. FOOD. Synonyms: verb: Mock, Jeer, Deride, GIBE Sneer, Ridicule, Flout noun: Mockery, Derision, Ridicule, Taunt, GIBE, Jeer, Sneer, Jibe, Mock, Flout, Jest, Grub.

Rend

(v) - Split; Tear apart. In his grief, he tried to __ his garments.

Fleck

(v) - Spot. A very small patch of color or light. A small particle or speck of something. Her cheeks ___ with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping. Synonyms: verb: Mottle, Dapple, Speckle. noun: Spot, Speck, Speckle, Stain, Blot, Smudge, Smear, Smirch, Freckle.

Gawk

(v) - Stare foolishly; Look in open-mouthed awe. Stare openly and Stupidly. When you stare in amazement at something, you ___ at it. You might stand frozen in one position with your mouth and eyes wide open and ___ when you see a famous movie star on the street. synonyms: Gape, Goggle, Gaze, Ogle, Stare, Stare Stupidly, Stare in wonder, Look fixedly, Look vacantly.

Despoil

(v) - Steal or violently remove valuable or attractive possessions from; Plunder. ___ is to spoil, only worse. You may spoil a dinner party by being late, but we all ___ the earth with pollution and over-consumption. The Latin root of ___ meant "to strip or rob" If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will __ the countryside. Synonyms: verb: Plunder, Rob, Pillage, Loot, Ransack, Sack, Reive, Reave, Maraud, Rifle, Harry, Depredate, Bereave, Spoil.

Stoke

(v) - Stir up a fire; Feed plentifully. Encourage or incite (a strong emotion or tendency). Add coal or other solid fuel to (a fire, furnace, boiler, etc.). As a Scout, Marisa learned how to light a fire, how to ___ it if it started to die down, and how to extinguish it completely. To ___ is to poke a fire and fuel it so that it burns higher. It can also mean "incite"--a principal's impassive silence in the face of requests for more tater tots might ___ the flames of student anger.

Exhort

(v) - Strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something. The evangelist will __ all sinners in his audience to reform. Synonyms: verb: Admonish, Urge, Advise.

Pore

(v) - Study industriously; Ponder; Scrutinize. be absorbed in reading or studying (something). (n) - a minute opening in a surface, especially the skin or integument of an organism, through which gases, liquids, or microscopic particles may pass. Determined to become a physician, Beth spends hours poring over her anatomy text.

Patronize

(v) - Support; Act superior toward. Treat with an apparent kindness which betrays a feeling of superiority. Give financial or other support to (a person, organization, or cause). Experts in a field sometimes appear to ___ people who are less knowledgeable of the subject.

Surmise

(v) - Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it. infer from incomplete evidence. imagine to be the case or true or probable. (n) - A supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it. a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence. Synonyms: (v): Guess, Conjecture, Suppose, Assume, Presume, Suspect, Imagine, Presuppose (n): Conjecture, Guess, Supposition, Presumption, Assumption, Hypothesis, Speculation.

Plagiarize

(v) - Take (the work or an idea of someone else) and pass it off as one's own. Copy from (someone) in such a way. You ___ when you take someone's ideas or words and pass them off as your own. It's a fancy word for copying. Many politicians and writers have ___.

Prate

(v) - Talk foolishly or at tedious length about something. Speak foolishly; Boast idly. Let us not ___ about our qualities; rather, let our virtues speak for themselves.

Harping

(v) - Talk or write persistently and tediously on a particular topic After he had reminded me several times about what he had done for me I told him to stop his ___ on my indebtedness to him.

Cogitate

(v) - Think deeply about something; meditate or reflect. "-- on this problem; the solution will come." Synonyms: verb: Meditate, Ponder, Think, Reflect, Contemplate, Ruminate, Consider, Speculate, Muse, Deliberate, Think over, Chew.

Flail

(v) - Thresh grain by hand; Strike or slap; Toss about. In medieval times, warriors ___ their foe with a metal ball attached to a handle. Synonyms: verb: Thrash, Thresh, Beat.

Pulsate

(v) - Throb. Be very exciting. Expand and contract with strong regular movements. Produce a regular throbbing sensation or sound. We could see the blood vessels in his temple __ as he became more angry. Palpitate, Pulse, Throb, Vibrate, Pump, Undulate, Surge, Heave.

Embroil

(v) - Throw into confusion. Involve (someone) deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation. Bring into a state of confusion or disorder. He became ___ in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute. Synonyms: verb: Entangle, Tangle, Involve, Mix up, Implicate, Confuse.

List

(v) - Tilt; Lean over That flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it ___ to one side. To make a ___ is to put things in order or to name them, like a grocery list or a wish list. ___ is also leaning over, creating a slant called a ___.

Demean

(v) - To __ someone is to insult them. To ___ is to degrade or put down a person or thing. Do something that is beneath one's dignity. He felt that he would __ himself if he replied to the scurrilous letter. Synonyms: verb: Abase, Degrade, Debase, Humble, Humiliate, Lower, Mortify, Behave.

Fret

(v) - To be annonyed or vexed. To ___ over your poor grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future. Synonyms: verb: Worry, Chafe.

Foist

(v) - To force onto another. Insert surreptitiously or without warrant. Did your parents __ your baby sister on you when they went out? It means they forced her on you. Anything — a person or object or idea — can be __ if it's done by force upon an unwilling party. I will not permit you to ___such ridiculous ideas upon the membership of this group.

ABDICATE

(v) - To give up a position, right, or power. "The King ____ when he married a divorcee" Synonyms: Disown, Reject, Renounce, Give up, Refuse, RELINQUISH, REPUDIATE, Abandon,Forgo, Waive, Abjure, Forsake.

Transcribe

(v) - To make an exact copy of (a document, text, etc.). To make a written copy, especially a typewritten copy. Write out from speech, notes, etc. Make a phonetic transcription of. Synonyms: (v): copy, rewrite

Confound

(v) - To perplex or amaze, especially by a sudden disturbance or surprise. Prove a theory, expectation, or prediction wrong. Defeat a plan, aim, or hope. Overthrow an enemy. Mix up elements so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish. Synonyms: (v): Confuse, Perplex, Disconcert, Baffle, Puzzle, Bewilder, Abash, Embarrass, Muddle, Mix up, Mix.

Disdain

(v) - To think unworthy of notice, response; To look upon or treat with contempt; consider beneath oneself. A feeling of Contempt for anything regarded as unworthy; haughty contempt. Synonyms: (v): Despise, Scorn, Contemn, Slight, Misprize, Disregard.

Harrow

(v) - Torture. Cause distress to. (n) - An implement consisting of a heavy frame set with teeth or tines that is dragged over plowed land to break up clods, remove weeds, and cover seed. I don't want to ___ you at this time by asking you to recall the details of your unpleasant experience. Synonyms: verb: Torment

Subvert

(v) - Undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution). to cause the downfall, ruin, or destruction of. Synonyms: (v): Overthrow, Overturn, Demolish, Undermine.

Prim

(v) - Very precise and formal; Exceedingly proper. Feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper; Stiffly correct. Many people commented on the contrast between the ___ attire of the young lady and the inappropriate clothing worn by her escort.

Saunter

(v) - Walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort. Adam ___ into the room. (n)- A leisurely stroll. stroll: walk leisurely and with no apparent aim. a careless leisurely gait; "he walked with a kind of ___ as if he hadn't a care in the world". amble: a leisurely walk (usually in some public place). Synonyms: verb: Stroll, Ramble, Walk, Wander, Roam, Promenade, Lounge. noun: Stroll, Walk, Promenade, Ramble, Jaunt.

Wade

(v) - Walk through water or another liquid or soft substance Synonyms: verb: ford noun: ford

Meander

(v) - Wander at random. (of a river or road) follow a winding course. (of language, thought, etc.) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose. It is difficult to sail up this stream because of the way it ___ through the countryside. To ___ means to wander aimlessly on a winding roundabout course. If you want some time to yourself after school, you might ___ home taking the time to window shop and look around.

Fritter

(v) - Waste time, money, or energy on trifling matters. Dwindle; diminish. Divide (something) into small pieces. He could not apply himself to any task and ___away his time in idle conversation. Synonyms: verb: waste noun: doughnut.

Dawdle

(v) - Waste time; be slow. Move slowly and idly. Inasmuch as we must meet a deadline, do not __ over this work. Synonyms: verb: Dally, Loiter noun: Bum

Swathe

(v) - Wrap in several layers of fabric. (n) - A piece or strip of material in which something is wrapped. Synonyms: (v): Wrap, Bandage, Swaddle, Envelop, Wrap up (n): Bandage, Swath, Band.

Waylay

(v) - ambush; lie in wait and attack; Stop or interrupt (someone) and detain them in conversation or trouble them in some other way. Synonyms: verb: ambush, lurk.

Bicker

(v) - argue about petty and trivial matters. The children ___ morning, noon, and night, exasperating their parents. Synonyms: verb: wrangle, altercate, squabble, quarrel, argue.

Chaffing

(v) - bantering; joking; Tease Sometimes his flippant and __ remarks annoy us.

Fructify

(v) - bear fruit. Make (something) fruitful or productive. Bear fruit or become productive. This peach tree should ___ in three years. Synonyms: verb: fecundate, impregnate, fertilize.

Impeach

(v) - bring an accusation against; level a charge against. Charge with treason or another crime against the state. challenge the honesty or veracity of. Synonyms: (v): Accuse, Inculpate, Charge, Arraign, Incriminate, Indict, Question .

Wane

(v) - decrease in size or strength; draw gradually to an end. Synonyms: verb: decline, decrease, sink, diminish, dwindle, fall, lessen, fade, recede noun: decline, decrease, diminution

Bedizen

(v) - dress up or decorate gaudily ; dress with vulgar finery. The witch doctors were -- in their gaudiest costumes.

Exorcise

(v) - drive our evil spirits By incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to __ the evil spirits that had taken possession of the young warrior.

Grapple

(v) - engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle. Seize hold of (someone). GRIP. To grip or seize, as in a wrestling match. He ___ with the burglar and overpowered him. Synonyms: verb: wrestle, struggle, grasp, grip noun: grapnel, grappling iron, hook

yield

(v) - give in; surrender. Synonyms: verb: give, surrender, give in, produce, bear

Waive

(v) - give up a claim or right voluntarily; refrain from enforcing; postpone considering. Synonyms: verb: relinquish, renounce, abdicate, give up, forgo, abandon, resign

Wean

(v) - give up cherished activity; detach the affections of; gradually deprive infants of mother's milk. Synonyms: noun: ablactate,infant, child, bairn, kid, baby, babe.

Wax

(v) - grow larger, increase, become. Opposite of Wane.

yoke

(v) - join together, unite.

Bequeath

(v) - leave or give by will after one's death. to hand down; pass on. Synonyms: (v): Leave, Devise, Will, Legate, Hand Down, Bestow, Grant, Pass on, Entrust.

Pall

(v) - lose strength or effectiveness; become or appear boring, insipid, or tiresome (to).

Perforate

(v) - make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation. (adj) - having a hole cut through When you ___ something, you make a hole in it, like when you poke holes in a piece of aluminum foil to let steam escape while something is cooking. Synonyms: adjective: perforated verb: pierce, punch, bore, drill, puncture

Waft

(v) - moved gently by wind or waves. Synonyms: verb: float noun: whiff, breath, puff

whinny

(v) - neigh like a horse. Synonyms: verb: neigh, snicker, nicker noun: neigh, snicker

whittle

(v) - pare, cut small bits or pare shavings from Synonyms: verb: carve, cut.

withhold

(v) - refuse to give; hold back. Synonyms: verb: hold, restrain, detain, keep, stop, retain, keep back, hold back, deny

Wallow

(v) - roll in; indulge in ; become helpless. Synonyms: verb: welter, roll noun: welter

Usurp

(v) - seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession. Take the place of. Synonyms: (v): seize, appropriate, Arrogate, assume, seize, take over.

winnow

(v) - sift, separate good parts from bad. Synonyms: verb: sift, fan noun: fan

Waffle

(v) - speak equivocally about an issue; Fail to make up one's mind. Synonyms: verb: gab, prate, twaddle noun: wafer

Filch

(v) - steal or Pilfer (something, esp. a thing of small value) in a casual way. The boys ____ apples from the fruit stand. Synonyms: verb: Steal, Pilfer, Thieve, Purloin, Lift, Pinch, Rob, Swipe, Snitch, Prig, Scrounge, Mooch.

Admonish

(v) - to caution, warn, advise, or counsel against something. To reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner. To urge to a duty; remind Synonyms: (v): warn, caution, exhort, reprimand, advise

Unfrock

(v) - to deprive (a monk, priest, minister, etc.) of ecclesiastical rank, authority, and function; depose; to divest or strip of a frock.

Verbalize

(v) - to express in words or speech; convert into a verb. Synonyms: (v): word, mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise.

Dissipate

(v) - to scatter in various directions; disperse; To spend or use wastefully or extravagantly; squander; deplete. Spend frivolously and unwisely. Synonyms: (v): Disperse, Squander, Waste, Dispel.

Portend

(v) -Be a sign or warning that (something, esp. something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen. "the eclipses ___ some major events" Be a signal of. Synonyms: verb: Bode, Presage, Foreshadow, Forebode, Prognosticate, Omen, Betoken, Augur, Foretell, Predict, Forecast.

Simulate

(v) -FEIGN. Pretend to have or feel (an emotion). Imitate the appearance or character of. He ___ insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime.

Begrudge

(v) -envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something). Give reluctantly or resentfully. I -- every minute I have to spend attending meetings. Synonyms: (v): envy, grudge, Resent, Regret.

Broach

(v) -raise (a difficult subject) for discussion. pierce (a cask) to draw out liquid. Open up. He did not even try to -- the subject of poetry.

Wheedle

(v) Coax or persuade someone to do something; influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering. Synonyms: verb: cajole, coax, blandish, flatter, adulate.

Douse

(v) Plunge into water; drench; extinguish They ___ each other with hoses and balloons. Synonyms: verb: Dip, Dowse, Quench, Extinguish, Immerse, Submerge.

Disgorge

(v) Vomit, Puke, Surrender to. Unwilling to __ the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to run away. Synonyms: verb: vomit, spew, throw up, puke

Totter

(v)- Move in a feeble or unsteady way. Shake or rock as if about to collapse. (n) - A feeble or unsteady gait. Synonyms: (v): stagger, wobble, falter, reel, waver, wabble, sway, shake (n): wobble, wabble, stagger.

Doff

(v)- Remove (an item of clothing). Tip (one's hat) as a greeting or token of respect Use the verb __ to describe removing something. You probably always __ your cap before the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Synonyms: verb: Take off, Remove, Strip.

appease

(v.) pacify, calm, soothe, mollify, placate, quieten, tranquilize, assuage, allay, tranquillize, lull, quiet, still, becalm, propitiate, conciliate Pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands amendments have been added to appease local pressure groups Relieve or satisfy (a demand or a feeling) we give to charity because it appeases our guilt

Dossier

A collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject. Ordered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a complete ___. Synonyms: noun: File, Record, Folder.

Quay

A concrete, stone, or metal platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships. You know that wharf on the bank of the river where all the boats park? It's not an aqua parking lot. It's called a ____. Synonyms: noun: Wharf, Pier, Jetty, Dock, Mole, Quayside, Landing stage.

Rampart

A defensive wall of a castle or walled city, having a broad top with a walkway and typically a stone parapet. A defensive or protective barrier. FORTIFY. Synonyms: noun: Bulwark, Bastion, Wall.

Placebo

A harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect. A substance that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs. A patient's symptoms sometimes disappear just because they believe that they are being treated. Even when doctors give them a biologically inactive drug, otherwise known as a ___, the patients swear they are cured.

Waif

A homeless and helpless child or animal. Synonyms: adjective: homeless, stray, houseless, ownerless

Philanderer

A man who readily or frequently enters into casual sexual relationships with women; a womanizer. "everyone warned me he was a ___" Synonyms: noun: womanizer.Casanova, Lothario, seducer, rake,libertine, debauchee;

Rendition

A performance or interpretation, esp. of a dramatic role or piece of music. A visual representation or reproduction. A translation or transliteration. The practice of sending a foreign criminal or terrorist suspect covertly to be interrogated in a country with less rigorous regulations for the humane treatment of prisoners. A ____ is an interpretation, performance, or translation. Whitney Houston's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is still used at games today; Roseanne Barr's is not. Synonyms: noun: Rendering, Translation, Interpretation, Performance, Version.

Hireling

A person employed to undertake menial work, esp. on a casual basis. One who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously) In a matter of such importance, I do not wish to deal with ___ ; I must meet with the chief. Synonyms: adjective: Hired, Hack noun: Mercenary, Soldier of fortune.

Progenitor

A person or thing from which a person, animal, or plant is descended or originates; an ancestor or parent. A person who originates an artistic, political, or intellectual movement. Synonyms: noun: Ancestor, Forefather, Forbear, Predecessor, Father,Sire.

Epitome

A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type. A summary of a written work; an abstract. A thing representing something else in miniature. If you're talking about a typical example of something, call it the __ . The cartoon character Garfield is the __ of the fat, lazy, food-obsessed cat. Synonyms: noun: abstract, summary, abridgment, abridgement, synopsis, digest, compendium, precis, incarnation

Poseur

A person who habitually pretends to be something he is not.

Swindler

A person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud. To put forward plausible schemes or use unscrupulous trickery to defraud others; cheat.

Quarry

A place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted. An animal pursued by a hunter, hound, predatory mammal, or bird of prey. A thing or person that is chased or sought. Synonyms: verb: mine. noun: prey.

Rebus

A puzzle in which words are represented by combinations of pictures and individual letters; for instance, apex might be represented by a picture of an ape followed by a letter X An ornamental device associated with a person to whose name it punningly alludes. Synonyms: noun: Puzzle.

Homily

A religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction; a sermon A tedious moralizing discourse. Serious warning.. His speeches were always ___, advising his listeners to repent and reform. Synonyms: noun: Sermon, Lecture.

Refectory

A room used for communal meals, esp. in an educational or religious institution Synonyms: noun: Dining room, Canteen.

Deluge

A severe flood. A heavy fall of rain. Inundate with a great quantity of something. Flood. A great quantity of something arriving at the same time. When we advertised the position, we received a __ of applications. Synonyms: verb: flood, inundate, overflow, swamp, drown, overwhelm, overrun, submerge noun: flood, inundation, spate, flooding, cataclysm, torrent

Caprice

A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior She was an unpredictable creature, acting on --, never taking thought of the consequences. (n) - Synonyms: noun: whim, vagary, fancy, whimsy, fad, quirk, crotchet.

Paroxysm

A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity. A sudden recurrence or attack of a disease; a sudden worsening of symptoms. When he heared of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a ___ of rage. Synonyms: noun: Fit, Attack, Seizure.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god. The commonwealth of Israel from the time of Moses until the election of Saul as King

Wake

A trail of disturbed water or air left by the passage of a ship or aircraft; Used to refer to the aftermath or consequences of something. Synonyms: verb: waken, awaken, awake, arouse, rouse, wake up, watch noun: vigil, watch

Myraid

A very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things. Innumerable.

Pittance

A very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage A __ is a tiny payment or small reimbursement for work — generally an amount that's inadequate. The restaurant may pay you a ___ , but you can do well if you get a lot of good tips.

Herpetologist

A zoologist who studies reptiles and amphibians As a boy, Indiana Jones had a traumatic experience involving snakes; sensibly enough, he studies to be archaeologist, not a _____.

Posterity

All future generations of people. The descendants of a person. Synonyms: noun: Progeny, Issue, Offspring.

Suffragist

An advocate of the extension of voting rights esp. to women.

Cohorts

An ancient Roman military unit, comprising six centuries, equal to one tenth of a legion. A group of people banded together or treated as a group. A group of people with a common statistical characteristic. A supporter or companion. An accomplice or conspirator. Caesar and his Roman -- conquered almost all of the known world.

Tantrum

An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child. A display of bad temper.

wither

Become dry and shriveled; Cease to flourish; fall into decay or decline. Synonyms: verb: fade, wilt, sear, languish, droop, shrivel, decay.

Implore

Beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something. Beg earnestly for. Synonyms: verb: Entreat, Beg, Beseech, Ssupplicate, Pray, Plead, Adjure, Conjure, Solicit, Petition, Crave, Appeal, Request, Ask.

Raiment

Clothing. ladies clothed in ____ bedecked with jewels. Synonyms: noun: Clothes, Garb, Dress, Apparel, Clothing, Vesture, Garment, Attire, Wear, Vestment, Costume, Guise, Togs, Habiliment, Robe, Habit.

Excise

Cut away; Cut out. A tax levied on certain goods and commodities produced or sold within a country and on licenses granted for certain activities __ taxes on cigarettes. When you __ the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit.

Holocaust

Destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, esp. caused by fire or nuclear war. The mass murder of Jews under the German Nazi regime during the period 1941-45. A Jewish sacrificial offering that is burned completely on an altar Citizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake but by the ____ that followed.

Discursive

Digressing from subject to subject; Rambling. Proceeding by argument or reasoning rather than by intuition. If people accuse you of rambling from topic to topic in your speech or writing, they may say you have a ___ style They were annoyed and bored by her __ remarks.

Insubordinate

Disobedient. Defiant of authority; Disobedient to orders. Not submissive to authority. The ___ private was confined to the barracks. If you want to be __ , go ahead and break the rules, ignore orders, and act like a disobedient rebel. Synonyms: adjective: Disobedient, UNRULY, Recalcitrant, Contumacious, Rebellious, Refractory, Naughty. noun: Recalcitrant.

Parched

Dried out with heat. Extremely thirsty. Lightly roasted. Synonyms: adjective: Dry, Thirsty, Arid, Dried

acrophobia

Extreme or irrational fear of heights

Moodiness

Fits of depression or gloom. A sullen gloomy feeling We could not discover the cause of her recurrent __.

Hindmost

Furthest behind or Furthest back. The coward could always be found in the_____lines whenever a battle was being waged. Synonyms: adjective: Rearmost, Last, Ultimate, Backmost, Latest.

Benign

Gentle; not harmful; kind; mild

Vouchsafe

Give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner; Reveal or disclose (information) Synonyms: verb: deign, grant, condescend

Raspy

Grating: unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound; "a gravelly voice"

Recidivism

Habitual return to crime. ___ means going back to a previous behavior, especially criminal behavior. People that work with prisoners are always hoping to lower ____ rates.

willful

Having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as one wants, regardless of the consequences or effects. Synonyms: adjective: headstrong, self-willed, obstinate, deliberate, intentional, wayward, stubborn, opinionated, voluntary.

Insinuate

Hint; Imply. Suggest or hint (something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect and unpleasant way. What are you trying to ___by that remark? Synonyms: verb: Hint, Imply, Suggest, Intimate.

Contraband

Illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods "The coast guard tries to prevent __ in U.S. waters." Synonyms: adjective: smuggled verb: smuggle, interlope noun: smuggling, smuggled goods.

Pellmell

In confusion; Disorderly. (adj) - with undue hurry and confusion (adv) - in a wild or reckless manner. When things are messy, wacky, crazy, and all over the place, they are ___ — chaotic. The excited students dashed ___ into the stadium to celebrate the victory.

Mealymouthed

Indirect speech; Hypocritical; Evasive. Hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy; "a mealymouthed politician" Rather than tell Jill directly what he disliked, Jack made a few ___ comments and tried to change the subject.

Slur

Insult to one's character or reputation; SLANDER. (v) - Utter indistinctly. Become vague or indistinct. Polls revealed that the front-runner's standing had been damaged by the ___ and innuendoes circulated by his opponent's staff. A ___ is an insulting remark. In a political campaign, it's not unheard of for a candidate to launch a slur at her opponent, though doing so is usually frowned upon.

Symbiosis

Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. A mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.

aphasia

Loss of ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage

Paraphernalia

Miscellaneous articles, esp. the equipment needed for a particular activity. Trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous. Synonyms: noun: Equipment, Outfit.

Elysian

Of, relating to, or characteristic of heaven or paradise; blissful. An afternoon sail on the bay was for her an __ journey. Synonyms:: HEAVENLY, Paradisal, Paradisiacal, Celestial, Empyrean, Superlunary, Divine.

Qualified

Officially recognized as being trained to perform a particular job; certified. Competent or knowledgeable to do something; capable. Not complete or absolute; limited. Synonyms: adjective: Competent, Fit, Skilled, Limited, Able.

Treacly

Overly sweet, cloying.Thick and Sticky; consisting of Treacle, Or cloying sentimental speech. Synonyms: (n): molasses, syrup, sirup.

Disburse

Pay out. If someone wants to ___ funds to you, stick around — it means they're going to give you money! When you __ money on the company's behalf, be sure to get a receipt.. Synonyms: verb: Pay, Pay out, Spend, Expend.

Kleptomaniac

Person who has a compulsive desire to steal. Someone with an irrational urge to steal in the absence of an economic motive. They discovered that the wealthy customer was a ___ when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets.

Heckler

Person who verbally harasses others . Someone who tries to embarrass you with gibes and questions and objections. The ___ kept interrupting the speaker with rude remarks.

Horticultural

Pertaining to cultivation of gardens When he bought his house, he began to look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing with __ matters.

Eugenic

Pertaining to or causing improvement in the offspring produced. It is easier to apply __ principles to the raising of racehorses or prize cattle than to the development of human beings.

Epistemologist

Philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge. "What is more important, a knowledge of nature of the nature of knowledge?" the ___ asked the naturalist.

Hieroglyphic

Picture writing. Enigmatic or incomprehensible symbols or writing. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars to read the ancient Egyptian ____.

Docket

Program as for trial; book where such entries are made The case of Smith v. Jones was entered in the __ for July 15. If someone asks you what's on your __ for the day, she really just wants to know what you're doing today. Likewise, if someone complains that he has a full __, he's saying that he is very busy.

Interdict

Prohibit; Forbid. Command against. ___ means to forbid, to nix, to veto. If your parents find out you're planning a party for a time when they're away , they will ____ it. Synonyms: verb: Forbid, Prohibit, Ban, Bar, Debar, Proscribe, Inhibit, Enjoin, Taboo, Suppress. noun: Prohibition, Ban, Interdiction, Proscription, Taboo, Inhibition, Embargo, VETO.

Expostulation

Protest. Remonstrance. the act of expressing earnest opposition. Despite the teacher's scoldings and __, the class remained unruly.

Quell

Put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force. Subdue or silence someone. Suppress (a feeling, esp. an unpleasant one). Synonyms: verb: Suppress, Repress, Quash, Smother, Stifle, Quench, Subdue, Put down.

Maniacal

Raving mad. Wildly disordered. His ___ laughter frightened us.

antipodal

Relating to or situated on the opposite side of the earth Diametrically opposed to something Relating to or denoting cells formed at the chalazal end of the embryo sac

Carousal

Revelry in drinking; A merry drinking party. The party degenerated into an ugly --.

Carrion

Rotting flesh of a dead body Buzzards are nature's scavengers, they eat the -- left behind by other predators. Synonyms: adjective: rotten, putrid noun: carcass, corpse, carcase.

Potable

Safe to drink; drinkable. Synonyms: adjective: Drinkable. noun: Drink, Beverage.

Saga

Scandinavian myth; any legend This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it.

Inviolability

Security from being destroyed, corrupted or profaned. Incapable of being transgressed or dishonored. They respected the ___ of her faith and did not try to change her manner of living.

Continence

Self-restraint; sexual chastity. The exercise of self constraint in sexual matters. Voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge. She vowed to lead a life of ___.

Hovel

Shack; small, wretched house. A small, squalid, unpleasant, or simply constructed dwelling. An open shed or outbuilding, used for sheltering cattle or storing grain or tools. A conical building enclosing a kiln. He wondered how poor people could stand living in such a __ . Synonyms: noun: Shack, Shanty, Hut, Shed, Cabin, Kennel.

Dote

Shower with love; show excessive affection for. Be foolish or senile due to old age. Not only grandmothers bore you with stories about their brilliant grandchildren; grandfathers ___ on the littel rascals, too.

Fusilade

Simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.) Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture concludes with a thunderous ___ of cannon fire.

Somnambulist

Sleepwalker: someone who walks about in their sleep. If you ever find yourself standing in the backyard in your pajamas at 4:00 in the morning and wondering how you got there, you may be a s___ — someone who walks in her sleep.

Polygamist

Someone who is married to two or more people at the same time.

Masochist

Someone who obtains pleasure from receiving punishment. The ___ begs, "Hit me." The Sadist smiles and says, "I won't."

Embezzlement

Stealing. Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer. The bank teller confessed his __ of the funds. Synonyms: noun: Peculation, Defalcation, Misappropriation, Fraud.

Hoard

Stockpile; accumulate for future use Whenever there are rumors of a food shortage, people are tempted to ___ food. Synonyms: verb: Amass, Accumulate, Garner, Lay up, Store, Pile up, Pile, Collect, Heap, Gather. noun: Store, Stock, Supply, Reserve, Treasure, Fund.

Flay

Strip off skin; Plunder. Peel (the skin) off a corpse or carcass. Whip or beat (someone) so harshly as to remove their skin Criticize severely and brutally. Extort or exact money or belongings from (someone). The criminal was condemned to be ___ alive. Synonyms: verb: Skin, Strip, Peel, Fleece.

