GRE_Words

brusquely

adverb - in a blunt, direct manner Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would brusquely ask his subordinates anything he wanted, even coffee. Synonyms: vigorously, rapidly

avail

noun - Help or benefit: But their wealth avails them not at all this time.

torpor

noun - inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in a state of complete torpor.

indiscernible

adjective - Impossible to see or clearly distinguish : It was a subtle welling, almost indiscernible.

poetic

adjective - Relating to or used in poetry : For poets and those who read poetry, the poetic form can be relatively obscure as a discipline and as an art.

perspicacious

adjective - acutely insightful and wise Many modern observers regard Eisenhower as perspicacious, particularly in his accurate prediction of the growth of the military.

treacherous

adjective - dangerously unstable and unpredictable The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here. Synonyms: tricky, unreliable, slippery Antonyms: honest, reliable, uncomplicated, protected, stable, friendly, easy, certain, safe, secure, definite, strong, sure, straightforward

antic

adjective - ludicrously odd The clown's antic act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears. Synonyms: trick, joke, shenanigan

disheartened

adjective - made less hopeful or enthusiastic After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team's fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early. Synonyms: dismay, discourage, dispirit, humble, deter, deject Antonyms: hearten, build up, praise, stimulate, urge, encourage, inspirit, promote

sanctimonious

adjective - making a show of being pious; holier-than-thou Even during the quiet sanctity of evening prayer, she held her chin high, a sanctimonious sneer forming on her face as she eyed those who were attending church for the first time. Synonyms: self-satisfied, hypocritical, pious, insincere, smug Antonyms: unsure, forthright, honest, sincere, open

punctilious

adjective - marked by precise accordance with details The colonel was so punctilious about enforcing regulations that men fell compelled to polish even the soles of their shoes.

tortuous

adjective - marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked. Synonyms: meandering, winding, convoluted, labyrinthine, circuitous, indirect Antonyms: straight, simple, straightforward, direct

aberrant

adjective - markedly different from an accepted norm When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior. Synonyms: abnormal

incontrovertible

adjective - necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disprove Unless you can provide incontrovertible evidence, I will remain skeptical.

incumbent

adjective - necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility Middle managers at times make important decisions, but real responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation is ultimately incumbent on the CEO.

inviolable

adjective - never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored Too many the grass at Wimbledon is inviolable and only greater tennis players are able to enjoy a game there. Synonyms: sacrosanct

magnanimous

adjective - noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complementary and in victory he was magnanimous. Synonyms: unstinting, unselfish, altruistic, charitable, selfless, forgiving, considerate Antonyms: selfish, uncharitable, mean

indecorous

adjective - not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society Eating with elbows on the table is considered indecorous in refined circles.

autocratic

adjective - offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power The manager was finally fired for his autocratic leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive. Synonyms: domineering, imperious, arbitrary, dictatorial Antonyms: democratic

antiquated

adjective - old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in time Aunt Betty had antiquated notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss. Synonyms: ancient, archaic, outmoded, out-of-date, old-fashioned Antonyms: modern, young, current, new

puissant

adjective - powerful Over the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a puissant advisor to the community.

grandiloquent

adjective - puffed up with vanity The dictator was known for his grandiloquent speeches, puffing his chest out and using big, important- sounding words.

bucolic

adjective - relating to the pleasant aspects of the country The noble families of England once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land. Synonyms: pastoral, agrarian

germane

adjective - relevant and appropriate The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn't germane to the charges in the cases. Synonyms: relevant, pertinent, applicable, apt, apropos Antonyms: inappropriate, irrelevant, unsuitable

telltale

adjective - revealing The many telltale signs of chronic smoking include yellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough.

insolent

adjective - rude and arrogant Lilian could not help herself from being insolent, commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too much toe.

antithetical

adjective - sharply contrasted in character or purpose His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, antithetical to the disattachment Buddhism preaches. Synonyms: contradictory

analogous

adjective - similar in some respects but otherwise different In many ways, the Internet's transformative effect on society has been analogous to that of the printing press. Synonyms: akin, comparable, corresponding, related Antonyms: alien, disconnected, unrelated, dissimilar, unlike

obdurate

adjective - stubbornly persistent in changing an opinion or action No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude.

sententious

adjective - to be moralizing, usually in a pompous sense The old man, casting his nose up in the air at the group of adolescents, intoned sententiously, Youth is wasted on the young."