Stinting

Supply an ungenerous or inadequate amount; Be economical or frugal about spending or providing something; Avoiding waste. Synonyms: economical, frugal, scotch, sparing thrifty, confine, Restraint, constraint, allotment, portion.

aberrant

Synonyms: adjective: abnormal, anomalous Departing from an accepted standard Diverging from the normal type aberrant chromosomes

abstemious

Synonyms: adjective: abstinent, temperate, moderate, sober, sparing, frugal, continent, restrained Not self-indulgent, esp. when eating and drinking "We only had a bottle." "Very abstemious of you."

affable

Synonyms: adjective: amiable, kind, polite, debonair, friendly, courteous, suave, gracious, complaisant, obliging, kindly, genial, urbane, bland, benign Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to an affable and agreeable companion

analgesic

Synonyms: adjective: anodyne noun: painkiller, anodyne (chiefly of a drug) Acting to relieve pain

adversary

Synonyms: adjective: antagonistic noun: opponent, antagonist, enemy, foe, rival, competitor One's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute Davis beat his old adversary in the quarterfinals The Devil

ascetic

Synonyms: adjective: austere noun: hermit, anchoret Characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor a narrow, humorless, ascetic face

azure

Synonyms: adjective: blue, sky-blue, cerulean noun: blue Bright blue in color, like a cloudless sky white beaches surrounded by azure seas Blue a saltire azure

adulterate

Synonyms: adjective: counterfeit, spurious, false, forged verb: falsify, counterfeit, doctor, forge, fake, debase, sophisticate Render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one the meat was ground fine and adulterated with potato flour

assiduous

Synonyms: adjective: diligent, sedulous, industrious, studious, painstaking, persevering, hard-working Showing great care and perseverance she was assiduous in pointing out every feature

ambiguous

Synonyms: adjective: equivocal, vague, uncertain, doubtful, obscure, dubious (of language) Open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning the question is rather ambiguous ambiguous phrases Unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made this whole society is morally ambiguous the election result was ambiguous

aesthetic

Synonyms: adjective: esthetic Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty the pictures give great aesthetic pleasure Giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty; of pleasing appearance

adamant

Synonyms: adjective: firm, unyielding, inflexible, uncompromising, stiff, rigid, hard, adamantine noun: diamond Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind he is adamant that he is not going to resign

avid

Synonyms: adjective: greedy, covetous, eager, rapacious, grasping, hungry Having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something an avid reader of science fiction she took an avid interest in the project Having an eager desire for something she was avid for information about the murder inquiry

aboriginal

Synonyms: adjective: indigenous, native, primitive, original, native-born noun: aborigine, native, indigene, autochthon (of human races, animals, and plants) Inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists; indigenous Of or relating to the Australian Aborigines or their languages

aggrieved

Synonyms: adjective: injured Feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated they were aggrieved at the outcome she did not see herself as the aggrieved party

anomalous

Synonyms: adjective: irregular, abnormal, anomalistic, aberrant Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected an anomalous situation sentences that are grammatically anomalous

amenable

Synonyms: adjective: obedient, docile, tractable, liable, answerable (of a person) Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled parents who have had easy babies and amenable children (of a thing) Capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to the patients had cardiac failure not amenable to medical treatment

attenuate

Synonyms: adjective: rare, thin verb: dilute, weaken, thin, reduce, extenuate, rarefy Reduce the force, effect, or value of her intolerance was attenuated by a rather unexpected liberalism Reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current, or other oscillation) (of a signal, electric current, or other oscillation) Be reduced in amplitude Reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic organism or vaccine) attenuated strains of rabies virus Reduce in thickness; make thin the trees are attenuated from being grown too close together

amorphous

Synonyms: adjective: shapeless, formless Without a clearly defined shape or form amorphous blue forms and straight black lines Vague; ill-organized; unclassifiable make explicit the amorphous statements (of a group of people or an organization) Lacking a clear structure or focus an amorphous and leaderless legislature (of a solid) Noncrystalline; having neither definite form nor apparent structure

analogous

Synonyms: adjective: similar, like, parallel, alike, analogical Comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared they saw the relationship between a ruler and his subjects as analogous to that of father and children (of structures) Performing a similar function but having a different evolutionary origin, such as the wings of insects and birds

aseptic

Synonyms: adjective: sterile Free from contamination caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms (of surgical practice) Aiming at the complete exclusion of harmful microorganisms (of a wound, instrument, or dressing) Surgically sterile or sterilized

aghast

Synonyms: adjective: terrified Filled with horror or shock when the news came out they were aghast

accession

Synonyms: noun: access, admission, increase accessions plural The attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or power, typically that of monarch or president the queen's accession to the throne lost the vote on the Fortas accession to the chief justiceship The action or process of formally joining or being accepted by an association, institution, or group the accession of Spain and Portugal into the European Community A new item added to an existing collection of books, paintings, or artifacts An amount added to an existing quantity of something did not anticipate any further accession of wealth from the man's estate The formal acceptance of a treaty or agreement accession to the Treaty of Paris

accomplice

Synonyms: noun: accessory, abettor, accessary, confederate, partner A person who helps another commit a crime

aspiration

Synonyms: noun: ambition, desire, wish aspirations plural A hope or ambition of achieving something he had nothing tangible to back up his literary aspirations the yawning gulf between aspiration and reality The object of such an ambition; a goal fabrics and oriental rugs were my aspirations The action of pronouncing a sound with an exhalation of breath The action of drawing fluid by suction from a vessel or cavity

animus

Synonyms: noun: animosity, enmity, hostility Hostility or ill feeling the author's animus toward her Motivation to do something the reformist animus came from within the Party Jung's term for the masculine part of a woman's personality

antipathy

Synonyms: noun: aversion, dislike, repugnance, distaste, repulsion A deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion his fundamental antipathy to capitalism a thinly disguised mutual antipathy

anarchy

Synonyms: noun: chaos, misrule, anarchism A state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority he must ensure public order in a country threatened with anarchy Absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal

abyss

Synonyms: noun: chasm, gulf, abysm, precipice, deep, depth abysses plural A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm a rope led down into the dark abyss I was stagnating in an abyss of boredom A wide or profound difference between people; a gulf the abyss between the two nations The regions of hell conceived of as a bottomless pit Satan's dark abyss A catastrophic situation seen as likely to occur teetering on the edge of the abyss of a total political wipeout

anathema

Synonyms: noun: curse, malediction, imprecation, malison, ban, damnation anathemas plural Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes racial hatred was anathema to her A formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine A strong curse the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas

aegis

Synonyms: noun: egis, protection, shield, defence, defense, patronage The protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN (in classical art and mythology) An attribute of Zeus and Athena (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield

amalgamation

Synonyms: noun: fusion, merger, combination The action, process, or result of combining or uniting the threat of amalgamation with a competitor an amalgamation of two separate companies The action or process of alloying a metal with mercury

adversity

Synonyms: noun: misfortune, disaster, distress, calamity, hardship, misery Difficulties; misfortune resilience in the face of adversity she overcame many adversities

alacrity

Synonyms: noun: readiness, willingness, eagerness Brisk and cheerful readiness she accepted the invitation with alacrity

asylum

Synonyms: noun: refuge, shelter, sanctuary, haven, retreat, home, harbour, harbor asylums plural The protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee granting asylum to foreigners persecuted for political reasons Shelter or protection from danger asylum for those too ill to care for themselves An institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill he'd been committed to an asylum

acumen

Synonyms: noun: sagacity, perspicacity, acuteness, discernment, shrewdness, acuity The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain business acumen

abeyance

Synonyms: noun: suspension A state of temporary disuse or suspension matters were held in abeyance pending further inquiries The position of being without, or waiting for, an owner or claimant

altruism

Synonyms: noun: unselfishness The belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others some may choose to work with vulnerable elderly people out of altruism Behavior of an animal that benefits another at its own expense

accentuate

Synonyms: verb: accent, emphasize, stress, underline, punctuate, underscore Make more noticeable or prominent his jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch

acclimate

Synonyms: verb: acclimatize, season, naturalize noun: acclimatization, acclimation Become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions it will take a few days to get acclimated to the altitude Respond physiologically or behaviorally to a change in a single environmental factor trees may acclimate to high CO2 levels by reducing the number of stomata Harden off (a plant)

accost

Synonyms: verb: address, approach noun: salute, salutation, address, greeting Approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively reporters accosted him in the street he was accosted by a thief, demanding his money or his life a man tried to accost the girl on her way to school

avow

Synonyms: verb: admit, confess, acknowledge, recognize, own, grant, profess, concede, avouch Assert or confess openly he avowed that he had voted Republican in every election he avowed his change of faith

adhere

Synonyms: verb: cling, cleave Stick fast to (a surface or substance) paint won't adhere well to a greasy surface Believe in and follow the practices of the people adhere to the Muslim religion Represent truthfully and in detail the account adhered firmly to fact

acquiesce

Synonyms: verb: consent, agree, assent, accede, comply Accept something reluctantly but without protest Sara acquiesced in his decision

assimilate

Synonyms: verb: digest, absorb, imbibe Take in (information, ideas, or culture) and understand fully Marie tried to assimilate the week's events Absorb and integrate (people, ideas, or culture) into a wider society or culture pop trends are assimilated into the mainstream with alarming speed the converts were assimilated into the society of their conquerors Absorb or integrate and use for one's own benefit the music business assimilated whatever aspects of punk it could turn into profit (of the body or any biological system) Absorb and digest (food or nutrients) the sugars in the fruit are readily assimilated by the body Cause (something) to resemble; liken philosophers had assimilated thought to perception Come to resemble the churches assimilated to a certain cultural norm Make (a sound) more like another in the same or next word

alienate

Synonyms: verb: estrange Cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged an urban environment that would alienate its inhabitants an alienated angst-ridden 22-year-old Cause (someone) to become unsympathetic or hostile the association does not wish to alienate its members Transfer ownership of (property rights) to another person or group

abet

Synonyms: verb: instigate, incite, encourage, foment, provoke Encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others Encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime) we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic

alleviate

Synonyms: verb: relieve, mitigate, ease, soothe, palliate, allay, assuage, soften, extenuate, lighten, facilitate, appease Make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe he couldn't prevent her pain, only alleviate it measures to alleviate unemployment

abdicate

Synonyms: verb: renounce, resign, relinquish, waive, give up (of a monarch) Renounce one's throne in 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated as German emperor Ferdinand abdicated the throne in favor of the emperor's brother Fail to fulfill or undertake (a responsibility or duty) the government was accused of abdicating its responsibility the secretary of state should not abdicate from leadership on educational issues

abridge

Synonyms: verb: shorten, curtail, abbreviate, reduce, condense, retrench, compress, epitomize Shorten (a book, movie, speech, or other text) without losing the sense the cassettes have been abridged from the original stories an abridged text of his speech Curtail (rights or privileges) even the right to free speech can be abridged

affect

Synonyms: verb: touch, influence, pretend noun: emotion, affection Have an effect on; make a difference to the dampness began to affect my health your attitude will affect how successful you are Touch the feelings of (someone); move emotionally the atrocities he witnessed have affected him most deeply (of an illness) Attack or infect people who are affected by AIDS

admonish

Synonyms: verb: warn, caution, exhort, reprimand, advise Warn or reprimand someone firmly she admonished me for appearing at breakfast unshaven "You mustn't say that, Shiona," Ruth admonished her Advise or urge (someone) earnestly she admonished him to drink no more than one glass of wine Warn (someone) of something to be avoided he admonished the people against the evil of such practices

Regicide

The action of killing a king. A person who kills or takes part in killing a king.

Suture

The action of stitching together the edges of a wound or incision. A thread or wire used for stitching. Synonyms: (v): Sew, Seam, Stitch. (n): Seam, Stitch, Sewing

Reparation

The making of amends for a wrong one has done. Something done or paid in expiation of a wrong. The act of putting something in working order again. Synonyms: noun: REPAIR, Compensation, REDRESS, Indemnity, Amends, Recompense, Indemnification, Restitution, Atonement.

Quorum

The minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid

Quintessence

The most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. The aspect of something regarded as the intrinsic and central constituent of its character. A refined essence or extract of a substance. (in classical and medieval philosophy) A fifth substance in addition to the four elements, thought to compose the heavenly bodies and to be latent in all things Synonyms: noun: Pith, Essence, Gist.

Euthanasia

The painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. The practice is illegal in most countries. Many people support __ for terminally ill patients who wish to die.

Penumbra

The partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object. The shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse. The less dark outer part of a sunspot, surrounding the dark core Any area of partial shade. When you measure your shadow to calculate the angle of the sun in the sky, be sure to measure to the edges of your shadow, to the ___ , the part of a shadow that is not as dark as the center.

ambivalence

The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone the law's ambivalence about the importance of a victim's identity government ambivalence toward the arts

Ethnology

The study of the characteristics of various peoples and the differences and relationships between them Sociology is one aspect of the science of ___ .

Heyday

Time of greatest success; PRIME. The period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor. In their ___, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl two years running. Synonyms: noun: Zenith, Acme, Meridian.

Quiver

Tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion. (of a person, a part of their body, or their voice) Tremble with sudden strong emotion Cause (something) to make a slight rapid motion. A slight trembling movement or sound, esp. one caused by a sudden strong emotion. An archer's portable case for holding arrows. Synonyms: verb: TREMBLE, Shiver, Quake, Shake, Shudder, Vibrate, Quaver, Waver, Thrill, Flicker, Palpitate, Wobble, Flutter, Pulsate noun: Tremor, Tremble, Shiver, Thrill, Trembling, Shudder, Shake, Vibration, Quaver.

Contortions

Twistings; distortions. As the effects of the opiate wore away, the __ of the patient became more violent and demonstrated how much pain she was enduring.

Irrepressible

Unable to be restrained or held back. Impossible to repress or control. Not able to be controlled or restrained. Her high spirits were ___. Synonyms: adjective: Ungovernable, Uncontrollable.

writhe

Verb - Make continual twisting, squirming movements or contortions of the body; Noun - A twisting, squirming movement. Synonyms: verb: squirm, twist, wriggle noun: squirm

Infirmity

Weakness. Physical or mental weakness. A weakness or disability, especially due to old age, is called an ___. Her greatest ___ was lack of willpower. Synonyms: noun: Weakness, Frailty, Feebleness, Debility, Failing.

Hibernal

Wintry. Brumal: characteristic of or relating to winter; "bears in brumal sleep" Bears prepare for their long ___ sleep by overeating.

Chaff

Worthless things; trash. Lighthearted joking; banter. When you separate the wheat from the -- , be sure you throw out the -- .

Doctrine

a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school

VICISSITUDE

a change or variation; ups and downs

PHALANX

a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things

PARADOX

a contradiction or dilemma

Paradox

a contradiction or dilemma, a statement that contradicts itself

IMPRECATION

a curse

MALEDICTION

a curse; a wish of evil upon another

discrepancy

a difference; a lack of agreement

CALUMNY

a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation

XENOPHOBIA

a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers

remorse

a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)

vendetta

a feud in which members of the opposing parties murder each other

DOGMA

a firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief

Eulogy

a formal statement of commendation; high praise

LIBERTINE

a free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one without moral restraint

DIRGE

a funeral hymn or mournful speech

ZEPHYR

a gentle breeze; something airy or insubstantial

WRAITH

a ghost or specter; a ghost of a living person seen just before his/her death

ACCRETION

a growth in size; an increase in amount

DISSONANCE

a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds

Dissonance

a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds

Albinism

a hereditary condition characterized by a partial or total lack of melanin pigment (particularly in the eyes, skin, and hair)

DEMAGOGUE

a leader or rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice

ANALGESIA

a lessening or pain without loss of consciousness

CANARD

a lie

STIGMA

a mark of shame or discredit

metamorphosis

a marked change in form, character, or function; a transformation

PROCLIVITY

a natural inclination or predisposition

Brook

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

AERIE

a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling

SYBARITE

a person devoted to pleasure and luxury

MISANTHROPE

a person who dislikes others

PHILISTINE

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

Pedant

a person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit

CONNOISSEUR

a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes

Enigma

a puzzle, mystery, or riddle

ENIGMA

a puzzle; a mystery

CABAL

a secret group seeking to overturn something

axiom

a self-evident rule or truth; Self-evident truth requiring no proof A statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true the axiom that supply equals demand A statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is based

SYCOPHANT

a self-serving flatterer; yes-man

ELEGY

a sorrowful poem or speech

POLYGLOT

a speaker of many languages

snoop

a spy who makes uninvited inquiries into the private affairs of others

LASSITUDE

a state of diminished energy

STASIS

a state of static balance or equilibrium; stagnation

NUANCE

a subtle expression of meaning or quality

VESTIGE

a trace; remnant

Peculiarities

a trait, manner, characteristic, or habit that is odd or unusual

SINECURE

a well-paying job or office that requires little or no work

MISSIVE

a written note or letter

PLASTIC

able to be molded, altered or bent

ARTICULATE

able to speak clearly and expressively

UNEQUIVOCAL

absolute; certain

REPLETE

abundantly supplied; complete

INVECTIVE

abusive language

FANATICAL

acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme unquestioned devotion

LETHARGIC

acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner

TRENCHANT

acute, sharp, or incisive; forceful; effective

ESTIMABLE

admirable

OVERWROUGHT

agitated; overdone

DIAPHANOUS

allowing light to show through; delicate

DROLL

amusing in a wry, subtle way

Apathy

an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

DIATRIBE

an abusive, condemnatory speech

ABYSS

an extremely deep hole

LEVITY

an inappropriate lack of seriousness; overly casual

COTERIE

an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose

INQUEST

an investigation; an inquiry

liability

an obligation to pay money to another party

PENURY

an oppressive lack of resource (as money); severe poverty

PARIAH

an outcast

ARCHAIC

ancient; old-fashioned

SERAPHIC

angelic; sweet

OSTENSIBLE

apparent

DECORUM

appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety

APPROBATION

approval and praise

Loquacious

apt totalk too much talkative

provocative

arousing anger or interest; tending to provoke or stimulate

MANNERED

artificial or stilted in character

DICTUM

authoritative statement

SENTIENT

aware; conscious; able to perceive

hypothetical

based on an assumption or guess; used as a provisional or tentative idea to guide or direct investigation

rudimentary

basic; elementary; in the earliest stages of development

Prevaricate

be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

Stint

be thrifty; set limits "Spare no expense," the bride's father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements.

PULCHRITUDE

beauty

MENDICANT

beggar

TYRO

beginner; novice

Conception

beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception

Subservient

behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone.

SEDITION

behaviour that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state

ETHOS

beliefs or character of a group

BELFRY

bell tower; room in which a bell is hung

JINGOISM

belligerent support of one's country

ENDEMIC

belonging to a particular area; inherent

Baffle

bewilder; perplex; fill with confusion; puzzle; frustrate

CAUSTIC

biting in wit

IMPASSE

blocked path; dilemma with no solution

INCARNADINE

blood-red in color

Audacious

bold, adventurous, recklessly daring

TOME

book, usually large and academic

PUGILISM

boxing

Laconic

brief and to the point

LUMINOUS

bright; brilliant; glowing

PHLEGMATIC

calm and unemotional in temperament

MALLEABLE

capable of being shaped

Supersede

cause to be set aside; replace This regulation will supersede all previous rules.

PATHOGENIC

causing disease

GRIEVOUS

causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing

SOPORIFIC

causing sleep or lethargy

CIRCUMSPECT

cautious; aware of potential consequences

INVESTITURE

ceremony conferring authority

CAPRICIOUS

changing one's mind quickly and often

Ingenuous

characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication

PHILANTHROPY

charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness

WINSOME

charming; happily engaging

PUERILE

childish, immature, or silly

TALON

claw of an animal, especially a bird of prey

LUCID

clear and easily understood

LIMPID

clear; transparent

EXPLICIT

clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

shrewd

clever, keen, astute, cunning

WILY

clever; deceptive

NUMISMATICS

coin collecting

COLLUSION

collaboration; complicity; conspiracy

Zany

comical and outlandish

PROBITY

complete honesty and integriity

HETEROGENEOUS

composed of unlike parts; different; diverse

Pragmatic

concerned with practical matters

AESTHETIC

concerning the appreciation of beauty

POLEMIC

controversy; argument; verbal attack

COGENT

convincing and well-reasoned

SYMBIOSIS

cooperation; mutual helpfulness

PROFLIGATE

corrupt; degenerate

PLUCKY

courageous; spunky

PUSILLANIMOUS

cowardly; without courage

CURMUDGEON

cranky person, usually old

PLEBEIAN

crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners

BOOR

crude person, one lacking manners or taste

SARDONIC

cynical; scornfully mocking

GUILE

deceit; trickery

CHICANERY

deception by means of craft or guile

SPECIOUS

deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious

CONTRITE

deeply sorrowful or repentant for a wrong

ARBITRARY

determined by chance or impulse

ABERRANT

deviating from what is normal or expected

ANOMALY

deviation from what is normal

DOGMATIC

dictatorial in one's opinions

AUGUST

dignified; grandiose

TANGENTIAL

digressing; diverting

LIVID

discolored from a bruise; reddened with anger

PARLEY

discussion, usually b/w enemies

MENDACIOUS

dishonest

MULTIFARIOUS

diverse

PERFUNCTORY

done in a routine way; indifferent

TACIT

done without using words

FALLOW

dormant; unused

AMBIGUOUS

doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways

DECLIVITY

downward slope

wince

draw back, as with fear or pain; a reflex or facial expression response to sudden pain. Synonyms: verb: flinch, start noun: start

TERRESTRIAL

earthly; down-to-earth; commonplace

VOLATILE

easily arouse or changeable; lively or explosive

GULLIBLE

easily deceived

LISSOME

easily flexed; limber; agile

susceptible

easily influenced or impressionable; or subject to, prone to, or sensitive to

IRASCIBLE

easily made angry

RHETORIC

effective writing or speaking

EFFICACY

effectiveness

PANEGYRIC

elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise

Ephemeral

enduring a very short time

savor

enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality

INVIDIOUS

envious, obnoxious, or offensive; likely to promote ill-will

PLETHORA

excess

SURFEIT

excessive amount

OSTENTATION

excessive showiness

FLORID

excessively decorated or embellished

EBULLIENT

exhilarated; full of enthusiasm and high spirits

DIURNAL

existing during the day

NOMINAL

existing in name only; negligible

articulate

expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language

ANTIPATHY

extreme dislike

TORPOR

extreme mental and physical sluggishness

METICULOUS

extremely careful; fastidious; painstaking

LAVISH

extremely generous or extravagant; giving unsparingly

STENTORIAN

extremely loud

MONASTIC

extremely plain or secluded

SACROSANCT

extremely sacred; beyond criticism

ERSATZ

fake

Spurious

false; counterfeit; forged; illogical The hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels is an antique dealer who gives the reader advice on how to tell spurious antiques from the real things.

KUDOS

fame, glory, or honor

AUDACIOUS

fearless and daring

INTREPID

fearless; resolutely courageous

FECUND

fertile; fruitful; productive

METAPHOR

figure of speech comparing two different things

VERACITY

filled with truth and accuracy

MORES

fixed customs or manners; moral attitudes

PANACHE

flamboyance or dash in style and action; verve

GLIB

fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual

Subsequent

following; later In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems.

FETID

foul-smelling; putrid

FRENETIC

frantic; frenzied

PRISTINE

fresh and clean; uncorrupted

MIRTH

frivolity; gaiety; laughter

SPORTIVE

frolicsome; playful

DISPARATE

fundamentally different; entirely unalike

TAWDRY

gaudy, cheap, or showy

MERETRICIOUS

gaudy; falsely attractive

LARGESS

generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior

BONHOMIE

good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer

SOLECISM

grammatical mistake; blunder in speech

CHAOS

great disorder or confused situation

CUPIDITY

greed; strong desire

VERDANT

green with vegetation; inexperienced

BEVY

group

GESTATION

growth process from conception to birth

INDOLENT

habitually lazy or idle

Somnolent

half asleep The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker.

Snicker

half-stifled laugh The boy could not suppress a snicker when the teacher sat on the tack.

FORTUITOUS

happening by chance; fortunate

OBDURATE

hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion

INNOCUOUS

harmless

CACOPHONY

harsh, jarring noise

KEEN

having a sharp edge; intellectually sharp; perceptive

PEJORATIVE

having bad connotations; disparaging

PRESCIENT

having foresight

IGNOBLE

having low moral standards; not noble in character; mean

Erudite

having or showing profound knowledge

SALUBRIOUS

healthful

ACME

highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable

SPARTAN

highly self-disciplined; frugal; austere

INIMICAL

hostile; unfriendly

RIBALD

humorous in a vulgar way

travesty

imitation that makes a serious thing seem ridiculous; mockery

LICENTIOUS

immoral; unrestrained by society

CANDID

impartial and honest in speech

RESTIVE

impatient, uneasy, or restless

IMPERVIOUS

impossible to penetrate

OPAQUE

impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light

PANOPLY

impressive array

EFFRONTERY

impudent boldness; audacity

Capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

dormant

inactive; in a state of suspension; sleeping

QUERULOUS

inclined to complain; irritable

Augmenting

increasing; enlarging

OBLIQUE

indirect or evasive; misleading or devious

INEXORABLE

inflexible; unyielding

DILATORY

intended to delay

ARDOR

intense and passionate feeling

FERVID

intensely emotional; feverish

Browbeat

intimidate (someone), typically into doing something, with stern or abusive words.. Billy resisted Ted's attempts to -- him into handing over his lunch money. Synonyms: verb: intimidate, cow, daunt, frighten, scare, terrify, overawe, Bully, threaten.

CONVOLUTED

intricate and complicated

BLITHE

joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought

DESULTORY

jumping from one thing to another; disconnected

ESOTERIC

known or understood only by a few

APATHY

lack of interest or emotion

PALLID

lacking color or liveliness

CRAVEN

lacking courage

LISTLESS

lacking energy and enthusiasm

LANGUID

lacking energy; indifferent; slow

MYOPIC

lacking foresight; having a narrow view or lang-range perspective

INSIPID

lacking interest or flavor

DIFFIDENT

lacking self-confidence

NAIVE

lacking sophistication or experience

tarantula

large hairy tropical spider that can inflict painful but not highly venomous bites

EPHEMERAL

lasting a short time

PRODIGAL

lavish; wasteful

Stratum

layer of earth's surface; layer of society Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt.

Lethargic

lazy, sluggish, lacking energy

ERUDITE

learned; scholarly; bookish

Mitigate

lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of

WHIMSICAL

lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable

SUBLIME

lofty or grand

TIRADE

long, harsh speech or verbal attack

Cacophony

loud confusing disagreeable sounds, harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance

NADIR

lowest point

Recumbent

lying down; in a position of comfort or rest. ______ means to leaning back in a reclining position. Synonyms: adjective: Lying, Accumbent, Decumbent, Unerect.

motley

made up of different, dissimilar parts; being of many colors

REPAST

meal or mealtime

PRATTLE

meaningless; foolish talk

PECCADILLO

minor sin or offense

PARAGON

model of excellence or perfection

ABSTEMIOUS

moderate in appetite

POTENTATE

monarch or ruler with great power

QUIESCENT

motionless

Gullible

naive and easily deceived or tricked

NEOLOGISM

new word or expression

SOBRIQUET

nickname

MONOTONY

no variation; tediously the same

JARGON

nonsensical talk; specialized language

IMPERTURBABLE

not capable of being disturbed

IMPIOUS

not devout in religion

INTRACTABLE

not easily managed or manipulated

INCHOATE

not fully formed; disorganized

NEOPHYTE

novice; beginner

QUOTIDIAN

occurring daily; commonplace

HOMOGENEOUS

of a similar kind

Nugatory

of little or no value; trifling; worthless; useless

APOCRYPHAL

of questionable authority or authenticity

UMBRAGE

offense; resentment

EXPONENT

one who champions or advocates

TOADY

one who flatters in the hope of gaining favours

ICONOCLAST

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

APOSTATE

one who renounces a religious faith

AMULET

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

GREGARIOUS

outgoing; sociable

QUIXOTIC

overly idealistic; impractical

MAUDLIN

overly sentimental

OBSEQUIOUS

overly submissive and eager to please

Streotyped

oversimplified; lacking individuality; seen as a type My chief objection to the book is that the characters are stereotyped; they come across as ethnic caricatures, not as real people with individual quirks, fears, and dreams.

Aisle

passageway between seating areas as in an auditorium or passenger vehicle or between areas of shelves of goods as in stores

ZEAL

passion; excitement

Fervid

passionate, intense emotion, zealous,

IDIOSYNCRASY

peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity

INTERREGNUM

period between reigns

Supernumerary

person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra His first appearance on the stage was as a supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy.

Misonthrope

person who hates or distrusts everyone

Stoic

person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain The doctor called her patient a stoic because he had borne the pain of the examination without whimpering.

EPICURE

person with refined taste in food and wine

ELOQUENT

persuasive and moving, especially in speech

Stellar

pertaining to the stars He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance.

AFFECTED

phony; artificial

PASTICHE

piece of literature or music imitating other works

Superimpose

place over something else Your attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature of our government.

Flora

plants of a region or era Because she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the ____ of the desert. Synonyms: noun: Vegetation.

JOCULAR

playful; humorous

EUPHONY

pleasant, harmonious sound

MACHINATION

plot or scheme

JUNCTURE

point of time, especially where two things are joined

OROTUND

pompous

BOMBASTIC

pompous in speech and manner

IMPECUNIOUS

poor; having no money

LATENT

potential that is not readily apparent

MAGNATE

powerful or influential person

PRAGMATIC

practical, as opposed to idealistic

AXIOM

premise; postulate; self-evident truth

Ostentation

pretentious or showy or vulgar display, excessive showiness

GRADATION

process occurring by regular degrees or stages; variation in color

PITHY

profound or substantial yet concise succinct, and to the point

SALIENT

prominent; of notable significance

DECOROUS

proper; tasteful; socially correct

AUGURY

prophecy; prediction of events

OPPROBRIUM

public disgrace

HYPERBOLE

purposeful exaggeration for effect

IMPETUOUS

quick to act without thinking

MERCURIAL

quick, shrewd, and unpredictable

Quiescence

quiet and inactive restfulness

Ratiocination

reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for --- made him a superb detective.

INSURRECTION

rebellion

CONTUMACIOUS

rebellious

Prodigal

reckless, wasteful, and extravagant

VERNAL

related to spring; fresh

PALATIAL

relating to a palace; magnificent

KINETIC

relating to motion; characterized by movement

LAPIDARY

relating to precious stones or art of cutting them

REPOSE

relaxation; leisure

REDRESS

relief from wrong or injury

Sonorous

resonant His sonorous voice resounded through the hall.

DEFERENCE

respect; courtesy

VENERABLE

respected because of age

REJOINDER

response

DOCTRINAIRE

rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic

SANGUINE

ruddy; cheerfully optimistic

SURLY

rude and bad-tempered

RUSTIC

rural

Saline

salty The slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant.