austere

adjective - unadorned in style or appearance Late Soviet architecture, although remaining largely austere, moved into experimental territory that employed previously unused shapes and structures. Synonyms: stringent, somber, forbidding, rigid, exacting, sober, formal Antonyms: flexible, excited

brazen

adjective - unrestrained by convention or propriety Their large donations to the local police department gave the drug cartel the brazen confidence to do their business out in the open. Synonyms: impudent, bold, audacious, blatant, unabashed, shameless Antonyms: retiring, meek, timid, humble, modest, shy, quiet

thoroughgoing

adjective - very thorough; complete As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one who had turned his house into a veritable library, he shocked his friends when he bought a Kindle.

convincingly

adverb - In a way that causes someone to believe that something is true or real: this chapter is not as convincingly argued Synonyms: certainly, definitely, permanently, completely Antonyms: doubtfully, dubiously, questionably

crop

verb - Cut (something, especially a person's hair) very short: Her blond hair was cropped short and framed her face. Synonyms: output, product, produce, yield

skewer

verb - Fasten together or pierce with a pin or skewer: Kris snorted quite audibly, then skewered the meat on a stick.

obviate

verb - Remove (a need or difficulty): The vast majority of adenomas can be removed at colonoscopy, obviating the need for surgery. Synonyms: forestall, preclude, counteract Antonyms: support

eke

verb - To live off meager resources, to scrape by Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to eke out an existence on canned food.

temperance

noun - the trait of avoiding excesses Welles wasn't known for his temperance--he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.

comply

verb - Act in accordance with a wish or command : The government did not comply with the protestors' wishes in either case. Synonyms: satisfy, quit, obey, acquiesce, submit, observe, give in Antonyms: dissuade, disobey

drone

verb - Make a continuous low humming sound: His voice droned and buzzed in Sean's ears like a hovering bee, more so today than any other day.

bridle

verb - anger or take offense The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.

impede

verb - be a hindrance or obstacle to Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded. Synonyms: cut off, retard, slow, thwart, stymie, deter, delay, curb, interfere, disrupt Antonyms: permit, aid, assist, expedite, allow, encourage, advance, help, push, forward, promote

denote

verb - be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes stop to all motorists in America. Synonyms: stand for

perpetuate

verb - cause to continue If you do not let him do things for himself, you are merely perpetuating bad habits that will be even harder to break in the future. Synonyms: preserve, bolster, maintain

ignoble

adjective - dishonorable In the 1920s, the World Series was rigged--an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.

bereft

adjective - sorrowful through loss or deprivation You are not bereft if you haven't played on your Xbox in the past week, his mother said.

unpropitious

adjective - (of a circumstance) with little chance of success With only a bottle of water and a sandwich, the hikers faced an unpropitious task: ascending a huge mountain that took most two days to climb.

theatrical

adjective - Relating to acting, actors, or the theatre : To some, he is a theatrical god, to others, an egotistical showman. Synonyms: exaggerated, melodramatic, showy, comic

coterminous

adjective - being of equal extent or scope or duration The border of the state is coterminous with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert. Synonyms: neighboring, contiguous, adjacent

convivial

adjective - describing a lively atmosphere The wedding reception was convivial; friends who hadn't seen each other for ages drank and ate together before heading to the dance floor. Synonyms: pleasant, genial, hearty, festive, jolly, cheerful, jovial Antonyms: unfriendly, apathetic, lethargic, unhappy, depressed, gloomy, sad

implausible

adjective - describing a statement that is not believable The teacher found it implausible that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback. Synonyms: unbelievable, incredible, unreasonable, dubious, farfetched, improbable, flimsy Antonyms: believable, credible, plausible, possible, tenable, likely, convincing, realistic, reasonable

ravenous

adjective - extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities John didn't each much at all during the week he had the flu, so now that he is regaining his health, it's not surpring that he has a ravenous appetite. Synonyms: voracious, rapacious, insatiable, ferocious, greedy Antonyms: satisfied

reverent

adjective - feeling or showing profound respect or veneration The professor could speak objectively about the other composers, but he always lectured about Brahms with a particularly reverent air, unable to offer a single criticism of his compositions. Synonyms: reverential, solemn, deferential, polite Antonyms: impolite, rude

unimpeachable

adjective - free of guilt; not subject to blame; beyond doubt or reproach After his long and unimpeachable service to the company, Sharat felt that a gold watch was a slap in the face rather than an honor.

pertinent

adjective - having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand While the salaries of the players might draw attention in the media, such monetary figures are not pertinent to the question of who plays the best on the field. Synonyms: germane, applicable, related, admissible, appropriate, opportune Antonyms: inappropriate, irrelevant, unrelated, unsuitable, inapplicable, improper, unfitting

copious

adjective - in abundant supply In midsummer, there are copious popiscle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none. Synonyms: extensive, ample

infelicitous

adjective - inappropriate During the executive meeting, the marketing director continued to make infelicitous comments about the CEO's gambling habit.