CARTOGRAPHY

science or art of making maps

FURTIVE

secret, stealthy

ECLECTIC

selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

JUDICIOUS

sensible; showing good judgement

PUNGENT

sharp and irritating to the senses

PRECIS

short summary of facts

INGENUOUS

showing innocence or childlike simplicity

POLITIC

shrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic

PERSPICACIOUS

shrewd, astute, or keen-witted

SAGACIOUS

shrewd; wise

WIZENED

shriveled; withered; wrinkled

WAN

sickly pale

CLOYING

sickly sweet; excessive

TACITURN

silent; not talkative

RETICENT

silent; reserved

ANALOGOUS

similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

Correlation

similarity or relationship between

INIQUITY

sin; evil act

Servitude

slavery; compulsory labor Born a slave, Douglass resented his wife of servitude and plotted to escape to the North.

Spangle

small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.

ZEALOT

someone passionately devoted to a cause

CHAUVINIST

someone prejudiced in favour of a group to which he/ she belongs

PEDANT

someone who shows off learning

DILETTANTE

someone with an amateurish or superficial interest in a topic

Anomoly

something different from the norm

ANACHRONISM

something out of place in time

CATALYST

something that brings about a change in something else

ANODYNE

something that calms or soothes pain

LUGUBRIOUS

sorrowful; mournful; dismal

KNELL

sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure

ACIDULOUS

sour in taste or manner

EULOGY

speech in praise of someone

ALACRITY

speed or quickness

NASCENT

starting to develop; coming into existence

CRESCENDO

steadily increasing in volume or force

NOISOME

stinking; putrid

MARTINET

strict disciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules

COFFER

strongbox; large chest for money

Obdurate

stubborn, unyielding

tenacious

stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose

OBSTINATE

stubborn; unyielding

EFFIGY

stuffed doll; likeness of a person

FATUOUS

stupid; foolishly self-satisfied

Subsidiary

subordinate; secondary This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument.

DELETERIOUS

subtly or unexpectedly harmful

DYSPEPTIC

suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable

Stint

supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly.

LEERY

suspicious

TURGID

swollen as from a fluid; bloated

LOQUACIOUS

talkative

VOLUBLE

talkative; speaking easily; glib

LACHRYMOSE

tearful

SYNCOPATION

temporary irregularity in musical rhythm

ABEYANCE

temporary suppression or suspension

TRANSITORY

temporary; lasting a brief time

FRUGALITY

tending to be thrifty or cheap

Subversive/ SUBVERT

tending to overthrow; destructive At first glance, the notion that Styrofoam cups may actually be more ecologically sound than paper cups strikes most environmentalists as subversive.

GARRULOUS

tending to talk a lot

Waver

the act of moving back and forth

espionage

the act of spying, especially a government spy obtaining secrets of another government

Embryology

the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms

HEGEMONY

the domination of one state or group over its allies

DISTAFF

the female branch of a family

ZENITH

the point of culmination; peak

USURY

the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates

vigilance

the process of paying close and continuous attention

PROPRIETY

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

carnage

the savage and excessive killing of many people

LARCENY

theft of property

VISCOUS

thick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing fluid

HERMETIC

tightly sealed

VITUPERATE

to abuse verbally; berate

DITHER

to act confusedly or without clear purpose

EMBELLISH

to add ornamental or fictitious details

BLIGHT

to afflict; destroy

ANTAGONIZE

to annoy or provoke to anger

VEX

to annoy; irritate; puzzle; confuse

FOMENT

to arouse or incite

POSIT

to assume as real or conceded; propose as an explanation

ASSAIL

to attack; assault

PERVADE

to be present throughout; to permeate

INTER

to bury

IMPUGN

to call into question; to attack verbally

SLAKE

to calm down or moderate

MOLLIFY

to calm or make less severe

Engender

to cause, to produce, to create

EXPURGATE

to censor

OSSIFY

to change into bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern

BILK

to cheat; defraud

ABSTAIN

to choose not to do something

ARROGATE

to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right

EXCULPATE

to clear from blame; prove innocent

EXONERATE

to clear of blame

AMALGAMATE

to combine; to mix together

PROPITIATE

to conciliate; to appease

EMULATE

to copy; to try to equal or excel

ENUMERATE

to count, list, or itemize

FORD

to cross a body of water by wading

MAR

to damage or deface; spoil

GAMBOL

to dance or skip around playfully

DUPE

to deceive; a person who is easily deceived

FLAG

to decline in vigor, strength, or interest

AMORTIZE

to diminish by installment payments

JETTISON

to discard; get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering

BIFURCATE

to divide into two parts

Desiccate

to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull

DESICCATE

to dry out thoroughly

MALINGER

to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

OPINE

to express an opinion

DEMUR

to express doubts or objection

LAMENT

to express sorrow; to grieve

WAVER

to fluctuate b/w choices

DIVINE

to foretell or know by inspiration

INGRATIATE

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

GARNER

to gather and store

LAUD

to give praise; to glorify

GLOWER

to glare or stare angrily and intensely

FAWN

to grovel

BURGEON

to grow and flourish

COALESCE

to grow together to form a single whole

INURE

to harden; accustom become used to

Allude

to hint at, to refer to indirectly

refrain

to hold oneself back, forbear

GROVEL

to humble oneself in a demeaning way

ABASE

to humble; disgrace

PROLIFERATE

to increase in number quickly

AGGRANDIZE

to increase in power, influence, and reputation

IMBUE

to infuse, dye, wet, or moisten

EDIFY

to instruct morally and spiritually

NETTLE

to irritate

YOKE

to join together

ARBITRATE

to judge a dispute b/w two opposing parties

ABSCOND

to leave secretly

PREVARICATE

to lie or deviate from the truth

Abase

to lower in rank, prestige, or esteem, To humiliate

AMELIORATE

to make better; to improve

Assuage

to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench

ADULTERATE

to make impure

DILATE

to make larger; expand

PALLIATE

to make less serious; ease

ALLEVIATE

to make more bearable

ASSUAGE

to make something unpleasant less severe

RAREFY

to make thinner or sparser

EXACERBATE

to make worse

HUSBAND

to manage economically; to use sparingly

DEFACE

to mar the appearance of; vandalize

LUMBER

to move slowly and awkwardly

MILITATE

to operate against; work against

CONDONE

to overlook, pardon, or disregard

INUNDATE

to overwhelm; to cover with water

COSSET

to pamper; treat with great care

PERMEATE

to penetrate

DISCERN

to perceive or recognize

VACILLATE

to physically sway or be indecisive

BURNISH

to polish

DISSEMBLE

to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character

FORESTALL

to prevent or delay; anticipate

OBVIATE

to prevent; to make unnecessary

ENGENDER

to produce, cause, or bring about

CASTIGATE

to punish or criticize harshly

ABATE

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

ATTENUATE

to reduce in force or degree; weaken

ENERVATE

to reduce in strength

Balk

to refuse stubbornly or abruptly; to stop short and refuse to go on

REPUDIATE

to reject the validity of

ABJURE

to reject; abandon formally

SUPPLANT

to replace (another) by force; to take the place of

Entail

to require or involve

VENERATE

to respect deeply

REQUITE

to return or repay

LAMPOON

to ridicule with satire

Deride

to ridicule; to mock

SATIATE

to satisfy fully or overindulge

UPBRAID

to scold sharply

KINDLE

to set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire

DISABUSE

to set right; free from error

MOLT

to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically

ESCHEW

to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)

MITIGATE

to soften; to lessen

PLACATE

to soothe or pacify

ADVOCATE

to speak in favor of

DERIDE

to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock

Abstain

to stay away from doing something by one's own choice

OCCLUDE

to stop up; prevent the passage of

CORROBORATE

to support with evidence

BOLSTER

to support; prop up

Vacillate

to sway from one side to the other; oscillate

DISTEND

to swell, inflate, or bloat

SULLY

to tarnish; taint

INCULCATE

to teach; impress in the mind

PRECIPITATE

to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation

LIONIZE

to treat as a celebrity

PARE

to trim off excess; reduce

Endeavoured

to try very hard ; strive

EQUIVOCATE

to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead

PEREGRINATE

to wander from place to place; to travel, especially on foot

PARRY

to ward off or deflect, especially by a quick-witted answer

LIBERAL

tolerant or broad-minded; generous or lavish

OFFICIOUS

too helpful; meddlesome

CREDULOUS

too trusting; gullible

SCINTILLA

trace amount

Pellucid

transparent, easy to understand

STRATAGEM

trick designed to deceive an enemy

LEGERDEMAIN

trickery

bauble

trinket; trifle; Something of no importance or worth. The child was delighted with the __ she had won in the grab bag.

ONEROUS

troublesome and oppressive; burdensome

IMPLACABLE

unable to be calmed down or made peaceful

INTRANSIGENT

uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled

WANTON

undisciplined; unrestrained; reckless

STOLID

unemotional; lacking sensitivity

HAPLESS

unfortunate; having bad luck

INGRATE

ungrateful person

CATHOLIC

universal; broad and comprehensive

FRACTIOUS

unruly; rebellious

UNCONSCIONABLE

unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust

EXIGENT

urgent; requiring immediate action

EUPHEMISM

use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one

LACONIC

using few words

VARIEGATED

varied; marked with different colors

abash

verb: disconcert, embarrass, shame, confuse, confound, puzzle, perplex, bewilder, baffle Cause to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed she was not abashed at being caught

ROCOCO

very highly ornamented

HOARY

very old; whitish or gray from age

VIM

vitality and energy

ERRATIC

wandering and unpredictable

PERIPATETIC

wandering from place to place, especially on foot

ITINERANT

wandering from place to place; unsettled

ENCOMIUM

warm praise

Enervate

weaken mentally or morally

MAELSTROM

whirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind

PERFIDIOUS

willing to betray one's trust

PRUDENCE

wisdom, caution, restraint

RACONTEUR

witty, skillful storyteller

VERBOSE

wordy

affidavit

written declaration made under oath

DEBUTANTE

young woman making debut in high society

wry

(Adj) - Using or expressing dry, esp. mocking, humor; Twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance. Synonyms crooked - awry - oblique

adonis

(Greek mythology) a handsome youth loved by Aphrodite, the goddess of love

Cavalcade

(N) - A formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles. Procession; Parade. As described by Chaucer, the -- of Canterbury pilgrims was motley group.

Dissimulate

(V) - Pretend; Conceal by feigning.Disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character) She tried to ___ her grief by her exuberant attitude. ynonyms: verb: DISSEMBLE, Conceal, Pretend, Feign, Simulate, Sham, Msk, Hide.

Disheveled

(ad) - (of a person's hair, clothes, or appearance) Untidy; disordered Your __ appearance will hurt your chances in this interview. Synonyms: adjective: Unkempt, Untidy, Tousled.

Stodgy

(ad) - Dull and uninspired; Lacking originality or Excitement. Stuffy; Boringly conservative. Bulky or heavy in appearance. (of food) heavy, filling, and high in carbohydrates. For a young person, Winston seems remarkably ___: you'd expect someone of his age to have a little more life.

Drab

(ad) - Dull, dreary, dingy, depressing. Lacking color; Cheerless. The Dutch woman's __ winter coat contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native costume she wore beneath it. Synonyms: adjective: Monotonous, Dull, Humdrum, Grey, Gray.

Unassailable

(ad) - Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated. Synonyms: adjective: impregnable

Congenital

(adj) (esp. of a disease or physical abnormality) Present from birth. (of a person) Having a particular trait from birth or by firmly established habit. Existing at birth. His __ deformity disturbed his parents. Synonyms: adjective: inborn, innate, native, inbred, connate, inherent, connatural, born.

Extant

(adj) - (esp. of a document) Still in existence; surviving. Although the authorities suppressed the book, many copies are __ and may be purchased at exorbitant prices. Synonyms: adjective: Existing, Existent, In existence, Present.

Tepid

(adj) - (esp. of a liquid) Only slightly warm; lukewarm. Feeling or showing little enthusiasm. Synonyms: (adj): lukewarm, warmish

Spry

(adj) - (esp. of an old person) Active; lively. Synonyms: adjective: Brisk, Nimble, Agile, Lively, Active, Sprightly, Quick, Smart, Alert, Dapper.

Dulcet

(adj) - (esp. of sound) Sweet and soothing (often used ironically) Use the adjective __ to describe a sound that is soothing and soft, like "the __ harmonies in a 70s pop song" or "the __tones of a harp." Synonyms: adjective: Sweet, Melodious, Mellifluous, Tuneful, Soft.

Portly

(adj) - (especially of a man) rather fat. Stout; Corpulent. The salesclerk tactfully referred to the overweight customer as ___ rather than fat. Plump, Fat, Overweight, Heavy, Fleshy.

Wanton

(adj) - (of a cruel or violent action) Deliberate and unprovoked;unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste; something excessive, uncontrolled and sometimes even cruel. Synonyms: verb: gambol, play

Pandemic

(adj) - (of a disease) Prevalent over a whole country or the world (n) - An outbreak of such a disease.

Kempt

(adj) - (of a person or a place) Maintained in a neat and clean condition; well cared for. Neatly or tidily kept. combed, as hair.

Ungainly

(adj) - (of a person or movement) Awkward; Clumsy; unwieldy. Synonyms: (adj): Ungraceful, Awkward, Clumsy, Gawky, unwieldy, Hulking, Gauche, Maladroit, Uncouth. (adv): Awkwardly

Sleazy

(adj) - (of a person or situation) Sordid, Corrupt, or Immoral. Morally degraded. (of a place) squalid and seedy. (of textiles and clothing) FLIMSY. Thin and loosely woven. This is a ___ fabric; it will not wear well.

Sallow

(adj) - (of a person's face or complexion) Of an unhealthy yellow or pale brown color. A willow tree, esp. one of a low-growing or shrubby kind. A moth with dull yellow, orange, and brown patterned wings. Synonyms: adjective: Pale, Pallid, Wan, YELLOWISH, Pasty noun: Willow, Osier

Disputatious

(adj) - (of a person) Fond of having heated arguments. (of an argument or situation) Motivated by or causing strong opinions. Synonyms: (adj): Argumentative, Contentious, Controversial, Quarrelsome.

Promiscuous

(adj) - (of a person) Having many sexual relationships, esp. transient ones. (of sexual behavior or a society) Characterized by such relationships. Demonstrating or implying an undiscriminating or unselective approach; indiscriminate or casual. Consisting of a wide range of different things. Synonyms: adjective: Mixed, Indiscriminate.

Sedentary

(adj) - (of a person) Tending to spend much time seated; Somewhat inactive. (of work or a way of life) Characterized by much sitting and little physical exercise. (of a position) Sitting; Seated. Inhabiting the same locality throughout life; not migratory or nomadic (of an animal) Sessile. Synonyms: adjective: Sitting.

Gaunt

(adj) - (of a person) lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age. (of a building or place) grim or desolate in appearance. His once-round face looked surprisingly ___ after he had lost weight. Synonyms: adjective: Lean, Scrawny, Skinny, Thin, Meager, Scraggy, Meagre, Emaciated, Haggard.

Skittish

(adj) - (of a person) playfully frivolous or unpredictable. (of an animal, especially a horse) nervous or excitable; easily scared.

Urbane

(adj) - (of a person, esp. a man) Suave, courteous, and refined in manner. showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience. Synonyms: (adj): polite, courteous, courtly, mannerly, affable, civil, genteel, polished, refined, svelte.

Trite

(adj) - (of a remark, opinion, or idea) Overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness. repeated too often. Synonyms: (adj): hackneyed, banal, commonplace, trivial, threadbare, well-worn, corny, platitudinous, stale.

Steep

(adj) - (of a slope, flight of stairs, or angle) rising or falling sharply; almost perpendicular. Having a sharp inclination. (v) Soak; Saturate. Soak (food or tea) in water or other liquid so as to extract its flavour or to soften it. Be sure to ___ the fabric in the dye bath for the full time prescribed.

Decollete

(adj) - (of a woman's dress or top) having a low neckline. a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.

Buxom

(adj) - (of a woman) Plump, esp. with large breasts. full-bosomed; plump; jolly High fashion models usually are slender rather than --.

Paltry

(adj) - (of an amount) Small or meager Petty; trivial. "she would earn a paltry $33 more each month" Synonyms: adjective: petty, trifling, miserable, mean, wretched, poor, insignificant, shabby, trivial, measly, small, piddling, worthless

Dapper

(adj) - (typically of a man) A neatly and stylishly dressed man can be described as __. Neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing. In "The Odd Couple," Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively __ soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place. Synonyms: adjective: Smart, Spruce, Natty.

Acrimonious

(adj) - (typically of speech or a debate) Angry and bitter. Marked by strong resentment or cynicism. Synonyms: (adj): Acrid, Sharp, Biting, Pungent, Caustic, Bitter, Cutting, Poignant, Acid, Mordant, Trenchant.

Emetic

(adj) - A medicine or Substance that induces nausea and vomiting. The use of an ___ like mustard is useful in cases of poisoning. Synonyms: adjective: vomitive, vomitory. noun: vomit.

Receptive

(adj) - Able or willing to receive something, esp. signals or stimuli. Willing to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas. (of a female animal) Ready to mate Synonyms: adjective: Susceptible, Responsive, Recipient.

Seemly

(adj) - According with custom or propriety. polite, decent, upright, and appropriate. Synonyms: (adj): proper, becoming, decorous, suitable, decent, fit, fitting, respectable, befitting.

Whimsical

(adj) - Acting or behaving in a capricious manner; determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason; Playfully quaint or fanciful, esp. in an appealing and amusing way. Synonyms: adjective: capricious, freakish, fanciful, odd, bizarre, wayward, fantastic, crotchety, impulsive, arbitrary.

Vicarious

(adj) - Acting or done for another; Experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person. Synonyms: (adj): vicarial

Bilious

(adj) - Affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting. Suffering from indigestion; Irritable.spiteful; bad-tempered. His -- temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties. Synonyms: adjective: biliary, choleric

Gustatory

(adj) - Affecting the sense of taste. Concerned with tasting or the sense of taste. The Thai restaurant offered an unusual ___ experience for those used in a bland cuisine. Synonyms: adjective: Gustative

Rapacious

(adj) - Aggressively greedy or grasping. A __ landlord is out for more rent, and a ___ eater is only satisfied at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Synonyms: adjective: Greedy, Grasping, Predatory, Ravenous, Avid, Covetous, Avaricious, Predacious, Voracious, Acquisitive.

Mnemonic

(adj) - Aiding or designed to aid the memory. Relating to the power of memory. He used ___ tricks to master new words.

zany

(adj) - Amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic; crazy, comic; Synonyms: noun: buffoon, fool, clown, jester, harlequin

Irksome

(adj) - Annoying; Tedious. Irritating. If your little brother keeps saying the same phrase over and over again, you might find it ___ — that is, annoying in a tiresome way. Synonyms: adjective: tiresome, tedious, wearisome, annoying, bothersome, troublesome.

Felicitous

(adj) - Apt; Suitably expressed. Well chosen or suited to the circumstances. Pleasing and fortunate. He was famous for his ___ remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many banquet. Synonyms: adjective: happy, apt, opportune, appropriate, apposite, lucky, successful

Imperious

(adj) - Arrogant and Domineering. Having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy. Someone who is ___ gives orders in a way that shows they feel superior or more important than other people. You might want the smartest kid in the class as your lab partner, but not if they have an __ attitude and boss you around. Synonyms: PEREMPTORY, Commanding, Imperial, Overbearing, Overweening, Domineering, Authoritarian, Dictatorial, Authoritative, Lordly, Assertive, Dominating, Bullish, Forceful, Bossy, Arrogant;

Assuming

(adj) - Arrogant or presumptuous. Taking too much for granted; Presumptuous. Used for the purpose of argument to indicate a premise on which a statement can be based. Synonyms: (adj): Arrogant, Overweening, Conceited, Uppish, Presumptuous, Haughty, Supercilious, Bumptious, Pretentious. (n): Assumption.

Moribund

(adj) - At the point of death. (of a thing) in terminal decline; lacking vitality or vigour. The doctors called the family to the bedside of the ____ patient.

winsome

(adj) - Attractive or appealing in appearance or character; Synonyms: adjective: engaging, attractive, fetching, charming, winning, alluring, lovely, inviting, taking, catchy, catching, appealing, prepossessing, glamorous.

Prepossessing

(adj) - Attractive or appealing in appearance. Creating a favorable impression. Synonyms: (adj): engaging, attractive, winsome, pleasing, nice, likable, charming, taking, fetching

Vivacious

(adj) - Attractively lively and animated(esp. of a woman) . Synonyms: (adj): lively, sprightly, spirited, brisk, animated, alive, live, vivid, quick, active, merry

Quaint

(adj) - Attractively unusual or old-fashioned. Synonyms: adjective: Odd, Strange, Weird, Peculiar, Bizarre, Outlandish, Curious, Eccentric, Singular, Funny.

Subjective

(adj) - Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. Occurring or taking place within the mind; Unreal. Taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias. Your analysis is highly ____; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking. Things that are ____ are open to interpretation. If you go see a movie about a jewel thief, the topic is not _____. But whether it's a good movie or not is _____.

Tantamount

(adj) - Being essentially equal to something. Equivalent in seriousness to. Virtually the same as. Synonyms: (adj): Equivalent, Equal.

Preternatural

(adj) - Beyond that which is normal in nature. John's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost ___. Extraordinary, Exceptional, Unusual, Uncommon, RARE, SINGULAR, Peculiar, Unprecedented, Outstanding, Remarkable, Phenomenal, Abnormal, Anomalous, Inexplicable, Unaccountable; Supernatural, Paranormal, Mystical.

Mordant

(adj) - Biting; Sarcastic; Stinging. (especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or critical quality. Actors feared the critic's ___ pen. Caustic, Trenchant, Biting, Cutting, Acerbic, Sardonic, Sarcastic, Scathing, Acid, Sharp, Keen, Tart, Pungent, Stinging, Astringent, Incisive, Devastating, Piercing.

Vituperative

(adj) - Bitter and abusive, scolding. Synonyms: (adj): abusive

Hallowed

(adj) - Blessed; consecrated Honor as holy. Make holy; consecrate. Greatly revered or respected. She was laid to rest in ___ ground. Synonyms: adjective: consecrate, consecrated, sacred, holy, sanctified.

Brazen

(adj) - Bold and without shame. Made of brass. Harsh in sound Her -- contempt for authority angered the officials. Synonyms: adjective: brassy, impudent, shameless, barefaced, impertinent, insolent.

Stilted

(adj) - Bombastic; Stiffly pompous. Artificially formal. (of a manner of talking or writing) Stiff and self-conscious or unnatural. His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances.

Resplendent

(adj) - Brilliant; lustrous. Having great beauty and splendor. The toreador wore a ___ costume called a suit of lights. Someone or something that is ____ has great beauty and is a pleasure to behold. "She was there, at the base of the stairs, resplendent in her flowing gown and jewels.

Actuarial

(adj) - Calculating. Pertaining to insurance statistics. According to recent -- tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.

Sedate

(adj) - Calm, dignified, and unhurried. Quiet and rather dull. Calm (someone) or make them sleep by administering a sedative drug. Synonyms: adjective: Calm, Composed, Quiet, Staid, Placid, Sober, Tranquil, Serene, Still, Peaceful, Settled, Steady.

Venal

(adj) - Capable of being bribed; open to bribery. Synonyms: (adj): corrupt, corruptible, bribable, mercenary, purchasable.

Tenable

(adj) - Capable of being held, maintained, or defended, as against attack or dispute. Based on sound reasoning or evidence. Capable of being occupied, possessed, held, or enjoyed, as under certain conditions. Synonyms: (adj): defensible, workable, viable, maintainable, warrantable.

Prehensile

(adj) - Capable of grasping or holding (chiefly of an animal's limb or tail). Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their ___ tails in traveling through the trees. ___ means "able to grasp" and often refers to such body parts as claws, feet, and tails. Elephants curl their ___ noses around objects in order to pick them up.

Erring

(adj) - Capable of making an error. Going Astray; in error; Wrong. Synonyms: (adj): Errant, Sinful, Error-prone, Fallible.

Lax

(adj) - Careless. Not sufficiently strict or severe. (of the limbs or muscles) Relaxed. (of the bowels) Loose. We dislike restaurants where the service is __ and inattentive. Synonyms: adjective: Loose, Slack, Limp, Flabby, Remiss. noun: Salmon

Cavalier

(adj) - Casual and offhand; Arrogant. Sensitive about having her ideas taken lightly, Marcia felt insulted by Mark's -- dismissal of her suggestion. Synonyms: (adj): haughty, arrogant, proud (n): knight, horseman, chevalier, equestrian, rider, cavalryman.

Sear

(adj) - Cause to wither. (v) - Burn or scorch the surface of (something) with a sudden, intense heat. (of pain) Be experienced as a sudden, burning sensation. Brown (food) quickly at a high temperature so that it will retain its juices in subsequent cooking. Make (someone's conscience, heart, or feelings) insensitive. To ____ something is to quickly cook or burn its surface by applying intense heat. When making beef stew, the color and flavor are usually better if you sear the meat first. Synonyms: adjective: Sere, Dry, Withered, Wizened, Arid. verb: Scorch, Burn, Parch, Wither, Cauterize, Singe.

Contentious

(adj) - Causing or likely to cause an argument. Involving heated argument. Relating to or involving differences between contending parties. Synonyms: (adj): quarrelsome, controversial, moot, litigious, cantankerous, debatable, argumentative

Generic

(adj) - Characteristic of or relating to a class or group of things; not specific. ___ refers to the members of a whole class of things — like "tissue," a generic word for any soft, thin piece of paper that's good for wiping runny noses. Synonyms: adjective: general, common, universal

Incandescent

(adj) - Characterized by ardent emotion or intensity or brilliance. Emitting light as a result of being heated. Extremely angry. When heated, coals become ___, which means that they glow red-hot. When you're heated up by an argument, chances are you're ____ with, or characterized by the intense emotion of frustration. Synonyms: adjective: Glowing, White-hot, Red-hot, Flaming.

Carping

(adj) - Characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding; querulous. Difficult to please. persistent petty and unjustified criticism. Synonyms: (adj): Captious, Nagging, disparaging, Critical.

Vehement

(adj) - Characterized by great force or energy. Showing strong feeling, emotions; forceful, passionate, or intense. characterized by rancor or anger. Synonyms: (adj): violent, intense, passionate, hot, fierce, keen, impetuous, furious, ardent.

Uproarious

(adj) - Characterized by or in a state of uproar; very loud, as sounds or utterances. Provoking loud laughter; very funny. Synonyms: (adj): noisy, loud, tumultuous, obstreperous, clamorous, vociferous, boisterous, rumbustious, rowdy, riotous, rackety.

Tempestuous

(adj) - Characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion. Very stormy. Synonyms: (adj): Stormy, Boisterous, Gusty, Turbulent, Wild, Rough, Violent, Tumultuous, Squally.

Agglomerate

(adj) - Collected or formed into a mass. It took weeks to assort the -- of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip. Synonyms: (adj): Conglomeration, Accumulation. (v): Accumulate, Amass,Conglomerate, Gather. (n): Agglomeration.

Lateral

(adj) - Coming from the side. In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all ___ shoots. When something is extending to the side or moving to the side, it's ___. "All of the ___ movement in tennis hurt her knees and she had to quit playing." Synonyms: adjective: Side, Sidelong, Sideways, Collateral.

Mercantile

(adj) - Concerning trade. relating to trade or commerce; commercial. I am more interested in the opportunites available in the ___ field than I am in those in the legal profession.

Contingent

(adj) - Conditional. Subject to chance. "The continuation of this contract is __ on the quality of your first output." Synonyms: adjective: incidental, accidental, casual, fortuitous, adventitious, haphazard, random, chance, possible, eventual, potential noun: quota.

Surreptitious

(adj) - Conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods. Obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; Synonyms: (adj): secret, furtive, stealthy, clandestine, underhand, undercover, hole-and-corner, occult, sneaking, hidden.

Dutiful

(adj) - Conscientiously or obediently fulfilling one's duty. Motivated by duty rather than desire or enthusiasm. Respectful; Obedient. Are you a __ person? If you are, then you do as you're told, out of a feeling of duty and obligation. __ children know this means cleaning one's room, taking out the trash, and no talking back! Synonyms: adjective: Obedient, Duteous, Submissive, Docile, Conscientious, Deferential.

Egregious

(adj) - Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible. Outstandingly bad; shocking. She was an __ liar; we all knew better than to believe a word she said. Synonyms: adjective: Outrageous.

Inquisitive

(adj) - Curious or inquiring If you are ___ that means you love to inquire; you're always asking questions. Don't become a private detective if you don't have an ___ personality. Unduly curious about the affairs of others; prying. Synonyms: adjective: Curious, Nosy, Nosey, Prying, Inquiring.

Swarthy

(adj) - Dark-skinned. Synonyms: (adj): Dark, Swart, Dusky, Brown, Sable.

Bawdy

(adj) - Dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; humorously indecent. She took offense at his -- remarks. Synonyms: (adj): obscene, lewd, salacious, filthy, smutty, ribald, nasty, scurrilous, indecent, foul, improper

Ingrained

(adj) - Deeply established; Firmly rooted. (of a habit, belief, or attitude) Firmly fixed or established; difficult to change. (of dirt or a stain) Deeply embedded and thus difficult to remove Try as they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the ___ superstitions of the natives. Synonyms: adjective: INVETERATE, engrained, deep-rooted, ingrain, rooted.

Distraught

(adj) - Deeply upset and agitated; distracted by anxiety. The __ parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost child. Synonyms: adjective: Distracted, Mad, Confused.

Libelous

(adj) - Defamatory; Injurious to the good name of a person. Containing or constituting a libel. (used of statements) harmful and often untrue; Tending to discredit or malign. He sued the newspaper because of its ____ story. Synonyms: adjective: Libellous, Defamatory, Slanderous.

Sadistic

(adj) - Deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others she took a ___ pleasure in tormenting him. A ___ killer.

Despicable

(adj) - Deserving hatred and contempt. Stealing the last piece of food from a starving child goes way beyond mean. It's ___ — a vile and harmful act. Your __ remarks call for no reply. Synonyms: adjective: Contemptible, Abject, Mean, Vile.

Unwieldy

(adj) - Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight. Too big or badly organized to function efficiently. difficult to work or manipulate. Synonyms: (adj): clumsy, cumbersome, hulking, awkward, lumpish, ungainly, bulky, heavy, ponderous, unmanageable.

Abstruse

(adj) - Difficult to understand or penetrate. Incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge. Hard to understand. Synonyms: (adj): Obscure, Recondite, Deep, Profound, Esoteric.

Disaffected

(adj) - Disloyal. Dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them. The adjective ___ describes someone who is dissatisfied or rebellious. Usually if you're ___, you're upset with people in authority. You and your fellow ___ workers might become so upset about the lack of raises that you decided to boycott work. Synonyms: adjective: Malcontent, Discontented, Disgruntled, Dissatisfied, Discontent, Unsatisfied.

Unruly

(adj) - Disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control; Disobedient; Lawless. noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline. Synonyms: (adj): insubordinate, disobedient, rebellious, recalcitrant

Distrait

(adj) - Distracted or absentminded. __ means "preoccupied with worry." If you can't concentrate on the hot gossip your friend is sharing with you because you can't stop thinking about what your mom is going to say about the window you accidentally broke, you're ___. Synonyms: adjective: Inattentive, Absent, Absentminded, Moony, Abstracted.

Stratified

(adj) - Divided into classes; Arranged into strata. Deposited or arranged in horizontal layers. As the economic gap between the rich and the poor increased, Roman society grew increasingly _____. Use the adjective ____ to describe something with many layers, either physically (like the layers of your skin) or socially (a kingdom with the king at the top and peasants at the bottom).

Flaccid

(adj) - Drooping without elasticity; Wanting in stiffness. Out of condition; Not strong or robust; Incapable of exertion or endurance. If something is limp, loose, droopy, and wrinkly, you can call it __ , which rhymes with "acid." Think elephant skin, soggy asparagus, and the type of feeble handshakes frowned on in job interviews. His sedentary life had left him with ___ muscles. Synonyms: adjective: Flabby, Limp, Soft, Lax, Slack.

Venial

(adj) - Easily excused or forgiven; not seriously wrong, as a sin (opposed to mortal ); excusable; trifling; minor, Slight and pardonable. Synonyms: (adj): pardonable, excusable, forgivable, remissible.

Pliant

(adj) - Easily influenced; yielding to others; compliant; bending readily; Adaptable. Capable of being bent or flexed or twisted without breaking. Synonyms: (adj): pliable, supple, flexible, limber, lithe, yielding, lissome, lissom, lithesome, malleable, soft, elastic, ductile, tractable

Testy

(adj) - Easily irritated or annoyed; impatient and somewhat bad-tempered. Synonyms: (adj): petulant, tetchy, irritable, techy, peevish, irascible, touchy, pettish, short-tempered

Hortatory

(adj) - Encouraging; exhortive. Tending or aiming to exhort The crowd listened to his ___ statements with ever-growing excitement; finally they rushed from the hall to carry to his suggestions.

Interminable

(adj) - Endless (often used hyperbolically). Tiresomely long; Seemingly without end. Although his speech lasted for only twenty minutes, it seemed ___ to his bored audience. Synonyms: adjective: endless, unending, infinite, never-ending, perpetual, eternal.

Suppliant

(adj) - Entreating; Beseeching. Humbly entreating. ENTREATY:: IMPLORE. One praying humbly for something. Making or expressing a plea, especially to someone in power or authority. He could not resist the dog's ___ whimpering, and he gave it some food. ____ means someone who is asking humbly. You enter church as a ___, asking God to spare you from illness. You ask in a ___ (humble) manner, because you know God is stern and demands total faith.

Abominable

(adj) - Exceptionally bad or displeasing. Causing moral revulsion. Very bad, poor, or inferior. Synonyms: (adj): Odious, Loathsome, Detestable, Abhorrent, Nasty, Execrable, Vile, Hideous, Loathful, Obnoxious, Hateful, Repulsive, Heinous, Revolting, Sickening, Repugnant, Horrible, Accursed.

Unctuous

(adj) - Excessively or Ingratiatingly Flattering; Having a greasy or soapy feel. Bland. Synonyms: (adj): Oily, Greasy, Oleaginous, Slippery Buttery, Fulsome, Soapy.

Iridescent

(adj) - Exhibiting rainbow-like colors. Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles. __ is an adjective that means lustrous and pearly, giving off a brilliant sheen like an oil slick or, well, a pearl. She admired the ___ hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water.

Primordial

(adj) - Existing at the beginning (of time); Rudimentary. Primeval. Ancient, Earliest, First, Prehistoric, Antediluvian, Antique, Primeval, Primitive, Primal. The Neanderthal Man is one of our ___ ancestors.

ulterior

(adj) - Existing beyond what is obvious or admitted; intentionally hidden. Synonyms: adjective: hidden, secret, covert, latent, subsequent, after, farther, posterior, further.

Titular

(adj) - Existing or being such in title only; Having the title but none of the associated duties, powers. Having a title, especially of rank. Synonyms: (adj): Nominal, Titulary

Tendentious

(adj) - Expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, esp. a controversial one.

Nefarious

(adj) - Extremely Wicked or criminal. Synonyms: (adj): Wicked, Villainous, Vile, Infamous, Mean, Evil, Heinous. Flagitious, Atrocious, Execrable.

Prohibitive

(adj) - Extremely high (of prices etc.). (of a price or charge) So high as to prevent something being done or bought. (of a law or rule) forbidding or restricting something. The super computer's price was ____.

Virulent

(adj) - Extremely severe or harmful in its effects; poisonous; hostile; bitter. harsh or corrosive in tone. Synonyms: (adj): venomous, poisonous, toxic, deadly.

Infinitesimal

(adj) - Extremely small. An indefinitely small quantity. A value approaching zero. In the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics of___ objects like the atom and its parts.

Laxative

(adj) - Facilitating evacuation of the bowels. (chiefly of a drug or medicine) Tending to stimulate or facilitate evacuation of the bowels. The effect of the constipation medicine is ___; it empties the bowels. Synonyms: adjective: Purgative, Aperient, Cathartic. noun: Aperient, Purge, Purgative, Cathartic.

Conversant

(adj) - Familiar with or knowledgeable about something. "The lawyer is __ with all the evidence." Synonyms: adjective: Familiar, Versed, Informed.

Modish

(adj) - Fashionable. Conforming to or following what is currently popular and fashionable. She always discarded all garments that were no longer ___. Fashionable, Stylish, Smart, Chic, Modern, Contemporary, Designer.

Foreboding

(adj) - Fearful apprehension; a feeling that something bad will happen. Caeser ridiculed his wife's ___ about the Ides of March. Synonyms: adjective: Ominous noun: Presage, Presentiment, Hunch, Misgiving, Premonition, Omen, Augury.

Feckless

(adj) - Feeble, Ineffective; Unthinking, Irresponsible. (of a person) Lacking in efficiency or vitality. Einstein was noted for his extraordinary inspirations; on the other hand, he was noted for being ___ in his daily chores. Synonyms: adjective: Powerless, Ineffective, Helpless

Dolorous

(adj) - Feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress. He found the __ lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly as he could. Synonyms: adjective: Sad, Grievous, Mournful, Sorrowful, Painful, Woeful, Doleful, Rueful, Sore, Sorry.

Wary

(adj) - Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems. Synonyms: adjective: cautious, careful, circumspect, chary, prudent, discreet, cagey, guarded, watchful, canny, gingerly, deliberate, vigilant, alert

Penitent

(adj) - Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant. Synonyms: adjective: Repentant, CONTRITE, Remorseful, Regretful noun: Repentant sinner.

Luxuriant

(adj) - Fertile; Abundant; Ornate. (of vegetation) Rich and profuse in growth; lush (of hair) Thick and healthy. Farming was easy in this ___ soil. Synonyms: adjective: Lush, Exuberant, Rank, Rich, Opulent, Rampant, Abundant, Luxurious.

Febrile

(adj) - Feverish. Having or showing the symptoms of a fever. Having or showing a great deal of nervous excitement or energy. In his ___ condition, he was subject to nightmares and hallucinations. Synonyms: adjective: Feverish, Hectic, Pyretic, Fevered.

Fraught

(adj) - Filled with (something undesirable).. Causing or affected by great anxiety or stress Since this enterprise is __ with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks. Synonyms: adjective: Full, Replete, Loaded, Laden, Pregnant. Anxious, Worried, Upset, Distraught, Overwrought, Agitated, Distressed, Distracted, Desperate, Frantic, Panic-stricken

Vitriolic

(adj) - Filled with bitter criticism or malice;Mean, nasty; corrosive; sarcastic. harsh or corrosive in tone. Synonyms: (adj): biting, caustic, mordant

Supple

(adj) - Flexible; Pliant. Bending and moving easily and gracefully. The angler found a ___ limb and used it as a fishing rod. Lithe, Limber, Nimble, Lissom,, Agile, Pliant, Pliable, Soft, Bendable, Workable, Malleable, Stretchy.

Mellifluous

(adj) - Flowing smoothly; Smooth. (of a sound) pleasingly smooth and musical to hear. Italian is a ___ language. "her low ___ voice" Synonyms: Sweet-sounding, Sweet-toned, Dulcet, Honeyed, Mellow,Soothing, Rich, Smooth, Euphonious, Lyric, Harmonious, Tuneful, Musical.

Contrived

(adj) - Forced; Artificial; Not spontaneous. Deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously. Giving a sense of artificiality. "Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws; James made a few __ attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence." Synonyms: adjective: Mannered, Constrained, Unnatural.

Paramount

(adj) - Foremost in importance; SUPREME. More important than anything else. Proper nutrition and hygiene are of ___ importance in adolescent development and growth.

Malodorous

(adj) - Foul-smelling. smelling very unpleasant. The component heap was most ___ in summer. "leaking taps and ___ drains" synonyms: Foul-smelling, Evil-smelling, FETID, Smelly, Stinking, REEKING, Reeky, Pungent, Acrid, Putrid, Noxious.

Plenary

(adj) - Full in all respects (of a meeting) To be attended by all participants at a conference or assembly, who otherwise meet in smaller groups. A meeting or session of this type. Synonyms: adjective: Complete, Absolute, Full, Total, Perfect, Entire, Utter, Thorough.

Succulent

(adj) - Full of juice. (of a plant) having fleshy and juicy tissues. Synonyms: (adj): Juicy, Sappy, Lush, Luscious, Pulpy, Mellow, Fleshy.

Tortuous

(adj) - Full of twists and turns. Excessively lengthy and complex. Marked by repeated turns and bends. Synonyms: (adj): Winding, Sinuous, Devious, Serpentine, Crooked, Circuitous.

Garish

(adj) - Gaudy. Obtrusively bright and showy. She wore a ___ rhinestone necklace. Use the adjective ___ to describe something that is overly vivid, bright, showy, and in bad taste — like the DJ's garish outfit that is a flashback to the disco era. Synonyms: adjective: gaudy, showy, loud, glaring, flashy

Spectral

(adj) - Ghostly. Wraithlike, Shadowy, Phantom, Incorporeal, Insubstantial, Disembodied, Unearthly, Ghastly, Eerie, Weird, Uncanny; We were frightened by the ___ glow that filled the room.

Grudging

(adj) - Given or allowed only reluctantly or resentfully. Petty or reluctant in giving or spending. Of especially an attitude. If you do something in a ___ manner (or __ly), you do it with reluctance. Doing homework, paying taxes, and saying sorry are all commonly done in a ___ manner. synonyms: Reluctant, Unwilling, Disinclined, Forced, Half-hearted, Unenthusiastic, Hesitant. Begrudging, Resentful, Envious, Jealous, Sullen, Sulky, Sour, Bitter. Synonyms: adjective: miserly, close-fisted, jealous

Gratuitous

(adj) - Given or done free of charge. Unnecessary and unwarranted. Uncalled for. Lacking good reason. Without cause. Synonyms: (adj): Free, Gratis, Costless, Free of charge, needless, uncalled-for.

Morbid

(adj) - Given to unwholesome thought; Gloomy. Characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease. These ___ speculations are dangerous; we must lighten our spirits by emphasizing more pleasant matters.

Viscid

(adj) - Glutinous; sticky. or a thick, slow-moving liquid. Synonyms: (adj): viscous, sticky, gummy, glutinous, gluey, adhesive, tacky, tenacious, ropy, clammy, slimy

Sacrilegious

(adj) - Grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred. Catholics regard using the consecrated host for any purpose besides Communion as ____. If you burn a copy of the Koran, Muslims find it ___ . ____ means very disrespectful towards something sacred.

Hirsute

(adj) - Hairy He was a ___ individual with a heavy black beard Synonyms: adjective: Hairy, Shaggy

Pestilential

(adj) - Harmful or destructive to crops or livestock. Of, relating to, or tending to cause infectious diseases.Annoying Synonyms: adjective: pestilent, pestiferous

Raucous

(adj) - Harsh and shrill. unpleasantly loud and harsh. disturbing the public peace; loud and rough His ___ laughter irritated me and grated on my ears. Synonyms:: Harsh, Strident, Screeching, Sharp, Grating, Discordant, Dissonant, Inharmonious, Unmelodious, Jarring, Brassy; Noisy, Loud, Shrill, Clamorous, CACOPHONOUS.

Serrated

(adj) - Having a sawtoothed edge. Having or denoting a jagged edge. Sawlike. The beech tree is one of many plants that have ___ leaves.

Giddy

(adj) - Having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy. Disorientating and alarming, but exciting. Excitable and frivolous. If you've ever spun in circles until you fell to the ground laughing, you know how it feels to be ___. This adjective can mean dizzy, elated, or — as in the spinning around example -- a lightheaded, lighthearted combination of the two. Synonyms: adjective: dizzy, vertiginous, light-headed, frivolous verb: swim, whirl

Averse

(adj) - Having a strong dislike of or opposition to something. Reluctant He was --- to revealing the sources of his information. Synonyms: (adj): Loath, Loth, Opposed, Reluctant, Unwilling.

wistful

(adj) - Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing; sadly thoughtful. Synonyms: adjective: pensive, thoughtful, longing, wishful, sad.

Misogynist

(adj) - Having or showing a hatred of women. Hater of women. She accused him of being a ___ because he had been a bachelor all his life.

Vindictive

(adj) - Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge. Synonyms: (adj): vengeful, revengeful, avengeful, vindicatory

Dappled

(adj) - Having spots or patches of color. The sunlight filtering though the screens created a __ effect on the wall. Synonyms: adjective: Spotted, Speckled, Mottled, Spotty, Piebald.

Virile

(adj) - Having strength, energy, vigor and a strong sex drive; manly. Synonyms: (adj): masculine, manly, male, manful, manlike, potent.

Carcinogenic

(adj) - Having the potential to cause cancer. Many supposedly harmless substances have been revealed to be --.

Coeval

(adj) - Having the same age or date of origin; Contemporary. Synonyms: adjective: contemporary, contemporaneous

Pied

(adj) - Having two or more different colors. PIEBALD. "___dogs from the Pyrenees" Synonyms: adjective: PIEBALD, Motley, Variegated, Spotted, Speckled, Mottled, Particolored, Patchy.

Fluted

(adj) - Having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar) All that remained of the ancient building were the ___ columns.

Preempt

(adj) - Head off; Forestall by acting first; Appropriate for oneself; Supplant Acquire for oneself before others can do so. Take the place of or have precedence over. ___means to displace or take something before others can. If everyone at the lunch meeting is vying for the last roast beef sandwich, but you grab it first, you ___ your colleagues from getting it. Let them eat liverwurst.

Hale

(adj) - Healthy. (of a person, esp. an elderly one) Strong and healthy. (v) - Drag or draw forcibly. After a brief illness, he was soon ___. adjective: robust, sound, healthy, lusty, strong, hearty, stout, sturdy, fit, able-bodied, wholesome, well, healthful, salubrious, rugged. verb: pull, drag, draw, haul, lug, trail, tug.

Sultry

(adj) - Hot and humid. Sweltering. (of a person, esp. a woman) Attractive in a way that suggests a passionate nature. Sexually exciting or gratifying. Synonyms: (adj): Stuffy, Muggy, Hot, Stifling, Sweltering, Provocative, Passionate, Oppressive, Voluptuous, Desirable, Scorching.

Gargantuan

(adj) - Huge; enormous The ___ wrestler was terrified of mice. Synonyms: Enormous, Extremely big, Extremely large, Massive, Huge, COLOSSAL, Vast, Immense, Cosmic, Tremendous, Gigantic, Giant, Towering, Mammoth, Prodigious, Mighty, Monumental, Epic.

Indulgent

(adj) - Humoring; Yielding; Lenient. Overly Generous. Having or indicating a readiness or overreadiness to be generous to or lenient with someone Someone who is self-___ gives themselves a lot of treats. Parents who are ___ cave to ever desire their child expresses. ___ parents spoil their children by giving in to their every whim. Synonyms: adjective: Lenient, Permissive, Clement, Yielding, Forgiving, Tolerant.

Waggish

(adj) - Humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner; tricky. Synonyms: adjective: jocose, facetious, jocular, playful, frolicsome, mischievous, humorous

Impertinent

(adj) - If someone's rude without being openly nasty, like a kid in the back row of class quietly heckling his teacher, you can call him ___ . Improperly forward or bold. Not showing proper respect; rude Not pertinent to a particular matter; Irrelevant. Synonyms: adjective: Impudent, Insolent, Cheeky, Saucy, Pert, Audacious, Brazen, Bold, Shameless

Episodic

(adj) - If you have an ___ interest in professional sports, you pay attention to sports from time to time, but you're not a regular fan. The adjective ___ is often used to mean "occasional" or "every once in a while." A soap opera on television, for instance, is an ___ program. Synonyms: adjective: Occasional.

Incorporeal

(adj) - Immaterial; Without a material body. Without material form or substance Not composed of matter. Having no physical existence. Something that has no material form or physical substance can be described as __. If you believe in spirits or ghosts that can't be touched or seen but only felt, then you believe in the __. Synonyms: adjective: Immaterial, Bodiless, Insubstantial, Intangible, Unsubstantial, Spiritual, Disembodied.

Inscrutable

(adj) - Impenetrable; Not readily understood; Mysterious. Impossible to understand or interpret. Experienced poker players try to keep their expressions ___ , hiding their reactions to the cards behind a so-called poker face. Synonyms: adjective: impenetrable, mysterious, enigmatic, incomprehensible, unfathomable, unsearchable.

Prominent

(adj) - Important; Famous. Conspicuous; Notable; Protruding Have you ever noticed that Prince Charles's ___ ears make him resemble the big-eared character in Mad comics?

Unfathomable

(adj) - Impossible to come to understand. Incapable of being fully explored or understood. Impossible to measure the extent of. Resembling an Abyss in depth; so deep as to be Unmeasurable. Synonyms: (adj): Inscrutable, Impenetrable, Bottomless, Abysmal.

Derelict

(adj) - In a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect. (of a person) Shamefully negligent in not having done what one should have done. A person without a home, job, or property. If something has been abandoned, you can call it ___. Even if a person has ___ his responsibilities, you can say that he is ___ in his duties. But don't call a lost child ___ — unless, of course, he has neglected his chores. Synonyms: adjective: Abandoned, Forlorn, Desolate, Forsaken, Deserted, Neglected.

Irreconsilable

(adj) - Incompatible; Not able to be resolved. Impossible to reconcile. Your dad wants Mozart in the car and you want Eminem? That's an ___ difference right there — two tastes or ideas or preferences so different from each other there can be no compatibility or middle ground. Diplomacy can't help, only headphones. Because the separated couple were ____, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce.

motley

(adj) - Incongruously varied in appearance or character; Being of different colors combined. Exhibiting great diversity of elements. Wearing a parti-colored garment. Synonyms: (adj): Variegated, pied, medley, Varicolored, particolored, mixed, miscellaneous, heterogenous, incongruous, disparate, diversified, dissimilar, divergent.

Irremediable

(adj) - Incurable; Uncorrectable. impossible to remedy or correct or redress. Impossible to cure or put right. The error she made was ___ ; she could see no way to repair it. ___ describes something that can't be saved, like an __ misunderstanding between friends that means the relationship is over. Synonyms: adjective: Incurable, Irreparable, Irredeemable, Irrecoverable, Incorrigible, Irretrievable, Hopeless, Cureless.

Insouciant

(adj) - Indifferent. Without concern or care. Marked by blithe unconcern. Showing a casual lack of concern; Indifferent. Your ___attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of the situation. Synonyms: adjective: Carefree, Light-hearted, Happy-go-lucky.

Illimitable

(adj) - Infinite. Without limits or an end. Without limits in extent or size or quantity. Human beings, having explored the far corners of the earth, are now reaching out into ____ space. Use ____ to describe something that has no limits, like the universe, or your little brother's capacity for annoying you. Synonyms: adjective: Unlimited, Limitless, Boundless, Infinite, Unbounded, Termless, Unrestricted, Indefinite.

Puny

(adj) - Insignificant; TINY; Small and weak. Poor in quality, amount, or size. Our ___ efforts to stop the flood were futile.

Insuperable

(adj) - Insurmountable;Invincible. (of a difficulty or obstacle) Impossible to overcome. Incapable of being surmounted or excelled Perhaps if you are a superhero, you can tackle an ____ problem — one that is considered impossible to overcome. Synonyms: adjective: Insurmountable, Invincible, Unconquerable, Inexpugnable.

Expository

(adj) - Intended to explain or describe something. serving to expound or set forth. Synonyms: adjective: Expositive, Explanatory, Interpretative, Explicatory, Declaratory.

Prophylactic

(adj) - Intended to prevent disease. Used to prevent disease. Despite all ___ measures introduced by the authorities, the epidemic raged until cool weather set in.

Incorporate

(adj) - Introduce something into a larger whole; Combine; Unite. Make into a whole or make part of a whole. Form a corporation. To ___ is to include or integrate a part into the whole. Incorporate is a more active version of the word "include"; if you incorporate, you are adding something to the mix. Synonyms: adjective: United, Conjoint. verb: Unite, Include, Combine, Merge, Embody.

Prefactory

(adj) - Introductory. Preliminary, Opening, Initial, Preparatory, Explanatory, Lead-in, Initiatory, Precursory, Prior, Antecedent. The chairman made a few ___ remarks before he called on the first speaker.

Gory

(adj) - Involving or showing violence and bloodshed. covered in blood. The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre. Synonyms: adjective: sanguinary, bloodstained

Concerted

(adj) - Involving the joint activity of two or more. Jointly arranged or carried out; Coordinated. Done with great effort or determination. Mutually agreed on; Done together. Synonyms: adjective: joint

Clandestine

(adj) - Kept secret or done secretively, esp. because illicit. Synonyms: adjective: secret, surreptitious, undercover, furtive, privy, occult, underhand, confidential, underground, stealthy, private, hugger-mugger, hidden, hole-and-corner

Humdrum

(adj) - Lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous Dullness; Monotony. After years of adventure, he could not settle down to a __ existence. Synonyms: adjective: Monotonous, Dull, Tedious, Prosy, Drab, Flat, Tame noun: Monotony, Monotone, Sameness, Boredom.

Incontinent

(adj) - Lacking self-restraint; Uncontrolled. Not having control over urination and defecation. One of the less glamorous parts of parenthood is being responsible for an ___newborn who can't control the urge to urinate or defecate. Synonyms: adjective: Intemperate, Unrestrained, Immoderate.

Jaunty

(adj) - Lighthearted; animated; Easy and carefree. Having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner. In Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way throught the lighthearted title number in a properly ___ style. Synonyms: adjective: Lively, Sprightly.

Ethereal

(adj) - Lightness; Heavenly; Fine. Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world. Heavenly or spiritual. Visitors were impressed by her __ beauty, her delicate charm. Synonyms: adjective: Airy, Aerial, Delicate, Exquisite, Dainty, Elegant, Graceful, BEAUTIFUL, Lovely; Fragile, Gossamer, Gossamery, Light, Fine, Diaphanous, Thin, Tenuous, Subtle, Insubstantial, Shadowy.

Ligneous

(adj) - Like wood. Made, consisting of, or resembling wood; WOODY. Petrified wood may be __ in appearance, but it is stone-like in composition. Synonyms: adjective: Wooden.

Labile

(adj) - Likely to change; Unstable. Easily broken down or displaced. Because the hormonal changes they undergo affect their spirits, adolescents may become emotionally __ and experience sudden shifts of mood. Synonyms: adjective: Unstable, Unsteady, Mutable.

Forlorn

(adj) - Lonely and sad; forsaken. Marked by or showing hopelessness. Unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled. Synonyms: (adj): Desolate, Lonely, Derelict, Abandoned, Desperate, Miserable, Hopeless, Solitary, Deserted, Lonesome

Introspective

(adj) - Looking within oneself. Characterized by or given to introspection We all have our ___ moments during which we examine our souls. Synonyms: adjective: Reflex.

Lascivious

(adj) - Lustful. (of a person, manner, or gesture) Feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire. Because they might arouse __impulses in their readers, the lewd books were banned by the clergy. Synonyms: adjective: Lewd, Lustful, Lecherous, Voluptuous, Salacious, Prurient, Libidinous, Wanton, Sensual, Lickerish.

Lewd

(adj) - Lustful. Crude and offensive in a sexual way. They found his __ stories objectionable. Synonyms: adjective: Lascivious, Obscene, Salacious, Bawdy, Indecent, LECHEROUS, Lustful, Libidinous, Filthy, PRURIENT, Profligate.

Libidinous

(adj) - Lustful. Driven by lust; Preoccupied with or exhibiting lustful desires. When you're __ you're driven by your libido, meaning your sex drive. When you describe someone as ____, it's usually not a compliment, since the word suggests being out of control with lust and desire. They objected to his ___ behavior. Synonyms: adjective: Lustful, Lecherous, Lascivious, Lewd, Prurient, Voluptuous, Lickerish, Sensual, Salacious, Concupiscent.

Supine

(adj) - Lying on back. Prone, Recumbent, Prostrate. The defeated pugilist lay ___ on the canvas.

Deranged

(adj) - Mad; insane. ___ means insane. You've probably read headlines about __murderers, but someone might also be called ___ for bizarre behavior like wearing a bathing suit while skiing. He had to be institutionalized because he was ___ . Synonyms: adjective: Mad, Insane, Crazy, Lunatic. Demented, Unbalanced, Unhinged.

Strident

(adj) - Making or having a harsh sound; grating; creaking. conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry. being sharply insistent on being heard. Synonyms: (adj): Sharp, Grating, Shrill, blatant, Clamant, Clamorous, Vociferous.

Scurrilous

(adj) - Making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation. Humorously insulting. If something is __, it's meant to offend. ___rumors can give you a bad rep, and __stories sell tabloid magazines. Synonyms: Abusive, Vituperative, Derogatory, Disparaging, Denigratory, Pejorative, Deprecatory, Insulting, Defamatory, Slanderous, Libellous, Opprobrious, Vitriolic, Venomous.e

Rabid

(adj) - Marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea. Of or infected by Rabies. Synonyms: adjective: Mad, Furious, Fierce, Frantic, FANATICAL, Violent, wild, FANATIC.

Balmy

(adj) - Mild and pleasant. Informal or slang terms for mentally irregular. A ____ breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast. Synonyms: (adj): Fragrant, Odorous, Balsamic.

Simian

(adj) - Monkey-like. Relating to or affecting apes or monkeys. Lemurs are nocturnal mammals and have many ____ characteristics, although they are less intelligent than monkeys.

Mercenary

(adj) - Motivated solely by money or gain. "I'm not in this war because I get my kicks waving flags," said the ___ soldier. "I'm in it for the dough."

Undulating

(adj) - Move with a smooth wavelike motion; Have a wavy form or outline. Synonyms: (adj): Wavy, Corrugated, Billowy, Waved, Rolling.

Lithe

(adj) - Moving and bending with ease. (esp. of a person's body) Thin, supple, and graceful. Synonyms: (adj): Lissome, Lissom, Supple, Limber, Lithesome, Flexible, Pliant, Pliable, Elastic, Yielding, Nimble, Agile.

Runic

(adj) - Mysterious. Set down in an ancient alphabet. Tolkien's use of Old English words and inscriptions in the __ alphabet give The Lord of the Rings its atmosphere of antiquity. ___ writing consists of ancient characters that are tough to decipher. These days the word might better fit a doctor's signature or a confusing instruction manual.

Sectarian

(adj) - Narrow-minded; limited in scope. Of or relating to or characteristic of a sect or sects __ is a word to describe something having to do with smaller groups or sects. Synonyms: Factional, Schismatic, Cliquish, Clannish, Partisan, Parti pris, Doctrinaire, Dogmatic, Extreme, Fanatical, Rigid, Inflexible, Bigoted, Hidebound, Narrow-minded.

Concomitant

(adj) - Naturally accompanying or associated. A phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something. "Culture is not always a __ of wealth." Synonyms: adjective: attendant, accompanying noun: concurrent

Queasy

(adj) - Nauseated; Feeling sick. Inducing a feeling of nausea. Slightly nervous or worried about something. Synonyms: adjective: Nauseous, Squeamish..

Spruce

(adj) - Neat in dress and appearance. Synonyms: adjective: Trim, Neat, Trig, Smart, Tidy, Natty, Dapper, Well-groomed

Remiss

(adj) - Negligent. Lacking care or attention to duty. He was accused of being __ in his duty when the prisoner escaped. Negligent, Neglectful, Irresponsible, Careless, Lax, Slack, Slipshod, Lackadaisical, Lazy, Dilatory, Indolent, Derelict.

Unprecedented

(adj) - Never done or known before; having no precedent. Without previous instance; never before known or experienced. Synonyms: (adj): unexampled, unparalleled, unheard-of, unique, extraordinary, exceptional, novel.

Irreparable

(adj) - Not able to be corrected or repaired. Impossible to repair, rectify, or amend. If something is broken or destroyed for good — a toy, a relationship, a pair of pants — you can say it is ___ or unable to be repaired. Synonyms: adjective: Irrecoverable, Irretrievable, Irremediable, Irredeemable, Incorrigible.

Unwitting

(adj) - Not aware of the full facts; not done with purpose or intent; not aware or knowing. Synonyms: (adj): Unintentional, Unconscious, oblivious, involuntary, unaware, Inadvertent, Ignorant.