anemic

adjective - lacking energy and vigor After three straight shows, the lead actress gave an anemic performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear. Synonyms: sickly, feeble Antonyms: healthy, hearty, strong

incongruous

adjective - lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness The vast economic inequality of modern society is incongruous with America's ideals. Synonyms: bizarre, inappropriate, contradictory, incoherent, incompatible

penurious

adjective - lacking money; poor Truly penurious, Mary had nothing more than a jar full of pennies.

transitory

adjective - lasting a very short time If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more? Synonyms: transient Antonyms: lasting, permanent, enduring, long-lived, perpetual, lengthy, long

effervescent

adjective - marked by high spirits or excitement After the sales result, the manager was in an effervescent mood, letting several employees leave work early that day. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: bubbly, airy, bouncy, frothy Antonyms: flat, depressed

inscrutable

adjective - not easily understood; unfathomable His speech was so dense and confusing that many in the audience found it inscrutable. Synonyms: enigmatic, impenetrable, unintelligible, incomprehensible, unfathomable Antonyms: comprehensible, intelligible, fathomable, clear, understandable

improvident

adjective - not given careful consideration Marty was improvident, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home.

admonitory

adjective - serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.

baleful

adjective - threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a baleful omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character.

flush

adjective - to be in abundance The exam's passage is flush with difficult words, words that you may have learned only yesterday. Antonyms: dirty

affluent

adjective - wealthy The center of the city had sadly become a pit of penury, while, only five miles away, multi-million dollar homes spoke of affluence. Synonyms: moneyed, well-to-do, prosperous Antonyms: destitute, failing, unsuccessful, poor

drought

noun - A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water: Chinese officials say cloud seeding has helped to relieve severe droughts and water shortages in cities. Synonyms: lack, scarcity Antonyms: abundance, surplus, excess

saucer

noun - A shallow dish, typically having a circular indentation in the centre, on which a cup is placed . The cabinets should be able to store a generous stack of plates, cups, saucers, and bowls. Synonyms: dish, pot, basin

clutch

noun - A tight grasp: She dropped her sword because his clutch was so tight, she nearly passed out. Antonyms: release, loosen, let go, loose

despite

noun - Contempt ; disdain : He has earned my despite. I simply don't care.

modicum

noun - a small or moderate or token amount If my sister had even a modicum of sense, she wouldn't be engaged to that barbarian. Synonyms: shred, iota Antonyms: lot

alacrity

noun - an eager willingness to do something The first three weeks at his new job, Mark worked with such alacrity that upper management knew it would be giving him a promotion.

sinecure

noun - an office that involves minimal duties The position of Research Director is a sinecure: the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor does the person in that position have to answer to anyone. Synonyms: pushover

subterfuge

noun - something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity Finally deciding to abandon all subterfuge, Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his secret affair over the past two years. Synonyms: stratagem, ploy, sham, deception, ruse

anachronism

noun - something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old). Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking anachronism.

celerity

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

Zeitgeist

noun - spirit of the times Each decade has its own zeitgeist--the 1990's was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable.

nadir

noun - the lowest point For many pop music fans, the rap and alternative-rock dominated 90s were the nadir of musical expression. Synonyms: rock bottom

artlessness

noun - the quality of innocence I, personally, found the artlessness of her speech charming.

altruism

noun - the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by altruism. Synonyms: benevolence, kindness Antonyms: meanness

reproach

verb - to express criticism towards At first, Sarah was going to yell at the boy, but she didn't want to reproach him for telling the truth about the situation. Synonyms: disgrace Antonyms: compliment, praise, laud, flatter, commend

staunch

adjective - firm and dependable especially in loyalty No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now will openly question whether its goals are worthwhile. Synonyms: steadfast, reliable, trustworthy, loyal, stout, ardent, stalwart Antonyms: disloyal, unreliable, untrustworthy, undependable, weak

entrenched

adjective - fixed firmly or securely By the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change. Synonyms: rooted

quotidian

adjective - found in the ordinary course of events Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle's arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such as exercising and eating regularly.