Unobtrusive

(adj) - Not conspicuous or attracting attention; undesirably noticeable. not blatant. Synonyms: (adj): modest, discreet, humble, quiet, reticent.

Impenitent

(adj) - Not feeling shame or regret about one's actions or attitudes. Not penitent or remorseful. We could see by his brazen attitude that he was ___ . Synonyms: adjective: Unrepentant, Obdurate.

Facetious

(adj) - Not meant to be taken seriously or literally; Cleverly amusing in tone. flippant. lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous. Synonyms: (adj): jocose, humorous, jocular, waggish, comic, funny, comical, playful, witty

Amiss

(adj) - Not quite right; inappropriate or out of place Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were --. Synonyms: (adj): Wrong, Incorrect, Improper, Erroneous, False, Mistaken.

Precarious

(adj) - Not securely held or in position; Dangerously likely to fall or collapse. Dependent on chance. Not secure; Beset with difficulties. Affording no ease or reassurance. Synonyms: (adj): Uncertain, Insecure, Dubious, Doubtful, Unsafe, Hazardous, Risky, Unsure.

Frivolous

(adj) - Not serious in content or attitude or behavior. Carefree and not serious. Synonyms: (adj): light-minded, Silly, Foolish, Childish, Puerile, Trifling, Flippant, light-headed, Shallow, Giddy, Flighty, Idle, Petty, Paltry, Trivial, Flimsy.

withdrawn

(adj) - Not wanting to communicate with other people; introverted. Synonyms: adjective: retiring, secluded

Manifold

(adj) - Numerous; Varied. Having many different forms or elements. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your ____ kindnesses. Synonyms:: Many, Numerous, Multiple, Multifarious, Multitudinous, Multiplex, Legion, Diverse, Various, Several, Varied, Different, Miscellaneous, Assorted, Sundry, Copious, Abundant, Myriad.

Visceral

(adj) - Obtained through intuition rather than from reasoning or observation. Relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect. Synonyms: (adj): splanchnic, intuitive, nonrational, illogical, unlogical.

Subaltern

(adj) - Of lower status. Subordinate. An officer in the British army below the rank of captain, especially a second lieutenant. The captain treated his ____ as though they were children rather than commissioned officers.

Antediluvian

(adj) - Of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood. Ridiculously old-fashioned. very old, old-fashioned, or out of date. Synonyms: (adj): Antiquated, Archaic

Piscatorial

(adj) - Of or concerning fishermen or fishing. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to excel in the ___ arts, and he eats for a lifetime. ___means having to do with fishing.

Parochial

(adj) - Of or relating to a church parish. Having a limited or narrow outlook or scope. Relating to or supported by or located in a parish. Narrowly restricted in outlook or scope. If an issue or a matter is ___, it is trivial or only concerns a local area. Likewise, a person with a ___mentality is narrow-minded, or not open to new ideas. Synonyms: adjective: narrow, provincial, narrow-minded, parish

Thespian

(adj) - Of or relating to drama and the theater. An actor or actress. Synonyms: (adj): dramatic, scenic, histrionic, scenical, stagy (n): actor, player

Tensile

(adj) - Of or relating to tension. Capable of being drawn out or stretched. Synonyms: (adj): Distensible, Elastic, Extendible, Ductile

Leonine

(adj) - Of or resembling a lion or lions. He was ___ in his rage.

Tarry

(adj) - Of, like, or covered with tar. (v) - Stay longer than intended; delay leaving a place. Synonyms: (adj): pitchy (v): Stay, Linger, Delay, Wait, Remain, Loiter, Procrastinate' (n): Stay

Voluptuous

(adj) - Of, relating to, or characterized by luxury or sensual pleasure; (of a woman) Curvaceous and sexually attractive, having a large bosom and pleasing curves; having strong sexual appeal. Synonyms: adjective: sensual, lascivious, lustful, libidinous, salacious, sensuous, voluptuary

Seminal

(adj) - Of, relating to, or denoting semen. Of, relating to, or derived from the seed of a plant. Call something ___ when it's so original, so groundbreaking and awesome that it will influence everything that comes after it. Picasso probably produced more than a few seminal works of art, for example. Synonyms: adjective: Spermatic. (of a work, event, moment, or figure) Strongly influencing later developments His ____ work on chaos theory.

Vapid

(adj) - Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; Lacking taste or flavor or tang. Without liveliness or spirit; dull or tedious. Synonyms: (adj): insipid, flat, tasteless, dull, bland, unexciting, unstimulating.

Berserk

(adj) - Out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied. Synonyms: adjective: mad, frenzied, crazy, furious, frantic

Passe

(adj) - Out of fashion. ___ describes something that's out of style or "so yesterday!" What your parents think is cool is usually very ___, but sometimes their old stuff is stylish again, like the Lynyrd Skynyrd T-shirt you borrow from your mom.

Superannuated

(adj) - Outdated or obsolete through age or new developments. Too old to be useful. The ____ man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work.

Preeminent

(adj) - Outstanding; Superior. Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way. The king traveled to Boston because he wanted the ___ surgeon in the field to perform the operation.

Beholden

(adj) - Owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service. Since I do not wish to be -- to anyone, I cannot accept this favor. Synonyms: (adj) indebted, grateful, obliged, thankful

Sere

(adj) - Parched; Dry or withered. After the unseasonably dry winter the Berkeley hills looked dusty and ___.

Indissoluble

(adj) - Permanent. Unable to be destroyed; lasting. (of a substance) incapable of being dissolved The ___ bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved. Synonyms: adjective: Insoluble

Connubial

(adj) - Pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state. "In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of __ bliss." Synonyms: adjective: conjugal, marital, matrimonial, married, nuptial, wedded, hymeneal.

Conjugal

(adj) - Pertaining to marriage. Their dreams of __ bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed. Synonyms: adjective: marital, connubial, matrimonial, married, wedded, nuptial, hymeneal.

Metaphysical

(adj) - Pertaining to speculative philosophy. Based on abstract reasoning. The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the ___poets of the seventeenth century for many of their images. Add the Greek prefix "meta-" (beyond) to the base "physical" (nature), and you get ___ — a near synonym to the Latin-based word "SUPERNATURAL." Both concern phenomena that are outside everyday experience or knowledge.

Somatic

(adj) - Pertaining to the body; Physical. Relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind. Why do you ignore the spiritual aspects and emphasize only the corporeal and the ___ ones?

Palatable

(adj) - Pleasant to taste. Acceptable or agreeable to the taste or mind. Synonyms: (adj): savoury, tasty, savory, toothsome, delicious, sapid, tasteful, nice, yummy, appetizing, luscious, dainty.

Sylvan

(adj) - Pleasantly rural or pastoral. Consisting of or associated with woods; wooded. RUSTIC. His paintings of nymphs in ___ backgrounds were criticized as over sentimental.

Luscious

(adj) - Pleasing to taste or smell. (of food or wine) Having a pleasingly rich, sweet taste. Richly verdant or opulent. (of a woman) Very sexually attractive. The ripe peach was ___. Synonyms: adjective: Delicious, Sweet, Succulent, Savoury, Savory, Tasty, Juicy, Lush.

Predatory

(adj) - Plundering. Seeking to exploit others. (of an animal) preying naturally on others. The hawk is a ___ bird. Exploitative, Wolfish, Rapacious, Greedy, Acquisitive, Avaricious.

Cordial

(adj) - Politely Warm and friendly. Courteous and Gracious, Sincere. A strong, Sweetened, Aromatic alcoholic liquor; Liqueur. Synonyms: (adj): Hearty, Genial, Heartfelt, Friendly, Open-armed, Kind, Affable, Amiable.

BANAL

(adj) - Predictable; cliched; boring. Synonyms:Trite, Hackneyed, Clichéd, Platitudinous, Vapid, Stereotyped, Threadbare, Hoary, Hack, Unimaginative, Humdrum, Trivial, Truistic, Bromidic.

Subservient

(adj) - Prepared to obey others unquestioningly. Less important. Serving as a means to an end. Synonyms: (adj): Servile, Obsequious, Subordinate, Submissive.

Synoptic

(adj) - Presenting a summary or general view of a whole. Taking or involving a comprehensive mental view. Summarizing. Synonyms: (adj): Synoptical.

Visionary

(adj) - Produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical. Not practical or realizable; speculative. Synonyms: (adj): fanciful, imaginary (n): dreamer, daydreamer

Igneous

(adj) - Produced by the action of fire or intense heat; Volcanic. (of rock) Having solidified from lava or magma. Like or suggestive of fire. FIERY. Relating to or involving volcanic processes. Lava, pumice, and other ____ rocks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples. Synonyms: adjective: Fiery.

Sedative

(adj) - Promoting calm or inducing sleep. (n) - A drug taken for its calming or sleep-inducing effect. Synonyms: adjective: Soothing, Calming, Restful, Anodyne noun: Tranquilizer, Tranquillizer.

Peremptory

(adj) - Putting an end to all debate or action. Not allowing contradiction or refusal. Offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power. ___ comments are like orders. If you say something in a ___ manner, you want people to stop what they're doing and do what you say. ____ comments put an end to a discussion, and that's final! Synonyms: adjective: Imperative, Imperious, Authoritative, Definitive, Overbearing, Categorical, Magisterial.

Cognate

(adj) - Related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature.Related; Connected. The English word "mother" cognate to the Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible in the words "maternal" and "maternity." Synonyms: adjective: kindred, related, akin, allied.

Comatose

(adj) - Relating to or in a state of coma. Extremely lethargic or sleepy. "The long-winded orator soon had his audience in a -- state."

Germinal

(adj) - Relating to or of the nature of a germ cell or embryo. In the earliest stage of development. Containing seeds of later development. Providing material for future development. ____, an adjective, describes something that is just starting to happen, like all the planning you did and people you got interested in joining the running club when it was just an idea. That's the ___ stage.

Carnal

(adj) - Relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities. The public was more interested in __ pleasures than in spiritual matters. Synonyms: Sexual, sensual, erotic, lustful, lascivious, libidinous, lecherous, licentious, lewd, prurient, salacious, coarse, gross, lubricious, venereal;

Pastoral

(adj) - Relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle. Associated with country life. ___ refers to the countryside, particularly an idealized view of the country. If you draw cheery pictures with lush grassy fields, calm skies, a farm animal or two, and some flowers, you draw ___scenes. Synonyms: adjective: Bucolic.

Spatial

(adj) - Relating to space. It is difficult to visualize the ___ extent of our universe.

Dour

(adj) - Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance. A hard, __ , humorless fanatic. ___ describes something sullen, gloomy, or persistent. You might look __ on your way to picking up your last check from the job you just got fired from, and people should get out of your way. Synonyms: adjective: Severe, Stern, Austere, Rigid, Grim, Strict, Hard, Stringent, Rigorous, Sullen.

Threadbare

(adj) - Repeated too often; Overfamiliar through Overuse. Having the nap worn away so that the threads show through. (of cloth, clothing, or soft furnishings) Becoming thin and tattered with age. (of a person, building, or room) Poor or shabby in appearance. Synonyms: (adj): Shabby, Worn-out, Well-worn, Outworn, Trite, Stale, Worn, Hackneyed, Banal.

Steadfast

(adj) - Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. Marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable. Someone who is firm and determined in a belief or a position can be called ___ in that view, like your mom when she thinks you really shouldn't wear that outfit. Synonyms: adjective: Steady, Firm, Stable, Constant, Staunch, Immovable, Set, Fixed, Unwavering, Solid, Resolute.

Gruff

(adj) - Rough-mannered. (of a voice) rough and low in pitch. Abrupt or taciturn in manner. Although he was blunt and __ with most people, he was always gentle with children. Synonyms: adjective: rough, coarse, harsh, rude, surly, abrupt, brusque, raucous, hoarse

Regal

(adj) - Royal. Belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler. Prince Albert had a regal manner. Even though he was homeless, Dan had a ___ bearing. ___ is an adjective that describes things that appear to be royal.

Disconcolate

(adj) - Sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled. Causing dejection. If you are sad and can't be cheered up, you're ___ . Why are you ___ after scoring a touchdown? Oh . . . for the other team. If you are sad and can't be cheered up, you're ___.

Valedictory

(adj) - Serving as a farewell; bidding good-bye. Saying good-bye, but almost always refers to a speech or address. Synonyms: (adj) : parting, farewell (n): valediction.

AUSTERE

(adj) - Severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

Dowdy

(adj) - Shabby. Slovenly; Untidy. Unfashionable and Unstylish in appearance. She tried to change her ___ image by buying a fashionable new wardrobe. Synonyms: adjective: Shabby

Mangy

(adj) - Shabby; Wretched.In poor condition. We finally thew out the ___ rug that the dog had destroyed. "a girl in a ___ fur coat" synonyms: Scruffy, Moth-eaten, Shabby, Worn, UNKEMPT, Shoddy, Sorry, Dirty, SQUALID, Filthy, Sleazy, SEEDY.

Shoddy

(adj) - Sham; not genuine; Inferior. Badly made or done. You will never get the public to buy such __ material.

Corrugated

(adj) - Shaped into alternate ridges and grooves. To wrinkle, as the skin or face. To make irrigation ditches in (a field). Synonyms: (adj): wavy, undulating, furrowed, rugged, wrinkled.

Privy

(adj) - Sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private). Hidden from general view or use. Hidden; Secret. (n) - A toilet located in a small shed outside a house or other building; Outhouse. A person having a part or interest in any action, matter, or thing. Synonyms: adjective: Private, Secret, Confidential, Clandestine, Occult, Furtive, Close, Hidden, Personal. PRIVATE noun: Toilet, Lavatory, Water closet, Closet, Restroom, Loo, Latrine.

Glaring

(adj) - Shining intensely. Staring fiercely or fixedly. Highly obvious or conspicuous. Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible. Whether it's a bright light or a fault, ___ things are obvious. You just can't miss them. Synonyms: adjective: Garish, Dazzling.

Derogatory

(adj) - Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude. Something that's ___ is insulting or disrespectful. If you make ___ comments, that means you say things that are unflattering, unkind, or demeaning. I resent your __ remarks. Synonyms: adjective: Degrading, Humiliating, Pejorative.

Perverse

(adj) - Showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable. Stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and unacceptable.Contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice

Assiduous

(adj) - Showing great care and perseverance. Synonyms: (adj): Diligent, Sedulous, Industrious, Studious, Painstaking, Persevering, Hard-working.

Callous

(adj) - Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.Hardened; He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was -- to the suffering in the wards. Synonyms: adjective: unfeeling, insensitive, heartless, hard verb: harden.

Couth

(adj) - Showing or having good Manners or Sophistication; Good manners; Refinement. Smooth. Synonyms: (adj): Refined.

Timorous

(adj) - Showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence. Timid by nature or revealing timidity. Synonyms: (adj): Timid, Shy, Fearful, Sheepish, Poor-Spirited, Cowardly, Chicken-Hearted, Lily-Livered, Diffident, Apprehensive.

Mawkish

(adj) - Sickening; Insipid. Sentimental in an exaggerated or false way. Your ___ sighs fill me with disgust. Synonyms: Sentimental, Overemotional, Cloying, Sickly, Saccharine, Sugary, Syrupy, Sickening, Nauseating, Maudlin, Lachrymose, Banal, Trite.

Homespun

(adj) - Simple and unsophisticated. Domestic; Made at home. homespun wit, like homespun cloth, was often coarse and plain.

wily

(adj) - Skilled at gaining an advantage, esp. deceitfully; cunning. Synonyms: adjective: crafty, sly, artful, astute, tricky, canny, shrewd, vulpine, leery, arch, foxy, designing, shifty, guileful, insidious, subtle, pawky

Sodden

(adj) - Soaked; dull, as if from drink. Saturated with liquid, especially water. Soaked through. Having drunk an excessive amount of a particular alcoholic drink. He set his ___ overcoat near the radiator to dry.

Staid

(adj) - Sober; Sedate. Characterized by Dignity and Propriety. Respectable, and unadventurous. Quiet, Serious, Serious-minded, Steady, Conventional, Traditional, Unenterprising. Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was ___ and solemn.

Evanescent

(adj) - Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing. Tending to become imperceptible; scarcely perceptible. Synonyms: (adj): Transitory, Transient, Fleeting, Ephemeral, Vanishing.

Seamy

(adj) - Sordid and disreputable.

Seedy

(adj) - Sordid and disreputable. His ___ affair with a soft-porn starlet. Shabby and squalid. Unwell. Synonyms: adjective: Shabby.

Plaintive

(adj) - Sounding sad and mournful. Synonyms: adjective: Sad, Mournful, Sorrowful, Doleful, Lugubrious, Woeful, Rueful, Wailful.

Fitful

(adj) - Spasmodic; Intermittent. Active or occurring spasmodically or intermittently; not regular or steady. After several ___ attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic. Synonyms: adjective: Spasmodic, Convulsive, Jerky.

Sumptuous

(adj) - Splendid and expensive-looking. Rich and superior in quality. Synonyms: (adj): Luxurious, Magnificent, Splendid, Palatial, Gorgeous, Rich, Costly, Lavish, Expensive.

Cleft

(adj) - Split, divided, or partially divided into two. "Erosion caused a -- in the huge boulder."

Musty

(adj) - Stale; Spoiled by age. Having a stale, mouldy, or damp smell. Lacking freshness or vitality; old-fashioned. ___ is an unclean, stale and possibly moldy smell. If something smells __ that means it's probably been sitting in a damp corner without any air for a little too long. The attic was dark and ___. Mouldy, Stale, Fusty, Damp, Dank, Mildewed, Mildewy, Decayed, Smelly, Stuffy, Airless, Unventilated.

Precipitous

(adj) - Steep; Overhasty. Dangerously high or steep. (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration. This hill is difficult to climb because it is so ___ ; one slip, and our descent will be ___ as well.

Squat

(adj) - Stocky; short and thick. Short and thickset; disproportionately broad or wide. Tolkien's hobbits are somewhat ___, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale, good music, and good food.

Inclement

(adj) - Stormy; Unkind. (of weather or climate) SEVERE. Used of persons or behavior; showing no clemency or mercy. I like to read a good book in ___ weather. ___ usually refers to severe or harsh weather that is cold and wet. When packing for a trip to the Caribbean bring tank tops and shorts, but don't forget a raincoat in case of ___ weather. Synonyms: adjective: Severe, Stern, Rigorous, Austere, Hard, Rugged.

Forthright

(adj) - Straightforward and honest; Direct; Frank. I prefer Jill's __ approach to Jack's tendency to beat around the bush. Synonyms: adjective: Direct, Straightforward, Candid, Frank, Outspoken, downright, Straight, Open, Sincere, Outright, Plain, Blunt, Plainspoken. adverb: Straight, Directly, Outright.

Eerie

(adj) - Strange and frightening. Synonyms: adjective: Uncanny, Weird, Gruesome, Lurid, Macabre, Horrible, Unearthly.

Redolent

(adj) - Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something). Strongly smelling of something. Fragrant or sweet-smelling Synonyms: adjective: Fragrant, Odoriferous, Odorous, Aromatic, Scented, Balmy.

Pertinacious

(adj) - Stubborn; Persistent. Holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action. He is bound to succeed because his __ nature will not permit him to quit.

Meek

(adj) - Submissive; patient and long-suffering. Quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on. Mr. Barrett never expected his ___ daughter would dare to defy him by eloping with her suitor. synonyms: Patient, Forbearing, Resigned, Gentle, Quiet, Shy, Docile, Mild, Demure, Diffident, Unassuming, Unpretentious, Unambitious, Unobtrusive.

Propellant

(adj) - Substance that propels or drives forward. The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful ___. A ____ is a force or substance that drives something else forward. Your model rocket needs a ____, or a fuel to push it into the air. You might use something as simple as vinegar and baking soda. Space rockets use solid or liquid ____, or fuel.

Indicative

(adj) - Suggestive; Implying. Serving as a sign or indication of something. Use the word ___ when you want to show that something is suggestive or serves as a sign of something. Your willingness to help out with the charity is ___ of your generous nature.

Pertinent

(adj) - Suitable; To the point. Relevant or applicable to a particular matter; APPOSITE. The lawyer wanted to know all the __ details. Relevant, Apposite, Appropriate, Fitting, Fit, Apt, Applicable, Germane, Apropos.

Supererogatory

(adj) - Superfluous; More than is needed, desired, or required. We have more than enough witnesses to corroborate your statement; to present any more would be ____.

Vulnerable

(adj) - Susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm

Meteoric

(adj) - Swift; Momentarily brilliant. We all wondered at his __ rise to fame.

Savory

(adj) - Tasty; Pleasing, attractive, or agreeable. (of food) belonging to the category which is SALTY or SPICY rather than sweet. Julia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to create ___ delicacies for their guests.

Detrimental

(adj) - Tending to cause harm. ___ is a formal way of saying "harmful." Anything ___ hurts, hinders, or puts a damper on something. ___ things do damage. Your acceptance of her support will ultimately prove __ rather than helpful to your cause. Synonyms: adjective: Harmful, Injurious, Prejudicial, Deleterious, Noisome, Mischievous, Hurtful, Malign, Bad, Noxious, Inimical, Pernicious, Maleficent, Nocuous, Baneful, Destructive, Damaging.

Emaciated

(adj) - Thin and wasted. Abnormally thin or weak, esp. because of illness or a lack of food. His long period of starvation had left him ___. Synonyms: adjective: Gaunt, Scraggy, Haggard, Skinny, THIN, Lean, Scrawny

Improvident

(adj) - Thriftless. Not provident; Not providing for the future. Not given careful consideration Not having or showing foresight. Spendthrift or thoughtless. He was constantly being warned to mend his ___ ways and begin to "save for a rainy day." Synonyms: adjective: Thriftless, Wasteful, Careless, Prodigal, Unwary, Incautious.

Taut

(adj) - Tightly drawn, Not slack. Emotionally or mentally strained or tense. In good order or condition; tidy; neat. Synonyms: (adj): Tight, Tense, Strained.

Finicky

(adj) - Too particular; fussy. You reject any vegetable that isn't yellow. You like basmati rice, but detest jasmine, Arborio, and brown. You dine at one restaurant, and you always order the same meal. You are a ___ eater — that is, you are quite particular about food. The old lady was ___ about her food and ate very little. Synonyms: adjective: Fussy, Choosy, Pernickety, Fastidious, Choosey, Nice.

Petulant

(adj) - Touchy; PEEVISH. (of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered. The feverish patient was ___ and restless.

Equable

(adj) - Tranquil; Steady; Uniform Not easily disturbed or angered; calm and even-tempered. Not varying or fluctuating greatly. After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies __ and pleasant. Synonyms: adjective: Uniform, Even, Steady, Level, Equal.

Irrevocable

(adj) - Unalterable. Incapable of being retracted or revoked Not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered; Final. Let us not brood over past mistakes since they are ___. Synonyms: adjective: Irreversible.

Categorical

(adj) - Unambiguously explicit and direct. Synonyms: unqualified, unconditional, unequivocal, unreserved, absolute, explicit, unambiguous, definite, certain, direct, downright, outright, complete,emphatic, positive, express, point-blank, wholehearted, conclusive, undiluted, unalloyed, unadulterated.

Irresolute

(adj) - Uncertain how to act. Weak. Uncertain how to act or proceed. Showing or feeling hesitancy; Uncertain. __ describes someone who feels stuck. A decision must be made, a plan acted on, but the ___ person just doesn't know what to do. Synonyms: adjective: Indecisive, Hesitant, Undecided, Undetermined, Wavering, Uncertain, Unresolved, Doubtful, Infirm.

Unbridled

(adj) - Uncontrolled; unconstrained; not controlled or restrained. not fitted with a bridle. Violent. Synonyms: adjective: Unrestrained, Wanton, Licentious, Reinless

Implicit

(adj) - Understood but not stated. Implied though not directly expressed; Jack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was ___ in his deeds. Synonyms: adjective: Implied, Absolute, Tacit.

Blase

(adj) - Unimpressed with or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before. Bored with pleasure or dissipation. Your -- attitude gives your students an erroneous impression of the joys of scholarship.

Singular

(adj) - Unique; Extraordinary; Odd. Exceptionally good or great; Remarkable. Though the young man tried to understand Father William's __ behavior, he still found it odd that the old man incessantly stood on his head.

Iniquitous

(adj) - Unjust; Wicked . Grossly unfair and morally wrong Something that is ___ is extremely immoral or wicked, such as an __ political regime that assassinates its enemies. Synonyms: adjective: Unjust, Wicked, Unrighteous, Unfair, Inequitable, Nefarious.

Inordinate

(adj) - Unrestrained; Excessive. Beyond normal limits. ___ is the exact opposite of "reasonable" Unusually or disproportionately large; Excessive. (of a person) Unrestrained in feelings or behavior; disorderly. She had an ____ fondness for candy. Synonyms: adjective: Excessive, Immoderate, Undue, Exorbitant, Extravagant, Intemperate.

Mutinous

(adj) - Unruly; Rebellious. (of a soldier or sailor) refusing to obey the orders of a person in authority. The captain had to use force to quiet his ___ crew. synonyms: Rebellious, Insubordinate, Subversive, Seditious, Insurgent, Insurrectionary, Rebel, Revolutionary. Disobedient, Defiant, Wilful, Recalcitrant, Refractory, Disaffected, Unruly.

slovenly

(adj) - Untidy and Dirty; Slipshod. (especially of a person or action) careless; excessively casual. Such ___ work habits will never produce good products. Scruffy, Untidy, Messy, Unkempt, Ill-groomed, Slatternly, Dishevelled, Dedraggled.

Inopportune

(adj) - Untimely; Poorly chosen. Occurring at an inconvenient or inappropriate time. A rock concert is an ___ setting for a quiet conversation. Synonyms: adjective: Untimely, Unseasonable, Ill-timed, Unsuitable, Inapposite, Inconvenient.

Ineffable

(adj) - Unutterable; Cannot be expressed in speech. Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. When you find something hard to express or difficult to pin down, it's ___. The feeling when you get a new puppy is ___— too strange and wonderful to define. Such ___ joy must be experienced; it cannot be described. Synonyms: adjective: Unspeakable, Inexpressible, Unutterable, Nameless, Indescribable.

Importunate

(adj) - Urging; Demanding. Expressing earnest ENTREATY. Persistent, esp. to the point of annoyance or intrusion. You know those people, who are so focused on what they want, that even when it is reasonable, their asking for it over and over gets really annoying? They, and their questions, can be called ___. Synonyms: adjective: Obtrusive, Insistent, Pressing, Intrusive, Urgent, Troublesome, Officious, Persistent.

Abject

(adj) - Utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, lacking pride. Most unfortunate or miserable. showing utter resignation or hopelessness. showing humiliation or submissiveness. Synonyms: (adj): Miserable, Mean, Vile, Wretched, Despicable, Poor, Sordid, Base, Contemptible, Pitiful.

Foppish

(adj) - Vain about dress and appearance. (of a man) Concerned with one's clothes and appearance in an affected and excessive way. A man who is constantly checking out his outfit in the mirror might be ___ , or someone who loves dressing up in fancy clothes. He tried to imitate the ___ manner of the young men of the court. Synonyms: adjective: Dandy.

Vociferous

(adj) - Vehement or clamorous, noisy. Synonyms: (adj): noisy, loud, clamorous, uproarious, obstreperous, tumultuous, boisterous, vocal

Protean

(adj) - Versatile; Able to take on many forms. Tending or able to change frequently or easily. A remarkably ___ actor, Alec Guinness could take on any role.

Agog

(adj) - Very eager or curious to hear or see something. Highly excited. Intensely curious. We were all -- at the news that the celebrated movie star was giving up his career in order to enter a monastery. Synonyms: (adj): Eager, Anxious.

Momentous

(adj) - Very important. of great importance or significance, especially in having a bearing on future events. On this ____ occasion, we must be very solemn.

Sightly

(adj) - Very pleasing to the eye. Synonyms: (adj): fine, handsome, good-looking, beautiful, pretty, lovely, personable, comely.

Exiguous

(adj) - Very small in size or amount. Grass grew there, an __ outcropping among the rocks. Synonyms: adjective: scanty, small, little, meager, slender, scant, slight, skimpy, scarce.

Trenchant

(adj) - Vigorous or incisive or keen in expression or style. clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct. Characterized by or full of force and vigor. Clearly or sharply defined to the mind. Synonyms: (adj): Sharp, Keen, Incisive, Cutting, Poignant, Biting, Piercing, Pointed, Pungent, Acute, Mordant, Caustic.

Voracious

(adj) - Wanting or devouring great quantities of food; Having a very eager approach to an activity; excessively greedy and grasping. Synonyms: adjective: gluttonous, ravenous, greedy, edacious, rapacious, insatiable, gourmand, piggish, avid.

Imponderable

(adj) - Weightless. Very light. Difficult or impossible to evaluate with precision. A factor whose effects cannot be accurately assessed ___ describes a situation that isn't able to be completely explained. "Where did we come from?" is one of those ___ questions that defy human's ability for understanding. I can evaluate the data gathered in this study; the ___ items are not so easily analyzed. Synonyms: adjective: Incalculable, Weightless.

Genteel

(adj) - Well-bred; Elegant Marked by refinement in taste and manners. We are looking for a man with a ___ appearance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner. synonyms: Synonyms: adjective: Polite, Refined, Courteous.

Complaisant

(adj) - Willing to please others; obliging; agreeable. Synonyms: adjective: obliging, polite, accommodating, courteous, affable, kind, amiable, compliant, debonair.

Sinuous

(adj) - Winding; Bending in and out. Not morally honest. Having many curves and turns. Lithe and supple. The snake moved in a ___ manner.

Serpentine

(adj) - Winding; Twisting. Winding and twisting like a snake. Complex, Cunning, or Treacherous. The car swerved at every curve in the ___ road.

Insensate

(adj) - Without feeling. Lacking physical sensation. Lacking sympathy or compassion; Unfeeling. Completely lacking sense or reason. She lay there as ___ as a log. Synonyms: adjective: senseless, unfeeling, insensitive, insensible, insentient, inanimate, lifeless.

Scurvy

(adj) - Worthless or contemptible. A condition caused by deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Synonyms: adjective: Vile, Mean, Base, Ignoble, Sordid, low-down, Foul, Low, Villainous, Shabby, Abject, Infamous.

Effete

(adj) - ___ is a disapproving term meaning decadent and self-indulgent, even useless. Affected, over-refined, and ineffectual. No longer capable of effective action. (of a man) weak or effeminate. Synonyms: adjective: Exhausted, Decadent.

Demented

(adj) - ___ is an adjective describing behavior that is crazy, unhinged, or insane. Affected with madness or insanity. She became increasingly __and had to be hospitalized. Synonyms: adjective: Mad, Crazy, Insane, Lunatic, Daft.

Cherubic

(adj) - angelic Having the childlike innocence or plump prettiness of a --

Auroral

(adj) - characteristic of the dawn. Of or relating to the atmospheric phenomenon auroras. The -- display was particularly spectacular that evening.

Deciduous

(adj) - falling off, as of leaves. The oak is a __ tree.

Verdant

(adj) - green with vegetation; inexperienced; unsophisticated; green. Synonyms: (adj): green, unripe, verdurous.

Wan

(adj) - having pale or sickly color; pallid. Synonyms: adjective: pale, sallow, bloodless, dim, faint, colorless, colourless verb: pale noun: pallor, paleness

Voluminous

(adj) - large in volume or bulk; large in number or quantity; marked by repeated turns and bends. Synonyms: adjective: large, bulky, massive, ample, extensive, capacious, tortuous, twisting, twisty, winding.

Turbid

(adj) - not clear or transparent because of stirred-up sediment or the like; clouded; opaque; obscured. Synonyms: (adj): muddy, thick, feculent, roily, troubled, dim, cloudy

Inductive

(adj) - of reasoning; proceeding from particular facts to a general conclusion. Characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances. ___ is a way to describe something that leads to something else, so when applied to reasoning it just means you collect information and draw conclusions from what you observe. The discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from ___ reasoning.

Trivial

(adj) - of very little importance or value; insignificant: commonplace; ordinary. Synonyms: (adj): trifling, insignificant, petty, negligible, unimportant, paltry, small, nugatory, piddling, fiddling, banal, trite

Superficial

(adj) - of, affecting, or being on or near the surface. concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually. of little substance or significance. Synonyms: (adj): Shallow, Perfunctory, Cursory, Skin-deep, Sketchy, Facile, Surface, External

Brackish

(adj) - somewhat saline; salty.Unpleasant or distasteful. He found the only wells in the area were -- ; drinking the water made him nauseous.

Voluble

(adj) - talking continuously, fluently, at great length, in a steady flow. Synonyms: adjective: talkative, loquacious, garrulous, glib, verbose, prolix, gabby, chatty.

wispy

(adj) - thin; slight; barely discernible; Fine; feathery Synonyms: adjective: thin, fine

Bicameral

(adj) - two-chambered, as a legislative body The United States Congress is a -- body.

Precocious

(adj) - unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties. Synonyms: (adj): forward, early, premature.

Vacuous

(adj) - without contents; empty; lacking in ideas or intelligence. Void of expression. Synonyms: (adj): vacant, empty, inane, void, blank, hollow, idle, bare.

Subliminal

(adj) -(of a stimulus or mental process) Below the threshold of sensation or consciousness. Perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it Synonyms: (adj): Subconscious.

Supercilious

(adj) -Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others. Haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression. Synonyms: (adj): Haughty, Arrogant, Proud, Lofty, Uppish, Snooty, Conceited, Overweening, Stuck-up, Disdainful, Lordly.

Unconscionable

(adj) -Lacking a Conscience.Not right or reasonable; Unreasonably excessive. Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation. Synonyms: (adj): Unscrupulous, Unreasonable, Inordinate, Excessive, Conscienceless, Extreme, Immoderate, Unwarranted.

Lank

(adj) -Long and thin. (of hair) Long, limp, and straight (of a person) Lanky ___, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln was a striking figure. Synonyms: adjective: Lean, Thin, Spare, Lanky.

Celibate

(adj) Abstaining from marriage and sexual relations, typically for religious reasons. Unmarried. "Though the late Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about sexual customs and was considered an expert in such matters, recent studies maintain he was -- throughout his life." Synonyms: adjective: unmarried, single. noun: bachelor.

Ubiquitous

(adj) Present, appearing, or found everywhere. Synonyms: (adj): omnipresent.

Bovine

(adj) relating to or affecting cattle ; placid and dull. Nothing excites Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of -- calm.

Gauche

(adj)- Clumsy; Boorish. Unsophisticated and socially awkward. Such remarks are ___ and out of place; you should apologize for making them. "she grew from a ____ teenager into a poised young woman" Synonyms: adjective: clumsy, awkward, maladroit, ungainly, gawky, unhandy, unwieldy, tactless

Fulsome

(adj)- Disgustingly excessive. Complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. Of large size or quantity; generous or abundant. His ___ praise of the dictator annoyed his listeners.

Malcontent

(adj)- Dissatisfied and complaining or rebellious. He was one of the few ___ in the Congress; he constantly voiced his objections to the Presidential program. Synonyms:: Disaffected, Discontented, Dissatisfied, Disgruntled, Fed up, Restive, Unhappy, Annoyed, Irritated, Displeased, Vexed, Peeved, Piqued, Put out, Resentful.

Condign

(adj)- Fitting or appropriate and deserved; used especially of punishment. "The public approved the __ punishment for the crime." Synonyms: adjective: Just, Deserved, Deserving.

Musky

(adj)- Having a smell or taste like that of musk. She left a trace of __ perfume behind her. A ___ smell might make you close your eyes and smile, or it might make you leave a room. Either way, it's a very strong and sweet odor that's hard to ignore.

Gnarled

(adj)- Knobbly, Rough, and Twisted, especially with age. Used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots. ____ means rugged, roughened and knotty, like the hands of an old wood carver, as well as the wood he carves. Synonyms: adjective: knotty, gnarly, snaggy, knobby

Retroactive

(adj)- Taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax). Affecting things past. The adjective ___ refers to something happening now that affects the past. For example, a ___ tax is one that is passed at one time, but payable back to a time before the tax was passed.

Incognito

(adj)- With your identity concealed. Without revealing one's identity. (of a person) Having one's true identity concealed. An assumed or false identity. When you want to do something and not be recognized, go ___ — hiding your true identity. The monarch enjoyed traveling through the town ___ and mingling with the populace. Synonyms: adjective: Unknown.

Recondite

(adj): abstruse, obscure, secret, deep (of a subject or knowledge) Little known; abstruse

beatific

(adj): blissful, blessed Blissfully happy. Imparting holy bliss. The -- smile on the child's face made us very happy.

Headlong

(adj-adv) - In a rush; with reckless haste. With the head foremost. The slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border to freedom. Synonyms: adjective: rash, precipitous, hasty, heady adverb: headforemost, headfirst

auspicious

(adj.) favourable, favorable, propitious, fortunate, prosperous, advantageous, lucky; Conducive to success; favorable it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election Giving or being a sign of future success they said it was an auspicious moon—it was rising Characterized by success; prosperous he was respectful to his auspicious customers

abonimable

(adj.) hateful, odious, loathsome, detestable, abhorrent, nasty, execrable, vile, hideous, loathful, obnoxious, repulsive, heinous, revolting, sickening, repugnant, horrible, accursed

acrid

(adj.) pungent, caustic,sharp, bitter, poignant, cutting, acid, sour, mordant. Having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell acrid fumes Angry and bitter an acrid farewell

autonomous

(adj.) self-governing, independent. (of a country or region) Having self-government, at least to a significant degree the federation included sixteen autonomous republics Acting independently or having the freedom to do so an autonomous committee of the school board autonomous underwater vehicles (in Kantian moral philosophy) Acting in accordance with one's moral duty rather than one's desires

artless

(adj.) simple, naive, ingenuous, unsophisticated, innocent, guileless, unaffected; characterized by an inability to mask your feelings. Without guile or deception an artless, naive girl artless sincerity Without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple an artless literary masterpiece Without skill or finesse her awkward, artless prose

Indubitably

(adv) - Beyond a doubt. In a manner or to a degree that could not be doubted. ___ means "without doubt." If you say that you are __ going to run for class president, you're sure of it. Because her argument was ___ valid, the judge accepted it.

Impromptu

(adv) - Done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed.. With little or no preparation or forethought. Her listeners were amazed that such a thorough presentation could be made in an ___ speech. Synonyms: adjective: Extemporaneous, Improvised, Extemporary, Extempore, Offhand. noun: Improvisation, Extemporization. adverb: Extempore, Offhand.

Verbatim

(adv) - Using exactly the same words. In precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker. Synonyms: adjective: verbal, literal, textual (adv): literatim, word for word, verbally, literally.

Staccato

(adv, adj) - Played in an abrupt manner; Marked by abrupt, sharp sound. His ___ speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun.

Ramshackle

(esp. of a house or vehicle) In a state of severe disrepair. Synonyms: adjective: Dilapidated, Decrepit, Rickety.

apartheid

(in South Africa) A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race Segregation in other contexts sexual apartheid

Pontifical

(in the Roman Catholic Church) Of or relating to the pope. Characterized by a pompous and superior air of infallibility. If you ever listen to talk radio you'll hear some fairly ___ talk going on — that is, puffed up, vain, overblown speech from someone convinced he alone is right. What he's doing is ___. Synonyms: adjective: Papal, Episcopal.

Perdition

(n) - (in Christian theology) A state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death. ___ is mainly a religious concept from Christianity that means hell or eternal damnation. Perdition doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Synonyms: noun: Ruin, BANE, Ruination, Doom, Damnation, Undoing, Destruction.

Tyro

(n) - A beginner or novice. Synonyms: noun: novice, tiro, tenderfoot, beginner, rookie, neophyte, newcomer, recruit, greenhorn.

Benison

(n) - A blessing. Let us pray that the -- of peace once more shall prevail among the nations of the world. Synonyms: noun: blessing, benediction.

Vendetta

(n) - A blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family. Synonyms: (n): feud, vengeance.

Fetter

(n) - A chain or shackle for the ankles or feet. Anything that confines or restrains. Synonyms: (v): Shackle, Bind, Enchain, Tie, Trammel, Manacle, Chain (n): Chain, Shackle, Manacle, Bond, Gyve.

Hap

(n) - A chance occurrence, esp. an event that is considered unlucky. FORTUNE Come about by chance; Luck. In his poem ___, Thomas Hardy objects to the part chance plays in our lives. Synonyms: verb: happen, occur, befall, come about, transpire, chance, take place, betide noun: chance, luck, fortune, hazard, fate, accident Luck; fortune

Vicissitude

(n) - A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant. Synonyms: (n): change, shift, mutation

Amphitheater

(n) - A circular or oval building, typically unroofed, with a central space for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events. Tiers of seats for spectators surround the central space. The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.

Glaze

(n) - A coating for ceramics, metal, etc. A glossy finish on a fabric. (v) - Become glassy or take on a glass-like appearance. Furnish with glass The ___ on a doughnut is the thin sweet coating that makes your fingers sticky. The ___ on a coffee table is the shiny coating that makes it glossy. The ___ on your friend's eyes as you talk is a sign that maybe you're boring her. Synonyms: verb: polish, enamel noun: varnish, enamel, lustre, polish, gloss

Compendium

(n) - A collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication. A collection of things, esp. one systematically gathered. Synonyms: noun: summary, abstract, epitome, synopsis, abridgment, digest, precis, abridgement

Gourmet

(n) - A connoisseur of good food; a person with a discerning palate. A person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink). of a kind or standard suitable for a ___. That guy over there correctly identifying the dozen spices used in the meal he's eating? He's likely a ___, someone who knows a lot about fine food. Synonyms: Noun: Gastronome, Epicure, Epicurean, Connoisseur.

Clangor

(n) - A continuous loud banging or ringing sound; loud, resounding noise. "The blacksmith was accustomed to the -- of hammers on steel."

Cadaver

(n) - A corpse. In some states, it is illegal to dissect ---. Synonyms: noun: corpse, body, carcass, stiff, carcase, dead body

Chasm

(n) - A deep fissure in the earth, rock, or another surface A profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, "They could not see the bottom of the --." Synonyms: noun: Abyss, Gulf, Gap, Precipice, Abysm.

Desperado

(n) - A desperate or reckless person, esp. a criminal. A ___ is an outlaw that you'd see in an old Western or in the Wild West. Think hip holsters, spinning guns, and a shoot-out, all with a bandanna pulled up hiding half of the face of the ___. Butch Cassidy was a bold __ with a price on his head. Synonyms: noun: Outlaw

Ragamuffin

(n) - A dirty shabbily clothed urchin. A person, typically a child, in ragged, dirty clothes. An exponent or follower of ragga, typically one dressing in ragged clothes. Synonyms: noun: Tatterdemalion. dishevelment.

Travesty

(n) - A false, absurd, or distorted representation of something. A Farcical or Grotesque imitation. Synonyms: (v): parody, burlesque (n): Parody, Mockery, Caricature, Burlesque, Skit, Spoof, Imitate, Mimic, Lampoon.

Trepidation

(n) - A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen. Trembling motion. Tremulous fear. Synonyms: (n): Tremble, Tremor, Anxiety, Alarm, Fear, Fright, Quivering, Shaking.

Gossamer

(n) - A fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders, seen especially in autumn. A light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate material or substance. Synonyms: adjective: fine, thin, slight, subtle, gossamery noun: cobweb, gauze

Stipend

(n) - A fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance. Synonyms: noun: Salary, Pay, Wage, Wages, Emolument, Earnings, Scholarship.

Precept

(n) - A general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought. Rule of personal conduct. A doctrine that is taught. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is a worthwhile ___. A ____ is a rule or direction, often with some religious basis, dictating a way you should act or behave.

Gargolye

(n) - A grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall. The ___ adorning the Cathedral of NOTRE DAME in Paris are amusing in their grotesqueness.

Avocation

(n) - A hobby or minor occupation. His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his --. Synonyms: (n): Profession, Vocation, Occupation, Calling, Hobby, Business, Trade, Sideline.

Spate

(n) - A large number of similar things coming in quick succession. SUDDEN FLOOD I am worried about the possibility of a ____ if the rains do not diminish soon.

Sluggard

(n) - A lazy, sluggish person. "You are a ___ , a drone, a parasite," the angry father shouted at his lazy son.

Savant

(n) - A learned person, esp. a distinguished scientist. Synonyms: noun: Scholar, Scientist, Pundit, Erudite, Boffin.

Dissertation

(n) - A long essay on a particular subject, esp. one written as a requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Formal essay. Don't go to grad school unless you're prepared to write, say, a 300-page __ on some topic. Synonyms: noun: Thesis, Treatise, DISCOURSE, DISQUISITION.

Disquisition

(n) - A long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject. In his __ , he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions.

yen

(n) - A longing or yearning.

Tumult

(n) - A loud, confused noise, esp. one caused by a large mass of people/mob; Confusion or disorder. Synonyms: (n): uproar, turmoil, noise, commotion, hubbub, racket, riot, din, hurly-burly, clamor.

Satyr

(n) - A man who has strong sexual desires. One of a class of lustful, drunken woodland gods. In Greek art they were represented as a man with a horse's ears and tail, but in Roman representations as a man with a goat's ears, tail, legs, and horns Synonyms: noun: Lecher.

Exodus

(n) - A mass departure of people, esp. emigrants. The departure of the Israelites from Egypt. The __ from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings. Synonyms: noun: Departure.

Vortex

(n) - A mass of whirling fluid or air, esp. a whirlpool or whirlwind. Synonyms: adjective: vorticose noun: whirlpool, eddy, whirl, swirl, maelstrom, gulf, whirlwind

Tightwad

(n) - A mean or miserly person. A close-fisted or stingy person. Synonyms: (n): Miser, Skinflint, *****rrd, Scrooge, Churl, Curmudgeon, Hunks.

Pediatrician

(n) - A medical practitioner specializing in children and their diseases. Synonyms: noun: Paediatrician, Pediatrist, Paediatrist.

Potpourri

(n) - A mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl or small sack to perfume clothing or a room. A mixture of things, esp. a musical or literary medley. Synonyms: noun: Medley, Olio.

Fracas

(n) - A noisy disturbance or quarrel. Brawl; Melee The military police stopped the __ in the bar and arrested the belligerents. Synonyms: noun: Hubbub, Ruction, Row, Uproar, Din.

Parlance

(n) - A particular way of speaking or using words, esp. a way common to those with a particular job or interest. Synonyms: noun: Speech, Language, Tongue.

Quirk

(n) - A peculiar behavioral habit. A strange chance occurrence A sudden twist, turn, or curve. An acute hollow between convex or other moldings. (v) - (of a person's mouth or eyebrow) Move or twist suddenly, esp. to express surprise or amusement. Move or twist (one's mouth or eyebrow) in such a way. Synonyms: verb: Mock noun: Whim, Quip.

Pantomime

(n) - A performance using gestures and body movements without words. act out without words but with gestures and bodily movements only. If you make a motion with your hands to indicate eating ice cream, you are using ___. Parents often use this wordless communication to try to keep things from the kids. Unfortunately, the kids usually catch on quickly — especially if there is ice cream involved.

Doldrums

(n) - A period of inactivity or a state of stagnation. Low spirits; a feeling of boredom or depression. __ aren't drums that you can play like the tom-toms. Rather people use this noun to describe a period of time that is boring, depressing, or characterized by inactivity. The noun ____ is derived from the word dull. Synonyms: noun: Depression, Dejection.

Proxy

(n) - A person authorized to act for another. Please act as my ___ and vote for this slate of candidates in my absence. Don't feel like going to the grocery store today? See if you can send your brother as a ___, meaning he's a substitute authorized to act for you.

Charlatan

(n) - A person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill. A fraud. A flamboyant deceiver. One who attracts customers with tricks or jokes. Synonyms: (n): Quack, Mountebank, Impostor, Quacksalver, Ponzi scheme.

Virtuoso

(n) - A person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit. Synonyms: ace, adept, champion, genius, hotshot, maven, mavin, sensation, star, superstar, whiz, whizz, wiz, wizard.

Braggart

(n) - A person who boasts about achievements or possessions. Exhibiting self-importance. Synonyms: (adj): Boastful, Thrasonical, Vainglorious, Ostentatious. (n): Swaggerer, Blusterer, Boaster, Bouncer.

Ventriloquist

(n) - A person who can speak or utter sounds so that they seem to come from somewhere else, esp. An entertainer who makes their voice appear to come from a dummy of a person or animal.

TurnCoat

(n) - A person who deserts one party or cause in order to join an opposing one. Synonyms: (n): renegade, apostate, deserter, recreant, traitor.

Gourmand

(n) - A person who enjoys eating and often eats too much. A connoisseur of good food; a gourmet. A ___ is someone obsessively and unhealthily devoted to eating good food and lots of it. Synonyms: adjective: Gluttonous, Greedy, Voracious, Edacious, Lickerish, Ravenous. noun: Glutton, GOURMET

Purveyor

(n) - A person who sells or deals in particular goods. A person or group who spreads or promotes an idea, view, etc. Furnisher of foodstuffs; Caterer. As ___ of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of new products to sell. Seller, Vendor, Trader, Retailer, Supplier, Provider, Stockist, Tout, Trafficker , Hawker.

Coiffure

(n) - A person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one. You can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the 60's many African-Americans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros. Synonyms: noun: hairdo, headdress, hairstyle, haircut

Prognosis

(n) - A prediction of the course of a disease; Prediction. The likely course of a medical condition. If the doctor's ___ is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours.

Conclave

(n) - A private meeting. Syn - gathering, assembly, conference, convention, convocation, council, session, summit, forgathering; informalparley, powwow, get-together.

Whiff

(n) - A puff or breath of air or smoke. (v) - Get a brief or faint smell of. Synonyms: verb: smell, sniff, puff noun: puff, breath, waft

Comeuppance

(n) - A punishment or fate that someone deserves. Rebuke; deserts. "After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his -- ."

Pathos

(n) - A quality that evokes pity or sadness.

Alcove

(n) - A recess, typically in the wall of a room or of a garden. A small recess opening off a larger room. Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an -- adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple. Synonyms: (n): Recess, Arbour, Arbor, Niche, Bower.

Brocade

(n) - A rich fabric, usually silk, woven with a raised pattern, typically with gold or silver thread. The sofa was covered with expensive brocade.

Tether

(n) - A rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement. (v) - Tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement. Synonyms: (v): bind, tie, hitch (n): line, rope

Emolument

(n) - A salary, fee, or profit from employment or office. Compensation. ___ is another way to describe the money you receive for working. In addition to the ___ this position offers, you must consider the social prestige it carries with it. Synonyms: noun: Earnings, Pay, Stipend, Salary, Wage, Income, Profit, Fee.

Floe

(n) - A sheet of floating ice. The ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice __ .

Inkling

(n) - A slight knowledge or suspicion. A slight suggestion or vague understanding A Hint. Is someone yapping on and on and you only have the vaguest idea of what they're talking about? Then you understood just an _)— a glimmer, a fraction — of what they were saying. Synonyms: noun: Hint, Intimation, Suspicion, Allusion.

Trinket

(n) - A small ornament or item of jewelry that is of little value. Anything of trivial value. (V) - to deal secretly or surreptitiously. Synonyms: (n): knick-knack, bauble, trifle, gewgaw (v): plot, intrigue, scheme, conspire

Grotto

(n) - A small picturesque cave, especially an artificial one in a park or garden. an indoor structure resembling a cave. The Blue ___ in Capri can be entered only by small boats rowed by natives through a natural opening in the rocks. A ___ is a small cave, the kind of place where you feel comfortable, cozy, and protected from the harsh realities outside. Synonyms: noun: cave, cavern, den

Awl

(n) - A small pointed tool used for piercing holes, esp. in leather. She used an -- to punch additional holes in the leather belt she had bought. Synonyms: (n): Bodkin, Bradawl, Pricker.

Poultice

(n) - A soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth. Synonyms: noun: Cataplasm, Stupe, Fomentation, Plaster, Compress.

Panacea

(n) - A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases. Synonyms: noun: Cure-all, Nostrum, Heal-all.

Touchstone

(n) - A standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized. a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated. Synonyms: (n): Criterion, Test, Standard, Measure, Model, Pattern.

Decrepitude

(n) - A state of deterioration due to old age or long use. Many old buildings located in "ghost towns" in the Old West area of the United States are in a state of ___ . In other words, they are worn out and in disrepair. Synonyms: noun: Infirmity, Senility. Dilapidation.

Stupor

(n) - A state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility. Marginal consciousness. Synonyms: (n): Torpor, Stupefaction, Numbness, Torpidity.

Tranquility

(n) - A state of peace and quiet. an untroubled state; free from disturbances. The quality or state of being tranquil; calm. Synonyms: (n): Peace, Quiet, Calm, Quietude, Serenity, Quietness, Stillness, Composure, Placidity, Ease, Repose, Still, Rest, Silence.

Torpor

(n) - A state of physical or mental inactivity. Inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy. A state of suspended physical powers and activities. Synonyms: (n): Torpidity, Numbness, Stupor, Lethargy, Stolidity, Apathy.

Truism

(n) - A statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting; A self-evident, obvious truth. Synonyms cliché, platitude.

Figurine

(n) - A statuette, especially one of a human form. In the Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired to trace the missing ___ of a black bird.

Granary

(n) - A storehouse for threshed grain. A region producing large quantities of corn. Storehouse for grain. If you're wondering where to store your grain, the simple answer is — in a ___ . Not much more to say, really. A ____ is where grain is stored. Synonyms: noun: barn, garner, storehouse

Reminiscence

(n) - A story told about a past event remembered by the narrator The enjoyable recollection of past events. A collection in literary form of incidents and experiences that someone remembers. A characteristic of one thing reminding or suggestive of another. Synonyms: noun: Recollection, Memory, Remembrance.

Ramification

(n) - A subdivision of a complex structure or process perceived as comparable to a tree's branches. A consequence of an action or event, esp. when complex or unwelcome. Synonyms: noun: Branch, Fork, Embranchment, Offshoot.

wrench

(n) - A sudden violent twist or pull. Synonyms: verb: twist, wrest, sprain, dislocate noun: spanner, sprain, twist

Bivouac

(n) - A temporary camp without tents or cover, used esp. by soldiers or mountaineers. While in -- , we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars. Synonyms: noun: camp, encampment

Sojourn

(n) - A temporary stay. (v) - Stay somewhere temporarily. A ___ is a short stay or visit. If you want a fancy way to say that you took a trip to the countryside, you might talk about your country __. Synonyms: verb: Stay, Tarry. noun: Stay, Visit.

Perquisite

(n) - A thing regarded as a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one's position. A thing that has served its primary use and is then given to a subordinate or employee as a customary right. ___ are the benefits or "perks" that come along with a job. Free air travel for air hostesses? Free company car for corporate execs? Free pork for politicians? That's right, they're all ___. Synonyms: noun: Perk, Tip.

Gratuity

(n) - A tip given to a waiter, taxi driver, etc. A sum of money paid to an employee at the end of a period of employment. Many service employees rely more on ___ than on salaries for their livelihood. A ___ is a tip that's given by a customer in exchange for services. You might leave a ___ of several dollars when you eat lunch in a restaurant or when you get your hair cut. Synonyms: noun: tip, baksheesh, perquisite, douceur, fee, gratification, bonus, gift.

Gloss

(n) - A translation or explanation of a word or phrase. An explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase of a text. Shine or lustre on a smooth surface. A type of paint which dries to a bright shiny surface. A ___ is a shiny finish on an object. It's also an explanation about a word or phrase. Right now, you're reading a ___ on the word ____. Synonyms: verb: polish noun: luster, lustre, sheen, brilliance, brilliancy, polish, comment

Wastrel

(n) - A wasteful or good-for-nothing person; A waif; a neglected child; someone who dissipates resources self-indulgently. Synonyms: adjective: waste noun: waster, spendthrift, spender, profligate, profligate, squanderer.

Quip

(n) - A witty remark. A verbal equivocation. Make a witty remark. Synonyms: verb: joke noun: joke, witticism, quirk

witticism

(n) - A witty remark; wisecrack. Synonyms: noun: joke, quip, jest, wisecrack, wit, sally

Endearment

(n) - A word or phrase expressing love or affection. Your gifts and __ cannot make me forget your earlier insolence. Synonyms: noun: tenderness, caress, affection, fondness, love.

Subpoena

(n) - A writ ordering a person to attend a court. (v) - Serve or summon with a subpoena. Synonyms: verb: Cite, Summon. noun: Summons, Citation, Writ.

Misnomer

(n) - A wrong or inaccurate name or designation. An incorrect or unsuitable name.

Motility

(n) - Ability to move . Ability to move spontaneously and independently. Often used to describe the ability of sperm to swim, ___ is anything's ability to move or get around. His sperm's ___ was just one of the factors in the couple's fertility. Certain organisms exhibit remarkable ___; motile spores, for example, may travel for miles before coming to rest.

Emissary

(n) - Agent; Messenger. A person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative. The secretary of State was sent as the President's special __ to the conference on disarmament. Synonyms: noun: Envoy, Messenger, Legate, Spy.

Ferment

(n) - Agitation; commotion. The word ___ means a commotion or excitement. Consider that the ___ that turns juice or grain into alcohol is the result of the agitated development of bacteria, and then you can better appreciate the word's meaning. Synonyms: verb: work noun: fFermentation, Yeast, Leaven, Enzyme.

Unanimity

(n) - Agreement by all people involved; consensus; complete agreement. Synonyms: noun: consensus, unity

Functionary

(n) - An Official. A person who has to perform official functions or duties; As his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching a settlement. Synonyms: adjective: Functional, Official, Formal. noun: Official, Officer, Clerk.

Expletive

(n) - An ___ is a swear word, a curse you let out when you are startled or mad. You probably already know a lot of ____:) An ___ is a vulgar word that will greatly upset your grandmother if you say it in her presence. The sergeant's remarks were filled with __ that offended the new recruits. synonyms: Swear word, Oath, Curse, Obscenity, Profanity, Epithet, Imprecation, Four-letter word, Exclamation; Bad language, Foul language, Strong language, Swearing; Informaldirty word; Informalcuss word, Cuss.

Depredation

(n) - An act of attacking or plundering. The horrors of war include ___ — the Plundering and Ransacking of the defeated and their homes, the terrible, unrestrained preying on the conquered. The word Depredation entails all of the pain humans inflict upon each other. After the __ of the invaders, the people were penniless. Synonyms: noun: Pillage, Rapine, Robbery, Ravage, Despoilment, Havoc, Loot, Sack, Devastation.

Escapade

(n) - An act or incident involving excitement, daring, or adventure. The headmaster could not regard this latest ___ as a boyish joke and expelled the young man.

Gambit

(n) - An act or remark that is calculated to gain an advantage, especially at the outset of a situation. (in chess) An opening move in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of a compensating advantage. A ___ is a strategic move, often in chess but also in politics or business, where a player sacrifices something up front for future gain. Synonyms:: Stratagem, Mahination, Scheme, Plan, Tactic, Manoeuvre, Move, Course of action, Lline of action, Device, Operation; Ruse, Trick, Ploy, Artifice.

Transgression

(n) - An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense. Synonyms: (n): Offence, Offense, Violation, Trespass, Infringement, Sin, Contravention, Infraction, Breach, Wrongdoing.

Indenture

(n) - An agreement binding an apprentice to a master. Many immigrants could come to America only after they had ___ themselves for several years. Synonyms: noun: Contract, Agreement, Indent.

Forebears

(n) - An ancestor. Reverence for one's ___ (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in many Oriental cultures.

Patrician

(n) - An aristocrat or nobleman. (adj) - Belonging to or characteristic of the aristocracy. We greatly admired her well-bred, ___ elegance.

Aspersion

(n) - An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something. Slanderous remark. Do not cast == on her character. Synonyms: (n): Slander, Calumny, Defamation, Libel, Smear, Slur, Obloquy, Scandal.

Facsimilie

(n) - An exact copy, especially of written or printed material. Another term for fax1. Many museums sell ___ of the works of art on display. Synonyms: Copy, Reproduction, Duplicate, Photocopy, Mimeograph, Mimeo, Replica, Likeness, Carbon, Carbon Copy, Print, Reprint, Offprint, Image; FAX, Telefax; Clone.