jovial

adjective - full of or showing high-spirited merriment The political candidate and his supporters were jovial once it was clear that she had won. Synonyms: cordial, amiable, festive, buoyant, jolly, pleasant, good-natured, chipper, sociable, cheery, affable, convivial Antonyms: unfriendly, unpleasant, unsociable, hateful, surly, heavy-hearted, disagreeable, gloomy, mean, depressed, unhappy

cavalier

adjective - given to haughty disregard of others Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave of his hand. Synonyms: curt, offhand, haughty, condescending Antonyms: humble

patent

adjective - glaringly obvious Since the book had been through no fewer than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to see such a patent spelling mistake remaining, right in the middle of the front cover! Synonyms: flagrant Antonyms: refusal

austere

adjective - harsh in manner of temperament The principal of my elementary school was a cold, austere woman; I could never understand why she chose to work with children. Synonyms: stringent, somber, forbidding, rigid, exacting, sober, formal Antonyms: flexible, excited

truculent

adjective - having a fierce, savage nature Standing in line for six hours, she became progressively truculent, yelling at DMV employees and elbowing other people waiting in line.

malodorous

adjective - having an unpleasant smell Some thermally active fountains spew sulfur fumes--the air around them is sometimes so malodorous that many have to plug their noses.

imperious

adjective - having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy Children are imperious with each other before they learn that earning someone's respect is better than demanding. Synonyms: haughty, dictatorial, high-handed, domineering, exacting, autocratic Antonyms: meek, democratic, humble

vaunted

adjective - highly or widely praised or boasted about For years, they had heard of New York City's vaunted skyline, and when they finally saw it, the spectacular cityscape did not disappoint them in the least.

incorrigible

adjective - impervious to correction by punishment Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match his fierce individual spirit. Synonyms: hardened

ineluctable

adjective - impossible to avoid or evade: For those who smoke cigarettes for years, a major health crisis brought on by smoking is ineluctable.

irrefutable

adjective - impossible to deny or disprove The existence of life on earth is irrefutable; the existence of intelligent life on earth is still hotly debated. Synonyms: undeniable, ironclad, unassailable, indisputable Antonyms: disputable, indefinite

prolific

adjective - intellectually productive Schubert was the most prolific composer, producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age of 31. Synonyms: rich, creative

fecund

adjective - intellectually productive The artist had entered a fecund period, producing three masterpieces in the span of two months.

officious

adjective - intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner The professor had trouble concentrating on her new theorem, because her officious secretary would barge in frequently reminding her of some trivial detail involving departmental paperwork.

embroiled

adjective - involved in argument or contention These days we are never short of a D.C. politician embroiled in scandal--a welcome phenomenon for those who, having barely finished feasting on the sordid details of one imbroglio, can sink their teeth into a fresh one. Synonyms: entangle, tangle, mire, ensnare, involve, enmesh Antonyms: exclude, untangle, untwist, free

cerebral

adjective - involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to be simple and childish, but that ignores the point--the music's effect on the listener. Synonyms: analytical, intelligent

fractious

adjective - irritable and is likely to cause disruption We rarely invite my fractious Uncle over for dinner; he always complains about the food, and usually launches into a tirade on some touchy subject. Synonyms: testy, unruly, recalcitrant, irritable, unmanageable, restive Antonyms: obedient, happy

benign

adjective - kind I remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled, benign, and calm. Synonyms: benevolent, gentle, mild, favorable, friendly Antonyms: unkind, unfriendly, rough, violent, harsh

lethargic

adjective - lacking energy Nothing can make a person more lethargic than a big turkey dinner. Synonyms: languid, sleepy, lackadaisical, passive, listless, laid-back, dull, apathetic Antonyms: alert, animated, energetic, lively, vivacious, active, caring

churlish

adjective - lacking manners or refinement The manager was unnecessarily churlish to his subordinates, rarely deigning to say hello, but always quick with a sartorial jab if someone happened to be wearing anything even slightly mismatching. Synonyms: grumpy, uncivilized, sullen, rude, ornery Antonyms: happy, nice, polished, refined, sophisticated

impecunious

adjective - lacking money; poor In extremely trying times, even the moderately wealthy, after a few turns of ill-fortune, can become impecunious.

bumbling

adjective - lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands Within a week of starting, the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired. Synonyms: inept

hackneyed

adjective - lacking significance through having been overused Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's hackneyed advice to be true to yourself. Synonyms: timeworn, corny, trite, banal, stale, threadbare Antonyms: fresh, new, original

appreciable

adjective - large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount) There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done. Synonyms: observable, discernible, noticeable, perceptible, definite, measurable, marked, sizable Antonyms: imperceptible, unrecognizable, indistinct, invisible, ambiguous, vague, insignificant, minor, unimportant, unnoticeable, obscure, little, small

ephemeral

adjective - lasting a very short time The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days. Synonyms: short-lived, fleeting, transitory Antonyms: enduring, lasting, long-lived, permanent, perpetual, lengthy

transient

adjective - lasting a very short time The unpredictable and transient nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study properly. Synonyms: ephemeral, fleeting, transitory, short-term Antonyms: enduring, lasting, permanent, perpetual, long-lived, long, lengthy

meteoric

adjective - like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terribly injury tragically cut short his career.