Glut

(n) - An excessively abundant supply of something. (v) - Supply or fill to excess. A ___ is too much of something. A ___ of gas in the marketplace can lower its price. A ___ of heavy metal T-shirts in your dresser, however, has nothing to do with the economy but might be a signal that it's time to clean your room. Synonyms: verb: satiate, sate, cloy, saturate noun: surfeit, plethora, repletion, abundance, satiety, superabundance

Tract

(n) - An extended or indefinite extent area of land. A system of body parts that together serve some particular purpose. A brief treatise on a subject of interest; published in the form of a booklet. Synonyms: (n): Area, Pamphlet

Utopia

(n) - An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.

Paucity

(n) - An insufficient quantity or number. The presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts. Synonyms: (n): Scarcity, Shortage, Dearth, Lack, Want, Deficiency, Poverty, Scantiness.

Gibe

(n) - An insulting or mocking remark; A taunt. (v) - Make insulting or mocking remarks; Jeer. Synonyms: verb: jibe, mock, jeer, scoff, deride, sneer, taunt, ridicule, flout, gird.

Bugaboo

(n) - An object of fear or alarm; a bugbear If we become frightened by such --, we are no wiser than the birds who fear scarecrows. Synonyms: noun: bugbear, scarecrow, bogy, bogey, hobgoblin, fright.

Conjecture

(n) - An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information. "I will end all your ___; I admit I am guilty as charged." Synonyms: verb: guess, surmise, presume, suppose, assume, speculate noun: guess, surmise, supposition, presumption, assumption, hypothesis, speculation.

Trappings

(n) - An ornamental covering OR harness for a horse; a caparison. the accessories and adornments that characterize or symbolize a condition. a ceremonial harness for a horse or other animal, including bridles, saddles. Synonyms: noun: Harness, Costume, Raiment, Attire, Apparel.

Swelter

(n) - An uncomfortably hot atmosphere. (v) - Suffer from intense heat. Synonyms: (n): Heat, Sultriness.

Repercussion

(n) - An unintended consequence occurring some time after an event or action, esp. an unwelcome one. The move would have grave ___for the entire region The recoil of something after impact. An echo or reverberation. A ____ is something that happens because of another action. You could quit paying your rent, but getting evicted from your apartment might be the ____. Synonyms: noun: Echo, Reverberation.

Effusion

(n) - An unrestrained expression of emotion. Flow under pressure. An ___ is an explosion of something, usually words, ideas, or emotions. The critics objected to her literary __ because it was too flowery. Synonyms: noun: Outpouring, Outflow. (adj) - EFFUSIVE.

Indignation

(n) - Anger or an injustice. A feeling of righteous anger. Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment. He felt ___ at the ill-treatment of the helpless animals. Call your anger at an unjust situation __. If recess gets canceled for everyone because two students get into a fight, the rest of the student body will respond with ___. Synonyms: noun: Resentment, Wrath, Anger, Exasperation.

Fauna

(n) - Animals of a period or region. The scientist could visualize the ___ of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils.

Tenet

(n) - Any opinion, Doctrine, Dogma, Principle, etc., especially one held as true by members of a profession, group, or movement. Synonyms: (n): Doctrine, Dogma, Principle.

Guise

(n) - Appearance; costume. an external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something. In the ___ of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case. Synonyms: noun: appearance, semblance, shape, mask, dress, disguise

Conduit

(n) - Aqueduct; Passageway for fluids. Synonyms: noun: duct, pipe, channel, pipeline, tube, canal, piping, tubing

Dialectic

(n) - Art of debate. The art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions. I am not skilled in __ and therefore, cannot answer your arguments as forcefully as I wish. Synonyms: Reasoning, Argumentation, Contention, Logic, Discussion, Debate, Dialogue.

Hinterlands

(n) - Back country. The often uncharted areas beyond a coastal district or a river's banks. An area surrounding a town or port and served by it. The remote areas of a region. An area lying beyond what is visible or known They seldom had visitors, living as they did way out in the ____.

Embargo

(n) - Ban on commerce or other activity. As a result of the ___, trade with colonies was at a standstill. Synonyms: noun: Ban, Prohibition, Interdict.

Fruition

(n) - Bearing of fruit; Fulfillment; Realization. The point at which a plan or project is realized. The realization of a plan or project. The state or action of producing fruit. This building marks the ___ of all our aspirations and years of hard work. Synonyms: noun: Realization, Fulfilment, Fulfillment, Enjoyment.

Genesis

(n) - Beginning. The origin or mode of formation of something. Tracing the ____ of a family is the theme of "Roots." Synonyms: noun: origin, birth, rise, provenance, origination, beginning

Monotheism

(n) - Belief in one God. The doctrine or belief that there is only one God. Abraham was the first to proclaim his belief in __ .

Guffaw

(n) - Boisterous laughter. A loud and hearty laugh. (v) - Laugh loudly and heartily. The loud ___that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committee had not yet settled down to a serious business. Synonyms: verb: scream

Fray

(n) - Brawl. A noisy fight. (v) - Wear away by rubbing. ___ is all about friction--a ___ rope has been rubbed so much its fibers are wearing away. People experiencing friction--fighting loudly--are involved in a ___. The three musketeers were in the thick of ____. Synonyms: verb: Wear out, Frazzle, Wear. noun: Fight, Affray, Scuffle, Conflict, Clash, Tussle.

Fancier

(n) - Breeder or dealer of animals. a person having a strong liking for something. The dog __ exhibited her prize collie at the annual Kennel Club show. Synonyms: noun: Lover.

Farce

(n) - Broad comedy; Mockery. A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and Ludicrously improbable situations. The genre of such works. An absurd event. Nothing went right; the entire interview degenerated into a ___. Synonyms: noun: Comedy.

Contusion

(n) - Bruise. A region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured. She was treated for __ and abrasions. Synonyms: noun: bruise, concussion.

Effervescence

(n) - Bubbles in a liquid or of gas; fizz; To show enthusiasm, excitement, liveliness. Vivacity and inner excitement or exuberance. Synonyms: (n): effervescency, fizz, ebullition, bubbliness.

Incubus

(n) - Burden; Mental care; Nightmare. Someone who depresses or worries others. A male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women A cause of distress or anxiety. The ___ of financial worry helped bring on her nervous breakdown. An ___ is someone or something that really drags you down, like a so-called friend who only calls you to complain about her life or a job that you can't stand.

Equanimity

(n) - Calmness of temperament. Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation. In his later years, he could look upon the foolishness of the world with __ and humor. Synonyms: noun: Composure, Calmness, Poise, Serenity, Self-possession..

Luminary

(n) - Celebrity; Dignitary. A celebrity who is an inspiration to others. A person who inspires or influences others, esp. one prominent in a particular sphere. An artificial light. A natural light-giving body, esp. the sun or moon In scientific writing, Stephen J. Hawking is a ___ . People look up to this well-known scientist and author for his knowledge and insight.Synonyms: noun: Light, Star.

Precipice

(n) - Cliff; Dangerous position. Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a ____.

Lout

(n) - Clumsy person. An uncouth or aggressive man or boy. An awkward stupid person. The delivery boy is an awkward ___. A ___ is a clumsy, awkward oaf. If you want to insult the person who just stepped on your toes and belched, say, "Watch where you're going, you ___!" Synonyms: noun: Boor, Oaf, Bumpkin.

Doggerel

(n) - Comic verse composed in irregular rhythm. Verse or words that are badly written or expressed .Poor verse. We're not sure why poor dogs always seem to get used to describe something really dreadful, but it's the case with __ — meaning irregularly rhyming, really bad poetry, usually comic in tone and fit only for dogs.

Hubbub

(n) - Confused uproar A chaotic din caused by a crowd of people. A busy, noisy situation. The marketplace was a scene of ___and excitement. Synonyms: noun: Noise, Uproar, Din, Tumult, Racket, Commotion, Turmoil, Hullabaloo, Hurly-burly, Row, Fuss.

Perversion

(n) - Corruption; Turning from right to wrong. Sexual behaviour that is considered abnormal and unacceptable. Distortion or corruption of the original course, meaning, or state of something. Inasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes, we could not understand his __.

Recrimination

(n) - Countercharges. Mutual accusations. Loud and angry ____ were her answer to his accusations. Sometimes you accuse your opponent of refusing to compromise and he accuses you of the same thing. That's a ___, an accusation or insult that's hurled back at someone.

Mettle

(n) - Courage; Spirit. A person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience. When challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its ___ by its determination to hold the lead.

Alimony

(n) - Court-ordered support or allowance paid by one spouse to another after they are separated Synonyms: (n): Maintenance.

Fissure

(n) - Crevice. A long narrow depression in a surface. A state of incompatibility or disagreement. A long fine crack in the surface of something is called a __. If you see a ___ in the ice on a frozen lake, you'll want to take off your skates and head back to the car. The mountain climbers secured footholds in tiny ___ in the rock. Synonyms: verb: Split, Cleave, Crack, Slit, Chap noun: Crack, Cleft, Rift, Crevice, Split, Chink, Slit, Cranny, Flaw, Rent, Slot, Chap

Stricture

(n) - Critical comments; Severe and Adverse criticism. A sternly critical or censorious remark or instruction. A restriction on a person or activity. His ___ on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted.

Elixir

(n) - Cure-all; Something invigorating. Miraculous, magical, and maybe a little mysterious, an __ is a sweet substance or solution that cures the problem at hand. The news of her chance to go abroad acted on her like an __.

Subterfuge

(n) - Deceit used in order to achieve one's goal A statement or action resorted to in order to deceive. Something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity. Synonyms: (n): Evasion, Ruse, Trick, Dodge, Artifice.

Reverence

(n) - Deep respect for someone or something. A gesture indicative of such respect; a bow or curtsy. A title given to a member of the clergy, or used in addressing them Synonyms: (v): venerate, respect, honour, honor, esteem (n): respect, veneration, esteem, obeisance, regard, deference, awe, honour, honor .

Finesse

(n) - Delicate skill. Subtle or delicate manipulation. Having ___ means you can handle difficult situations with diplomacy and tact, like the ___ it takes to help two friends work out their differences, without taking sides or alienating either one. The ___ and adroitness of the surgeon impressed the observers in the operating room. Synonyms: noun: Artifice, Trick, Subtlety, Delicacy.

Filigree

(n) - Delicate, Lacelike metalwork. Ancient handmade jewelry is often known for its ___ , which is a noun describing delicate ornamental work made of some type of metal. The pendant with gold ___ that she wore round her neck trembled with each breath she took.

Lineage

(n) - Descent; Ancestry. A social group tracing its descent from a single ancestor. A sequence of species each of which is considered to have evolved from its predecessor. A sequence of cells in the body that developed from a common ancestral cell. He traced his __ back to Mayflower days. Synonyms: noun: PEDIGREE, Ancestry, Parentage, Descent, Race, Origin, Family, Stock, Extraction, GENEALOGY, Line.

Subsidy

(n) - Direct financial aid by government, etc. A grant or contribution of money. Without this ____, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets.

Severance

(n) - Division; Partition; Separation. The action of ending a connection or relationship. Dismissal or discharge from employment. The ___ of church and state is a basic principle of our government.

Flotsam

(n) - Drifting wreckage. The wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on or washed up by the sea. Beachcombers eke out a living by salvaging the ___ and jetsam of the sea.

Gnome

(n) - Dwarf; Underground spirit. A legendary creature resembling a tiny old man; lives in the depths of the earth and guards buried treasure. A short pithy saying expressing a general truth. Ever seen pictures in children's books of wizened little trolls with red caps and wrinkled faces? Those are ___, imaginary characters popular in fairy tales and folklore. For some reason, they've lately become popular as garden statuary. Synonyms: noun: elf, goblin, maxim

Gusto

(n) - Enjoyment and enthusiasm in doing something. A relish or liking. The style in which a work of art is executed. He accepted the assignment with such __ that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary. Synonyms: noun: relish, pleasure, enjoyment, delight, taste, zest

Gamut

(n) - Entire range. The complete range or scope of something.. In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete ___ of her acting ability. synonyms: Range, Spectrum, Span, Sweep, Compass, Scope, Area, Breadth, Width, Reach, Extent, Catalogue, Scale, Sequence, Series; Variety

Milieu

(n) - Environment; Means of expression. A person's social environment. His __ is watercolors, although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs.

Misapprehension

(n) - Error; Misunderstanding. A mistaken belief about or interpretation of something. To avoid ___ , I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given.

Temerity

(n) - Excessive confidence or boldness. Synonyms: (n): Daring, Rashness, Audacity, Reckless Boldness; Rashness.

Subsistence

(n) - Existence; Means of support; Livelihood. ____ means the minimal resources that are necessary for survival. If you work for _____, you'll probably receive food, water, and lodging (internet access not included). In those days of inflated prices, my salary provided mere ____.

Delirium

(n) - Experiencing __? Then you're out of your mind and so excited you're hallucinating. Many things can cause __, including illness, high stress, and your team winning the World Series after 100 years of trying. __ means "madness" in Latin, and for good reason. The drunkard in his __ saw strange animals. Synonyms: noun: Raving, craze, frenzy, fury, hysteria. disturbance, folie, mental disorder, mental .

wrath

(n) - Extreme anger, fury. Synonyms: noun: anger, rage, ire, fury, passion, dander, bate, resentment

Avarice

(n) - Extreme greed for wealth or material gain Synonyms: (n): greed, cupidity, greediness, avidity, miserliness, rapacity, parsimony, stinginess, covetousness

Frond

(n) - Fern leaf; palm or banana leaf. The leaf or leaflike part of a palm, fern, or similar plant After the storm the beach was littered with the ___ of palm trees.

Melee

(n) - Fight.a confused fight or scuffle. A confused crowd of people. "several people were hurt in the ___" synonyms: Tumult, Disturbance, Rumpus, Commotion, Disorder, Brawl, Fracas, Fight, Affray, Fray, Scuffle, Struggle, Skirmish, Tussle, Quarrel,

Purchase

(n) - Firm grasp or footing. Firm contact or grip. (v) - Acquire (something) by paying for it; BUY. The mountaineer struggled to get a proper ____ on the slippery rock.

Armada

(n) - Fleet of warships. Queen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat the mighty -- that threatened the English coast. Synonyms: (n): Fleet, Navy.

Influx

(n) - Flowing into. The process of flowing in. An arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things. An inflow of water into a river, lake, or the sea. The ____ of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely. Synonyms: noun: Inflow, Flow, Afflux, Inrush.

Sustenance

(n) - Food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment. The maintaining of someone or something in life or existence. In the tropics, the natives find ___ easy to obtain because of all the fruit trees.

witless

(n) - Foolish; stupid; idiotic. Synonyms: adjective: foolish, fatuous, brainless

Premonition

(n) - Forewarning. A strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant. We ignored these ____ of disaster because they appeared to be based on childish fears.

Latitude

(n) - Freedom from narrow limitations. Freedom from normal restraints in conduct. I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter. Use the word ___ to describe how much freedom you have in making choices. For example, if a teacher gives you ___ in writing your paper, you might get to choose the topic and how many sources to include. Synonyms: noun: Width, Breadth, Scope.

Furor

(n) - Frenzy; Great excitement. An outbreak of public anger or excitement A wave of enthusiastic admiration; a craze The story of her embezzlement of the funds created a ___ on the stock exchange. Synonyms: noun: Furore, Rage, Fury.

Hiatus

(n) - Gap; Pause. A pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process. A break between two vowels coming together but not in the same syllable, as in the ear and cooperate. Except for a brief two-year ___, during which she enrolled in the Peace Corps, Ms. Clements has devoted herself to her medical career. Synonyms: noun: Gap, LACUNA, Blank, Chasm.

Serendipity

(n) - Gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; Accidental good fortune or luck. The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. Many scientific discoveries are a matter of ___: Newton was not sitting there thinking about gravity when the apple dropped on his head.

Attrition

(n) - Gradual wearing down. They decided to wage a war of attrition rather than to rely on all-out attack. Synonyms: (n): Abrasion, Wear, Friction.

zeal

(n) - Great energy or eager enthusiasm. Synonyms: noun: ardour, ardor, fervor, fervour, enthusiasm, eagerness, fervency

Clout

(n) - Great influence (especially political or social). A heavy blow with the hand or a hard object. "Gatsby wondered whether he had enough -- to be admitted to the exclusive club."

Lechery

(n) - Gross lewdness; Lustfulness. Excessive or offensive sexual desire. In his youth he led a life of ___ and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age. Synonyms: noun: Lust, Lewdness, Debauchery, Profligacy, Debauch, Pruriency, Prurience.

Domicile

(n) - HOME. Although his legal __ was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for many years. Synonyms: noun: Residence, Abode, HOME, Residency, Dwelling, Habitation, House, Dwelling place.

Inebriety

(n) - Habitual intoxication.Drunkenness. A temporary state resulting from excessive consumption of alcohol. Because of his ___ , he was discharged from his position as family chauffeur.

Hackles

(n) - Hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog. Erectile hairs along the back of a dog or other animal that rise when it is angry or alarmed. The dog's ___ rose and he began to growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder.

Aureole

(n) - Halo. Sun's corona. A circle of light or brightness surrounding something, esp. as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy. Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureols around their heads.

Drudgery

(n) - Hard, menial, or dull work. If you've ever had to do the laundry, wash the dishes, make the meals, change the bedding, vacuum the house, and clean the bathrooms day after day, you've experienced drudgery. __ is hard, mindless, backbreaking work. Synonyms: noun: Toil, Slavery, Hackwork.

Misogamy

(n) - Hatred of marriage He remained a bachelor not because of __ but because of ill fate: his fiancee died before the wedding.

Firebrand

(n) - Hothead; Troublemaker. Someone who deliberately foments trouble A person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action. The police tried to keep track of all the local ___ when the President came to town. Synonyms: noun: Brand, Incendiary, Instigator.

Humility

(n) - Humbleness of spirit. A modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness He spoke with a __ and lack of pride that impressed his listeners. Synonyms: noun: Modesty, Meekness, Humbleness, Lowliness, Submission.

Insolence

(n) - Imprudent disrespect; Haughtiness. Rude and disrespectful behavior. __ is a rude, disrespectful act. The teenager's __ got her in trouble with her teachers. Synonyms: noun: Impudence, Impertinence, Sauce, Cheek, Effrontery, Audacity, Gall, Nerve, Arrogance, Contumely.

Epitaph

(n) - Inscription in memory of a dead person on a gravestone. In his will, he dictated the __ he wanted placed on his tombstone.

Intelligentsia

(n) - Intellectuals; An educated and intellectual elite Intellectuals or highly educated people as a group, esp. when regarded as possessing culture and political influence. These people are more than class presidents and valedictorians. They're more than super nerds. They're the ___, the intellectual super stars of society. Synonyms: noun: Intellectuals, Intelligence.

Throes

(n) - Intense or violent pain and struggle, esp. accompanying birth, death, or great change. A sharp attack of emotion. Synonyms: (n): pains, labor pains

Bigotry

(n) - Intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneself. Stubborn intolerance. the report reveals racism and right-wing bigotry. several of his classmates. Synonyms: (n): zealotry, fanaticism. prejudice, bias, partiality, partisanship, sectarianism, discrimination, unfairness, injustice; narrow-mindedness, dogmatism; chauvinism, anti-Semitism, jingoism.

Prelude

(n) - Introduction; Forerunner. I am afraid that this border raid is the ___ to more serious attacks.

Figment

(n) - Invention; Imaginary thing. A thing that someone believes to be real but that exists only in their imagination. That incident never took place; it is a ___ of your imagination. Synonyms: noun: Fiction, Invention, Fabrication.

Anvil

(n) - Iron block used in hammering out metals. After heating the iron horseshoe in the forge, the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and set it on the --. Synonyms: (n): Incus, Stithy.

Juggernaut

(n) - Irresistible crushin force. A huge, powerful, and overwhelming force or institution. ___ means a massive force. If the army marching into your country is a ___, you're doomed. If you're trying to market a new Cola product, you're up against corporate giant Coca-Cola, a beverage ___ if ever there was one. Nothing could survive in the path of the ____.

Arable

(n) - Land or crops of this type. (adj) - (of farmland) capable of being farmed productively. Synonyms: (adj): Tillable (n): Tillage, Ploughland.

Peon

(n) - Landless agricultural worker; Bond servant. The land reformers sought to liberate the ___ and establish them as independent farmers.

Galleon

(n) - Large sailing ship The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the ___, the large warship; the British, on the smaller and faster pinnace.

Languor

(n) - Lassitude; Depression. Inactivity; Showing an unusual lack of energy. A relaxed comfortable feeling. A feeling of lack of interest or energy. His friends tried to overcome the __ into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater. Synonyms: noun: Lassitude, Weakness, Weariness

Laity

(n) - Laypersons; persons not connected with the clergy. Ordinary people, as distinct from professionals or experts If you are a member of a religious group, but you are not an ordained minister or priest, then you are a member of the ___. The ___ does not always understand the clergy's problems.

Lien

(n) - Legal claim on a property. A right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged. There was a delay before Ralph could take possession of his late uncle's home; apparently, another claimant had a ___ upon the estate.

Moratorium

(n) - Legal delay of payment. A temporary prohibition of an activity. If we declare a ___ and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills. Synonyms:: Embargo, Ban, Prohibition, Suspension, Postponement, Stay, Stoppage, Halt, Freeze, Standstill, Respite, Hiatus, Delay, Deferment, Deferral, Adjournment.

Diorama

(n) - Like-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history. If you use a shoebox and tiny toys to recreate the Battle of Normandy, you are creating a __ , or three dimensional model, of the event.

Modicum

(n) - Limited quantity. A small quantity of a particular thing, especially something desirable or valuable. Although his story is based on a __ of truth, most of the events he describes are fictitious.

Swill

(n) - Liquid or partly liquid food for animals, especially kitchen waste given to swine; hogwash. (v) - to drink greedily or excessively. Synonyms: (v): Rinse, Wash (n): Wash, Pigwash, Rinse, Trash, Waste. Garbage, Rubbish, Refuse, Flood, Drink.

Repugnance

(n) - Loathing. Intense AVERSION. She looked at the snake with ___. ____ means strong distaste for something. If you love animals, you probably feel ___ for people who mistreat their horses.

Eon

(n) - Long period of time; An age. It has taken __ for our civilization to develop. Synonyms: noun: Aeon, Eternity, Perpetuity, Everlasting, Age.

Lode

(n) - Metal-bearing vein. A vein of metal ore in the earth. A rich source of something. If this ___ that we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune. If you work in a mine and you find a stripe of gold that seems to stretch on forever, you've found a ___ of gold — a supply vein of ore. You're also rich. Synonyms: noun: Vein, Seam, Streak.

Reconnaissance

(n) - Military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features. Preliminary surveying or research. Synonyms: adjective: Intelligence. noun: Scouting, Exploration, Scout.

Misdemeanor

(n) - Minor crime. The culprit pleaded guilty to a __ rather than face trial for a felony.

Miscellany

(n) - Mixture of writings on various subjects. A group or collection of different items; A mixture. This is an interesting ___ of nineteenth-century prose and poetry.

Sobriety

(n) - Moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); Seriousness. The state of being sober. the quality of being staid or solemn. ___ is the state of being sober, which can mean either not intoxicated or being solemn. If he takes a drink, an alcoholic ends a stretch of ____. You might note ____ in the stands when your team is losing. Neither drunkards nor comics are noted for ____.

Decadence

(n) - Moral or cultural decline as characterized by Excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury. The moral __ of the people was reflected in the lewd literature of the period. The Latin root of ___ means "to fall down" . Synonyms: noun: Decline, Decay, Declension, Deterioration, Degeneration. Dissipation, Dissoluteness, DEBAUCHERY, Depravity, Vice, Intemperance, Licentiousness, Wantonness, Self-indulgence, Hedonism.

Rectitude

(n) - Morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness. Refers to behavior that is correct, upright and honorable. Synonyms: noun: Honesty, Integrity, PROBITY, Straightforwardness, Sincerity, Straightness, Fairness, Justice.

Centaur

(n) - Mythical figure, half man and half horse. I was particularly impressed by the statue of the -- in the Roman Hall of the museum.

Isthmus

(n) - Narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land. A narrow organ, passage, or piece of tissue connecting two larger parts. In a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals and his men cut through the ____ of Panama in constructing the Panama Canal. Synonyms: noun: Neck, Strait.

Insularity

(n) - Narrow-mindedness; Isolation. The state of being isolated or detached Ignorance of or lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience The ___ of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of any thing foreign. Synonyms: noun: Parochialism.

Propinquity

(n) - Nearness; Close Kinship. The state of being close to someone or something; proximity. Their relationship could not be explained as being based on mere ___ : they were more than relatives; they were true friends.

Tautology

(n) - Needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness. An instance of such repetition.

Effluvium

(n) - Noxious smell. An unpleasant or harmful odor, secretion, or discharge. Air pollution has become a serious problem in our major cities; the __ and the poisons in the air are hazards to life.

Procurement

(n) - Obtaining The action of obtaining something. The action or occupation of acquiring military equipment and supplies. The personnel department handles the ___ of new employees.

Indignity

(n) - Offensive or insulting treatment. Treatment or circumstances that cause one to feel shame or to lose one's dignity. An ___ is something embarrassing. An __ is usually something that happens to us rather than something we do ourselves. Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the ____ heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry. Synonyms: noun: insult, outrage, humiliation, affront, mortification.

Incumbent

(n) - Officeholder. The holder of an office or post. Necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility. (of an official or regime) Currently holding office. The newly elected public official received valuable advice from the present ____. Synonyms: noun: Official.

Liaison

(n) - Officer who acts as go-between for two armies; Intermediary. As the ___ , he had to avoid offending the leaders of the two armies. Employ the French-sounding word ___ to refer to a relationship, a link between people or groups who aids communication. Synonyms: noun: Connection, Link, Relation, Nexus, Communication, Contact, Relationship.

Gazette

(n) - Official publication He read the ____ regularly for announcement of his promotion. Synonyms: noun: newspaper, paper, journal, sheet

Ellipsis

(n) - Omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences. An __ is punctuation that is used to show where words have been left out. The __ is usually formed by three periods (four if the ___ comes at the end of a sentence).

Canto

(n) - One of the sections into which certain long poems are divided. Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into -. Synonyms: noun: song, chant, singing.

Patent

(n) - Open for the public to read; (adj) - Easily recognizable; Obvious. It was ___ to everyone that the witness spoke the truth.

Frieze

(n) - Ornamental band on a wall. A broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, esp. on a wall near the ceiling. The ___ of the church was adorned with sculpture.

Demeanor

(n) - Outward behavior or bearing. His sober __ quieted the noisy revelers. Synonyms: noun: behavior, behaviour, conduct, Deportment, Bearing, Manner, Goings-on.

Travail

(n) - Painful or laborious or burdensome effort. Use of Physical or Mental energy; Hard work. concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of contractions to the birth of a child. Synonyms: (v): toil (n): labour, labor, labor pains, toil

Fresco

(n) - Painting in plaste (usually fresh). The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the ___ by Glotto.

Larder

(n) - Pantry; place where food is kept. A room or large cupboard for storing food The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the ___. Synonyms: noun: Pantry, Storeroom.

Madrigal

(n) - Pastoral song. His program of folk songs included several ___ which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute. Song, Anthem, Carol, Ballad, Canzone, Chanson, Motet, Chant.

Forbearance

(n) - Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance The action of refraining from exercising a legal right, esp. enforcing the payment of a debt. When a teacher says, "Bear with me for a moment," while he writes on the board, he is asking for the class's ___. He wants them to wait patiently during the delay. We must use ___in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness. Synonyms: noun: Patience, Endurance, Tolerance, Abstention, Toleration.

Pseudonym

(n) - Pen name. A fictitious name, especially one used by an author. Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was ____. Incognito, Alias, False name, Professional name, Sobriquet, Stage name, Nickname.

Gentry

(n) - People of standing. Class of people just below nobility. People of good social position, specifically the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth. The ____ are the powerful members of society. In the United Kingdom, where there are still kings and queens and dukes and duchesses, the ___ are the people who rank just below the nobility.

Stickler

(n) - Perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right. A person who insists on a certain quality or type of behavior. A difficult problem; a conundrum. A __ is someone who insists that things are done in a certain way. Say you're getting married and want to write your own vows, but your partner's mother demands that you have a traditional ceremony. The mother is a ____ for tradition. Synonyms: noun: Pedant.

Epoch

(n) - Period of time. The glacial ___ lasted for thousands of years. Synonyms: noun: Period, Era, Age, Time, Season, Date, Day.

Reprobate

(n) - Person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency. An unprincipled person. (v) - Express or feel disapproval of. I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the ___ you say he is.

Voyeur

(n) - Person who gains sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity; a viewer who enjoys seeing the sex acts or sex organs of others; Person who enjoys seeing the pain or distress of others.

Vantage

(n) - Place or situation affording some advantage. The quality of having a superior or more favorable position. An advantage or superiority. Synonyms: (n): advantage, odds, benefit, profit, preference, vantage point, viewpoint

Vogue

(n) - Popular fashion; a current state of general acceptance and use. Synonyms: noun: fashion, mode, style, popularity, craze

Presentiment

(n) - Premonition; Foreboding. An intuitive feeling about the future, especially one of foreboding. Hamlet felt a ___ about his meeting with Laertes.

Imposture

(n) - Pretending to be another person. Assuming a false identity; Masquerade. She was imprisoned for her ____ of a doctor. __ is the act of pretending to be someone else. Everyone knows the Elvis ___ isn't really Elvis himself, but your __ as Elvis's long-lost daughter might actually fool some people. Synonyms: noun: Fraud, Swindle, Humbug, Cheat, Deception, Deceit, Trickery, Guile, Imposition.

Connivance

(n) - Pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend. Willingness to secretly allow or be involved in wrongdoing, esp. an immoral or illegal act. "With the __ of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher." Synonyms: noun: Indulgence, Sufferance.

Mode

(n) - Prevailing style. She was not used to their lavish __ of living. Synonyms:: Manner, Way, Fashion, Means, Method, System, Style, Approach, Technique, Procedure, Process, Methodology, Form, Routine, Practice.

Extrapolation

(n) - Projection; Conjecture. An ___ is kind of like an educated guess or a hypothesis. When you make an ___ , you take facts and observations about a present or known situation and use them to make a prediction about what might eventually happen. Based on their ___ from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predicted that George Bush would be the Republican candidate for the presidency.

Tutelage

(n) - Protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship; Instruction; tuition. Synonyms: noun: guardianship, ward, wardship, custody, tutorship, trusteeship.

Ignominy

(n) - Public shame or disgrace, public contempt. a state of dishonor. Synonyms: (n): Disgrace, Shame, Opprobrium, Infamy, Dishonour, Dishonor, Scandal, Reproach.

Poignancy

(n) - Quality of being deeply moving; Keenness of emotion. The quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; PATHOS. Watching the tearful reunion of the long-separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by the ____ of the scene.

Inquisitor

(n) - Questioner (specially harsh); Investigator. A person making an inquiry, esp. one seen to be excessively harsh or searching. Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Marsha faced her ___ with trepidation. Synonyms: noun: Investigator.

Knavery

(n) - Rascality. Dishonesty: Lack of honesty; Acts of lying or cheating or stealing. We cannot condone such ___in public officials.

Lectern

(n) - Reading desk. A tall stand with a sloping top to hold a book or notes, and from which someone, typically a preacher or lecturer, can read while standing up The chaplain delivered his sermon from a hastily improvised ___. Synonyms: noun: Reading desk, Desk.

Alliteration

(n) - Repetition of beginning sound in poetry. The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. "The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration.

Recourse

(n) - Resorting to help when in trouble. A source of help in a difficult situation. The boy's only __ was to appeal to his father for aid. ___ is a source of help. If you're failing trigonometry in spite of studying until your brain hurts, you may have no ___ but to hire a tutor.

Cadence

(n) - Rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the -- set by the sergeant. Synonyms: noun: rhythm, swing.

Jurisprudence

(n) - Science of law. The theory or philosophy of law. A legal system He was more a student of ___ than a practitioner of the law. Synonyms: noun: law

Gastronomy

(n) - Science of preparing and serving good food. The practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food. One of the by-products of his trip to Europe was his interest in ___; he enjoyed preparing and serving foreign dishes to his friends. Synonyms: noun: cookery

Solemnity

(n) - Seriousness; Gravity. The state or quality of being serious and dignified. The minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the ___ of the marriage service.

Reprobation

(n) - Severe disapproval. The students showed their ___ of his act by refusing to talk with him.

Clarion

(n) - Shrill, trumpetlike sound. Loud and clear. "We woke to the -- to muffle its striking." Synonyms: noun: bugle, trumpet, trump.

Import

(n) - Significance. Bring in from abroad. The meaning or significance of something, esp. when not directly stated. I feel that you have not grasped the full ___ of the message sent tous by the enemy. Synonyms: verb: Mean, Signify, Matter noun: Importation, Meaning, Significance, Purport, Signification, Sense, Importance, Consequence.

Incantation

(n) - Singing or chanting of magical formula. a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect. A series of words said as a magic spell or charm. "Double, double toil and trouble / Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." These lines, cackled by the Weird Sisters in Shakespeare's "Macbeth," are part of the most famous ____-- or magic spell made of words -- in English literature. Synonyms: noun: Spell, Charm, Conjuration, Enchantment, Magic.

Shambles

(n) - Slaughterhouse. Scene of carnage. A state of total disorder. (of a person) Move with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait. By the time the police arrived, the room was a ___. Shuffle, Lumber, Totter, Dodder, Stumble, Hobble, Limp.

Smattering

(n) - Slight knowledge. A slight superficial knowledge of a language or subject. A small amount of something. I don't know whether it is better to be ignorant of a subject or to have a mere ___ of information about it.

Quail

(n) - Small gallinaceous game birds (v) - Draw back, as with fear or pain. Feel or show fear or apprehension. Cower. Smaller than the chicken and not as well known as the pigeon, ___ is like the often-overlooked middle child of the ground-dwelling bird family. Everyone always asks, "What's that one's name again?" about this bird. Every time.

Hummock

(n) - Small hill. A hillock, knoll, or mound. A hump or ridge in an ice field . A piece of forested ground rising above a marsh The ascent of the hummock is not difficult and the view from the hilltop is ample reward tor the effort. Synonyms: noun: Hillock, KNOLL, Mound, Hill, Monticule.

Mote

(n) - Small speck. A tiny piece of a substance; "the tiniest ___ of dust" synonyms: Speck, Particle, Grain, Spot, Fleck, Atom, Scintilla, Mite

Felon

(n) - Someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime (adj) - Cruel; wicked. Synonyms: (adj): Cruel, Atrocious. (n): Criminal, Malefactor, Outlaw.

Tiller

(n) - Someone who tills land (prepares the soil for the planting of crops). Lever used to turn the rudder on a boat. A shoot that sprouts from the base of a grass. Synonyms: (n): Ploughman, Cultivator, Farmer, Lever, Shoot, Stool.

Sleeper

(n) - Something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable. A ___ is something that succeeds when no one thought it would. That low-tech movie about shark attacks that you shot on vacation and edited in your basement? It could be a ____ if you market it in the right way. Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic _____.

Dross

(n) - Something regarded as worthless; rubbish. You could call that gunk between your teeth that comes out when you floss, __ . No one wants it, and it's harmful if it stays. Synonyms: noun: Refuse, Trash, Clinker.

Verbiage

(n) - Speech or writing that uses too many words or excessively technical expressions; Pompous array of words. Manner or style of expressing something in words; wording: Synonyms: (n): verbosity, verbalism.

Adjutant

(n) - Staff officer assisting the commander; Assistant. Though Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all major decisions. Synonyms: (n): Aide, Aide-de-camp, Helper, Assistant.

Forte

(n) - Strong point or special talent ___ means an area in which you are strong or good. Having two left feet and no sense of rhythm, dancing would not be considered your ___. Better to impress people with card tricks, if that's your area of expertise, or your ___. I am not eager to play this rather seious role, for my ___ is comedy.

Entomology

(n) - Study of insects. I found ___ the least interesting part of my course in biology; studying insects bored me. Synonyms: noun: insectology.

Philology

(n) - Study of language The professor of __ advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language. Synonyms: noun: Linguistics.

Imbecility

(n) - Stupid or inane behavior is ___. Picture a frat party gone wild, and you can picture ___. Retardation more severe than a moron but not as severe as an idiot. A stupid mistake.

Dolt

(n) - Stupid person. A person who is not very bright. I thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of __. Synonyms: noun: Fool, Blockhead, Dunce, Simpleton, Booby, Loggerhead, Nincompoop, Ninny, Noodle, Numskull, Dunderhead, Chump, Imbecile.

Humus

(n) - Substance formed by decaying vegetable matter. The organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms In order to improve his garden, he spread ___ over his lawn and flower beds.. Synonyms: noun: mould, mold.

Miasma

(n) - Swamp gas; Heavy, Vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; Pervasive. Corrupting influence . An unpleasant or unhealthy smell. The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible ___.

Blowhard

(n) - Talkative boaster; A person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way. After all Sol's talk about his big show business connections led nowhere, Sally decided he was just another ---. Synonyms: noun: braggart, boaster.

Incursion

(n) - Temporary invasion. An invasion or attack, esp. a sudden or brief one. An ___ is an invasion as well as an attack. Synonyms: noun: Inroad, INVASION, Raid, FORAY, Attack, Irruption.

Homeostasis

(n) - Tendency of a system to maintain relative stability A breakdown of the body's immune system severely undermines the body's ability to maintain ___.

Empathy

(n) - The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Use __ if you're looking for a noun meaning "the ability to identify with another's feelings." Synonyms: noun: sympathy

Abnegation

(n) - The act of renouncing or rejecting something. Synonyms: (n): Self-Denial, Renunciation, Disavowal, Repudiation, Renouncement, Denial, Disclaimer, Negation, Abdication, Negative.

Egress

(n) - The action of going out of or leaving a place. A way out. The right or freedom to come out or go out. (v) - Go out of or leave (a place). If you want to leave a place, you need a means of __ , or a way to exit, such as a door or window. Synonyms: verb: Go out, Exit, Issue, Leave, DEBOUCH. noun: Exit, Outlet, Way out, Issue.

Vigilance

(n) - The action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties; watchfulness. Synonyms: noun: alertness, watchfulness, wakefulness, watch, look-out, caution, vigil

Verisimilitude

(n) - The appearance of being true or real; likelihood. Synonyms: (n): probability, likelihood, plausibility, believable.

Fatalism

(n) - The belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable. A submissive attitude to events, resulting from such a belief. With ___, he accepted the hardships that beset him.

Torso

(n) - The body excluding the head and neck and limbs. The trunk of a statue without the head and limbs. An unfinished or mutilated thing, esp. a work of art or literature. Synonyms: (n): Trunk, Body

Paleontology

(n) - The branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants. Study of prehistoric life. The professor of ____ had a superb collection of fossils.

Contagion

(n) - The communication of disease from one person to another by close contact. A disease spread in such a way. The spreading of a harmful idea or practice. "Fearing ___, they took drastic steps to prevent the spread of the disease." Synonyms: noun: infection, taint, contamination.

Senility

(n) - The condition of being senile. Mental infirmity as a consequence of old age; sometimes shown by foolish infatuations. ___ refers to mental deterioration and infirmity that often comes with old age, as in severe memory problems. If your find your shoes in the fridge or accidentally call your son by the dog's name, you may wonder if __ is kicking in. Synonyms: Decrepitude, Infirmity, Feebleness, Unsteadiness, SENESCENCE, Decline, Old age, Dotage.

Defection

(n) - The desertion of one's country or cause in favor of an opposing one. Is your team so bad you have begun supporting a rival team? Then you're guilty of defection — the act of shifting your support to a new cause. Synonyms: noun: Desertion, Apostasy, Absconding, Decamping, Flight; Treason, Betrayal, Disloyalty, Rebellion, Mutiny, Perfidy.

Patois

(n) - The dialect of the common people of a region, differing in various respects from the standard language of the rest of the country. The jargon or informal speech used by a particular social group Synonyms: noun: Dialect, Vernacular.

Girth

(n) - The distance around a person's body, especially a person's waist. A person's waist or stomach, especially when large. (v) - Surround; Encircle. The ___ of something is the distance around its middle, and it usually refers to a person's waist. If you get pregnant with twins, your ___ will probably block your view of your toes. Synonyms: verb: gird, girdle noun: circumference, perimeter

Terminus

(n) - The end or extremity of anything. A place where something ends or is complete. Synonyms: (n): terminal, end

Repertoire

(n) - The entire range of skills or aptitudes or devices used in a particular field or occupation. A collection of works (plays, songs, operas, ballets) that an artist or company can perform and do perform for short intervals on a regular schedule. ____ refers to the full supply of what you can do. A singer's ____ is all the songs they can sing. A chef's ____ is what she knows how to cook.

Upshot

(n) - The final issue, the conclusion, or the result. a consequence of the original action.. Synonyms: (n): Consequence, result, outcome, issue, effect, conclusion, offspring, end, product, outgrowth.

Confluence

(n) - The junction of two rivers, esp. rivers of approximately equal width. An act or process of merging. Synonyms: (n): Conflux, Concourse, Junction, Meeting.

Ebb

(n) - The movement of the tide out to sea. (of tidewater) Move away from the land; Recede. (of an emotion or quality) Gradually lessen or reduce. Synonyms: verb: subside, wane, sink, recede, decline, go down noun: decline, reflux, ebb tide, low tide

Semblance

(n) - The outward appearance or apparent form of something, esp. when the reality is different. Resemblance; similarity. She tried to force her thoughts back into some ___ of order. Synonyms: noun: Likeness, Appearance, Resemblance, Guise, Similarity, Look, Similitude, Show.

Dotage

(n) - The period of life in which a person is old and weak. The state of having the intellect impaired, esp. through old age; The noun __ describes the mental decline that many elderly people eventually experience. Those in their __ sometimes act silly or forgetful.his childhood. Synonyms: noun: Senility

Perigee

(n) - The point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth. The ___ is the point in the orbit of an object circling the Earth when that object is closest to the Earth. The best time to observe the moon is when the moon reaches its ___.

Catharsis

(n) - The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions; purging or cleansing of any passage of the body. Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a ---by purging the soul of base concepts.

Consonance

(n) - The property of sounding harmonious. Her agitation seemed out of __ with her usual calm. Synonyms: noun: harmony, accord, concord, unison, concordance

Geniality

(n) - The quality of having a friendly and cheerful manner, approachable; affability. characterized by genius. Synonyms: (n): cordiality, kindness, amiability, kindliness, affability, gentleness.

Dregs

(n) - The remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds. The most worthless part or parts of something. Those little grains of tea or coffee left at the bottom of the cup are known as the ___. The __are the least wanted portion, or the residue. Synonyms: noun: Sediment, Lees, Scum, Residue, Grounds.

Limbo

(n) - The state of being disregarded or forgotten. A state of neglect or oblivion.. (theology) in Roman Catholicism, the place of unbaptized but innocent or righteous souls (such as infants and virtuous individuals). No, this isn't the dance where you try to squeeze under a pole by leaning backwards, this __ refers to an imaginary place for lost or forgotten things. It's where your socks go when you lose them in the dryer.

Genealogy

(n) - The study and tracing of lines of descent. a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. He was proud of his ____ and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors. Your ____ is the story of your ancestry, sometimes referred to as your family tree. Most Americans can trace their ____ back to Europe, Africa, and Asia, but that's not a hard and fast rule. synonyms: Pedigree, Ancestry, Descent, Lineage, Line, Line of descent, Family tree, Derivation, Origin, Heritage, Parentage, Paternity, Birth, Family.

Gist

(n) - The substance or general meaning of a speech or text. The real point of an action. Essence When you need a quick summary of the essentials, rather than the whole story or a thorough explanation, you're looking for the ___. "He watched the trailer, but he still didn't get the ___ of the movie." Or, "She was having trouble writing a headline that conveyed the ___ of her article." Synonyms: noun: essence, substance, pith, heart, nub, marrow, core, quiddity, kernel, quintessence

Libretto

(n) - The text of an opera or other long vocal work. The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its ___. Synonyms: noun: Book, Wordbook.

Gruel

(n) - Thin, Liquid porridge. a thin liquid food of oatmeal or other meal boiled in milk or water. Our daily allotment of __ made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable. Synonyms: verb: exhaust noun: porridge, mush

Gentility

(n) - Those of gentle birth. Social superiority as demonstrated by polite and respectable manners, behaviour, or appearances. Anyone can be nice. Many people have good manners. But ____ is that rare kind of graciousness that is handed down from one elegant generation to the next. Her family was proud of its ___ and elegance. Synonyms: Social superiority, Respectability, Refinement, Pre-eminence, Pride of place, Distinction, Ascendancy. nobility

Rubric

(n) - Title or heading (in red print); Directions for religious ceremony; Protocol. A set of instructions or rules. In ordaining the new priests, the bishop carefully observed all the __ for the ordination service. A ___ is a heading or a category in a chart, or a rule of conduct. A teacher's grading ___ may include participation, homework completion, tests, quizzes, and papers.

Ravel

(n) - To tangle or entangle. to disentangle or unravel the threads or fibers of..to involve, confuse, perplex. Synonyms: (v): tangle, unravel (n): tangle, snarl, complication

Exchequer

(n) - Treasury. __ is a British term for the guy in the government who is in charge of the money: the treasurer. Sometimes it refers to the office in which all the money is kept, the treasury itself. He had been Chancellor of the __ before his promotion to the office he now holds. Synonyms: noun: Treasury, Treasure house.

Ruse

(n) - Trick; STRATAGEM. An action intended to deceive someone. You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ____. Ploy, Stratagem, Tactic, Device, Scheme, Trick, GAMBIT, Cunning Plan, Manoeuver, Contrivance, Expedient, Dodge, SUBTERFUGE, Machination.

Feint

(n) - Trick; shift; sham blow. A deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement, esp. in boxing or fencing. The boxer was fooled by his opponent's __ and dropped his guard.

Junket

(n) - Trip, especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense. A dish of sweetened and flavored curds of milk, often served with fruit. Though she maintained she had gone abroad to collect firsthand data on the Common Market, the opposition claimed that her trip was merely a political ___. Synonyms: verb: Feast, Revel, Carouse. noun: Feast, Banquet, Junketing, Picnic.

Jaunt

(n) - Trip; Short journey. A short excursion or journey for pleasure He took a quick ____ to Atlantic City. Synonyms: noun: excursion, outing, trip, tour, hike.

Litotes

(n) - Understatement for emphasis. Ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (e.g., you won't be sorry, meaning you'll be glad) You probably use ___ every day. Ever say, "He's not the brightest bulb in the lamp," meaning "He's dumb"? Or "She's no beauty queen" meaning "She's ugly"? Well, those are examples of ___ — a way of saying something by saying what it's not.

Mortician

(n) - Undertaker The __ prepared the corpse for burial.

Malaise

(n) - Uneasiness; Distress. A general feeling of discomfort, Illness. She felt a sudden vague ___when she heard sounds at the door. synonyms: Unhappiness, Restlessness, Unease, Melancholy, Depression, Despondency, Dejection, Disquiet, Trouble, Anxiety, Anguish, Lassitude, Listlessness, Languor, Weariness, Enervation, Doldrums, Weakness, Feebleness, Debility, Indisposition, Infirmity, Illness, Sickness, Disease, Discomfort, Ennui.

Mite

(n) - Very small object or creature; Small coin. Gnats are annoying __ that sing.

Verve

(n) - Vigor and spirit or enthusiasm; liveliness. Synonyms: (n): spirit, pep, vivacity, zest, vigour, vigor, enthusiasm

Infraction

(n) - Violation. A violation or infringement of a law, agreement, or set of rules. A crime less serious than a felony When you break school rules about gum chewing, you commit an ___. An ___ is a petty crime or a minor breaking of rules. Synonyms: noun: Infringement, Violation, Contravention, Breach, Transgression, Offense.

Penance

(n) - Voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing. a Catholic sacrament; repentance and confession and atonement and absolution. Remorse for your past conduct. ___ is the act of doing a good deed to make up for past wrongs. Shoveling your neighbor's sidewalk all winter could be your ___ for not helping rake the leaves that dropped from your tree into his yard during the fall. Synonyms: noun: PENITENCE, Repentance, Atonement, Expiation, CONTRITION.

Frailty

(n) - Weakness. The condition of being weak and delicate. Weakness in character or morals. The doctor prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements for the sick old woman because of her ___. Synonyms: noun: Weakness, Fragility, Infirmity, Feebleness, Frailness.

Foible

(n) - Weakness; Slight fault. A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character. The weaker part of a sword blade, from the middle to the point We can overlook the ___ of our friends; no one is perfect. Synonyms: noun: Weakness, Failing.

Pandemonium

(n) - Wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar. ___ is chaos, total and utter craziness — like the stampede after your team won the championship, when everyone spilled onto the field at once, bouncing off each other. When the ships collided in the harbor, __ broke out among the passengers.

Pinion

(n) - Wing of a bird. Any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird. Many cars use rack-and-___ steering, in which the steering wheel turns a small-toothed ___ gear, which engages the larger rack that turns the car's wheels.

Secession

(n) - Withdrawal. The action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state. The ___ of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration.

Epithet

(n) - Word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing. The noun ___ is a descriptive nickname, such as "Richard the Lionhearted," or "Tommy the Terrible." When it takes a turn for the worse, it can also be a word or phrase that offends.

Annuity

(n) - Yearly allowance. A fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their life. The ---he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working.

Fanfare

(n) - ___ is a loud, proud burst of something to get attention. If you open up a carpet store with one of those sky-sweeping lights, lots of balloons, and a brass band, you're doing it with great ___. An ostentatious or noisy display. The exposition was opened with ___ of trumpets and the firing of cannon. Synonyms: noun: Flourish.

Denotation

(n) - ___ means the literal meaning of a word or name. In contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. Although Paris might make you think of romance, its __ is simply the city of old tribe called the Parisii. A dictionary will always give us the __ of a word; frequently, it will always give us its connotation. Synonyms: noun: Indication, Sign, Designation, Signification, Denotement.

Welter

(n) - a confused multitude of things; turmoil; bewildering jumble. (v) - toss, roll, or rise and fall in an uncontrolled way; be immersed in. Synonyms: verb: wallow, roll noun: confusion, muddle, mess, jumble, mix-up, chaos, turmoil.

Cloister

(n) - a covered walk in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral, typically with a colonnade open to a quadrangle on one side. (v) - seclude or shut up in a convent or monastery. Synonyms: noun: monastery, convent, abbey, priory

Vagrant

(n) - a homeless wanderer. a person who wanders about idly and has no permanent home or employment. Synonyms: (adj): wandering, vagabond, errant, runabout, stray (n): vagabond, tramp, hobo, wanderer, bum, stroller, landloper, rover, nomad.

Chameleon

(n) - a person who changes their opinions or behaviour according to the situation. A small slow-moving Old World lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotate independently, and a highly developed ability to change color.

Atavism

(n) - a reappearance of an earlier characteristic. Resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; Throwback. Martin seemed an -- to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil.

Anecdote

(n) - a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature. a short, obscure historical or biographical account. Synonyms: (n): story, joke, account, report, yarn, reminiscence..

Comity

(n) - a state or atmosphere of harmony or mutual civility and respect. "A spirit of -- should exist among nations." Synonyms: noun: courtesy, politeness, civility, urbanity, mannerliness, complaisance, courtliness, decency, affability, suavity

Vise

(n) - a tool used to clamp pieces of wood in place while you work on them. Synonyms: (v): vice, visa (n): vice, clamp, visa

Volition

(n) - act of making a conscious choice; The faculty or power of using one's will. Synonyms: noun: will, wish, desire, pleasure

yield

(n) - amount produced; crop; income on investment. Synonyms: noun: crop, harvest, output, produce, product, production, proceeds, income

Brooch

(n) - an ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch. ornamental clasp. synonyms: Breastpin, pin, clasp, clip, fastening, badge

Succor

(n) - assistance in time of difficulty. (v) - help in a difficult situation. Give assistance or aid to. Synonyms: (v): Assist, Help, Relieve, Aid, Support. (n): Aid, Help, Assistance, Relief, Support, Helping

Calligraphy

(n) - beautiful writing; excellent Penmanship. As we examine ancient manuscripts, we became impressed with the -- of the scribes.

Watershed

(n) - crucial dividing point; a turning point, or historic moment. Synonyms: noun: divide, water parting.

zealot

(n) - fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal. Synonyms: noun: fanatic, bigot, devotee

xenophobia

(n) - fear or hatred of foreigners.

zephyr

(n) - gentle breeze; west wind; A fine cotton gingham; A very light article of clothing Synonyms: noun: breeze

Virtue

(n) - goodness, moral excellence; good quality. Synonyms: (n): merit, chastity, goodness

Brawn

(n) - muscular strength; sturdiness; physical strength in contrast to intelligence. It takes -- to become a champion weight-lifter. Synonyms: noun: muscle, thews.

Truculence

(n) - obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness. Fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing; aggressively hostile; belligerent.

Vignette

(n) - picture; short literary sketch.

zenith

(n) - point directly overhead in the sky; summit. Synonyms: noun: acme, vertex, heyday, meridian, peak, summit, pinnacle, top, culmination, climax, apex, height, apogee

Viper

(n) - poisonous snake; A spiteful or treacherous person. Synonyms: noun: adder, serpent, snake, asp

Verity

(n) - quality of being true; A true principle or belief, esp. one of fundamental importance; Synonyms: noun: truth, sooth, veracity, reality, fact.

Repartee

(n) - retort, rejoinder Conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies.

Vertigo

(n) - severe dizziness; A sensation of whirling and loss of balance. Synonyms: noun: dizziness, giddiness

Warble

(n) - sing or play with trills, chirp, twitter, chirrup. Synonyms: quaver, trill.

Canter

(n) - slow gallop Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a --.

Laggard

(n) - someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind. a person or thing that lags; lingerer; loiterer. Wasting time. Synonyms: (adj): Sluggish, Slow, Tardy. (n): Slowcoach.

Cantata

(n) - story set to music, to be sung by a chorus. The choral society sang the new -- composed by its leader.

Connotation

(n) - suggested or implied meaning of an expression "Foreigners frequently are unaware of the __ of the words they use."

Vanguard

(n) - the foremost division or the front part of an army; advance guard; Forefront of a movement. The leading position in any movement or field Synonyms: (n): van, avant-garde, advance-guard, advance guard, forefront.

Nemesis

(n) - the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance. The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall. A downfall caused by such an agent. Retributive justice Synonyms: (n): retribution, archrival, adversary, foe, opponent.

Congruence

(n) - the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate. Harmonious relationship. "The student demonstrated the __ of the two triangles by using the hypotenuse-arm theorem." Synonyms: noun: Concord, Agreement, Harmony, Accordance, Conformity, Concordance, Congruity.

Candor

(n) - the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech. ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty. Synonyms: (n): Candour, Candidness, Sincerity, Frankness, Openness, Honesty, Straightforwardness.

Veneer

(n) - thin layer; cover. Any of the thin layers of wood glued together to form plywood. Synonyms: (n): varnish, plywood, coat, coating

yore

(n) - time past; Of long ago or former times.

Scathed

(n) - to hurt, harm, or injure, as by scorching..to attack with severe criticism. The act of damaging something or someone.

windfall

(n) - unexpected lucky event.

Turpitude

(n) - vile, shameful, or base character; Depravity; wickedness. a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice Synonyms: (n): meanness, baseness, villainy, infamy

Fleece

(n) - wool coat of a sheep. (v) - Rob; Plunder. A ___ is a sheep's coat. Or a goat's. Or a yak's. A person's coat can be called a ___, too, if it comes from a sheep or goat or a yak or even if it just looks like it did. Synonyms: verb: Rob, Shear, Flay, Skin, Strip. noun: Wool.

Whelp

(n) - young wolf, dog, tiger. Synonyms: verb: pup, cub, litter noun: puppy, pup, cub

Sophist

(n) -A person who reasons with clever but false arguments. QUIBBLER Someone whose reasoning is subtle and often specious A paid teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in Greece in the Classical and Hellenistic periods, associated in popular thought with moral scepticism and specious reasoning. You are using all the devices of a ___ in trying to prove your case. your argument is specious.

Careen

(n) -Lurch; sway from side to side; Tilt; lean over. Move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction. The taxicab -- wildly as it rounded the corner.

Tenacity

(n) -The quality or property of being tenacious. The quality or fact of being very determined. Synonyms: (n): Stubbornness, Perseverance, Persistence, Pertinacity, Obstinacy.

Brook

tolerate; endure; A small stream. The dean would -- no interference with his disciplinary actions. Synonyms: verb: tolerate, endure, suffer, bear, abide, stand, stomach, put up with.

Ramble

wander aimlessly (physically or mentally) Listening to the teacher ---, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point.

Bereft

(ad) - Deprived of or lacking something, esp. a nonmaterial asset. (of a person) Lonely and abandoned, esp. through someone's death or departure. The foolish gambler soon found himself -- of funds. Synonyms: adjective: bereaved, devoid.

Brindled

(adj) - (especially of a domestic animal) brownish or tawny with streaks of other colour. Tawny or grayish with streaks or spots. Syn- tawny, brownish, brown; dappled, streaked, stippled, mottled, speckled, flecked, marbled, pied, piebald, pinto.

ruffian

(n): hooligan, villain, roughneck, rowdy, bully, rough, scoundrel, rascal, hoodlum. A violent person, esp. one involved in crime

Bulwark

(v) - A defensive wall A person, institution, or principle that acts as a defense. The navy is our principal -- against invasion. Synonyms: verb: entrench noun: rampart, bastion, stronghold

Annotate

(v) - Add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment. In the appendix to the novel, the critic sought to annotate many of the more esoteric references. Synonyms: (v): Comment, Note, Gloss.

Anemia

A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness. The doctor ascribes her tiredness to --.

Clairvoyant

A person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact. Synonyms: adjective: clear-sighted, discerning, farsighted.fortuneteller.

Confidant

A person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others. Trusted friend. Synonyms: adjective: confident. noun: confident, fiduciary.

Amok

Behave uncontrollably and disruptively. In a state of rage. The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran -- in the department store.

Amenities

Convenient features. Courtesies. Things that make you comfortable and at ease. In addition to the customary ---for the business traveler - fax machines, modems, a health club - the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in social amenities.

Conceit

Excessive pride in oneself. A fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor. An artistic effect or device. A fanciful notion. Synonyms: noun: vanity, arrogance, self-conceit, pride, haughtiness.

Bedraggle

Make wet and dirty, as from rain. We were so -- by the severe storm that we had to change into dry clothing.

bate

Synonyms: verb: abate, reduce, diminish, decrease, lessen noun: rage, fury, ire, anger, wrath, passion

Betroth

become engaged to marry; Enter into a formal agreement to marry. The announcement that they had become -- surprised their friends who had not suspected any romance. Synonyms: verb: engage, Affiance.

Chimerical

fantastic; highly imaginative.

baroque

highly ornate Accustomed to the severe, angular lines of modern skyscrapers, they found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing.

Collateral

(n) - security given for loan. Synonyms: noun: security, guarantee, pledge. adjective: parallel, accessory, secondary, indirect

Bristling

(adj) - (especially of hair) short, stiff, and spiky. Aggressively brisk or tense.Rising like bristles; Showing irritation. The dog stood there, __ with anger.

Burly

(adj) - (of a person) Large and strong; heavily built. The -- mover lifted the packing crate with ease. Synonyms: adjective: stout, sturdy, robust, hefty, strong, husky, big.

Arid

(adj) - (of land or a climate) Having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation. Lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning. The cactus had adapted to survive in an arid environment. Synonyms: (adj): Dry, Barren, Droughty, Jejune.

Bowdlerize

(v) Remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), esp. with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective After the film editors had -- the language in the script, the motion picture's rating was changed from "R" to "PG." synonyms: Expurgate, Censor, blue-pencil, cut, edit.

Revile

(v): abuse, vituperate, rail, swear, insult, curse, vilify, scold. Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.

bask

(v): sun, warm. luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth basking on the beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep.

Caucus

private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy At the opening of Congress the members of the Democratic Party held a --- to elect the majority leader of the House and the party whip.

berate

scold strongly He feared she would __ him for his forgetfulness.