avid

adjective - marked by active interest and enthusiasm Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle. Synonyms: devoted, impatient, thirsty, fanatical, eager, zealous, hungry Antonyms: apathetic, disloyal, satisfied, disinterested, dispassionate, indifferent, quenched, unenthusiastic, full, dull, cold, cool, frigid, unexcited

elaborate

adjective - marked by complexity and richness of detail Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replaced his dirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he'd brought back with him.

plucky

adjective - marked by courage and determination Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia because of his short stature, but he is a plucky player, surprising everyone with his boundless energy and fierce determination. Synonyms: spunky, spirited, gutsy, valiant, courageous, heroic Antonyms: cowardly, timid, meek, fearful, afraid

ornate

adjective - marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city. Synonyms: beautiful, gilded, glamorous, lavish, sumptuous, sparkling, magnificent, opulent, elegant, fancy, baroque, rococo, gaudy Antonyms: unsophisticated, offensive, plain, ugly, dull, poor

smug

adjective - marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction When Phil was dating the model, he had a smug attitude that annoyed his buddies. Synonyms: complacent, egotistical, pompous, self-righteous, self-satisfied Antonyms: humble

forlorn

adjective - marked by or showing hopelessness After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy. Synonyms: lonely, pathetic, depressed, oppressed, despondent, deserted, desolate, desperate, miserable, helpless, destitute Antonyms: cheerful, worthwhile, satisfied, elated, wealthy, happy, prosperous, rich, hopeful, populated, secure

furtive

adjective - marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed While at work, George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as furtive as possible about their romantic relationship. Synonyms: clandestine, covert, surreptitious Antonyms: aboveboard, honest, open

penurious

adjective - miserly Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is penurious, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical.

opaque

adjective - not clearly understood or expressed The meaning of the professor's new research was opaque to most people, so no one asked any questions. Synonyms: impenetrable, murky, cloudy, hazy, gloomy, frosty, thick Antonyms: vivacious, intelligent, clear, thin, bright, light, luminous, sparkling, sunny, smart, determined, comprehensible, intelligible, certain, definite, sure, understandable

immaterial

adjective - not relevant The judge found the defendant's comments immaterial to the trial, and summarily dismissed him from the witness stand. Synonyms: unimportant, trivial, meaningless, extraneous, inconsequential Antonyms: relevant, useful, worthwhile, valuable, important, significant

oblique

adjective - not straightforward; indirect Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom's past, but at times he would obliquely suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

fallacious

adjective - of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious, based on one false report.

laconic

adjective - one who says very few words While Martha always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies, her boyfriends inevitably were very talkative--and not very hunky. Synonyms: terse, brusque, pithy Antonyms: long-winded, wordy

inchoate

adjective - only partly in existence; imperfectly formed Inchoate ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.

moot

adjective - open to argument or debate; undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO, what the finance committe might have thought of his proposed marketing plan for next year is now a moot point. Synonyms: problematic, unresolved, unsettled, debatable Antonyms: settled, certain, sure, definite

ambiguous

adjective - open to more than one interpretation The coach told his team, Move towards that side of the field; because he did not point, his directions were ambiguous, and the team had no idea to which side he was referring. Synonyms: enigmatic, questionable, unclear, uncertain, puzzling, equivocal Antonyms: known, obvious, unquestionable, determined, unambiguous, clear, plain, certain, definite, sure, understandable

mawkish

adjective - overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting The film was incredibly mawkish, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illnesses by the end of the movie. Synonyms: mushy, gooey, sloppy, cloying, sappy

craven

adjective - pathetically cowardly Though the man could have at least alerted the police, he crouched cravenly in the corner as the old woman was mugged. Synonyms: mean-spirited

carping

adjective - persistently petty and unjustified criticism What seemed like incessant nagging and carping about my behavior from my mother turned out to be wise and useful advice that has served me well.

prodigal

adjective - rashly or wastefully extravagant Successful professional athletes who do not fall prey to prodigality seem to be the exception-most live decadent lives.

sporadic

adjective - recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances The signals were at first sporadic, but now we detect a clear, consistent pattern of electromagnetic radiation eminating from deep space. Synonyms: fitful, infrequent, rare, irregular, intermittent, random Antonyms: frequent, usual, methodical, systematic, constant, even, regular, common

pecuniary

adjective - relating to or involving money The defendent was found guilty and had to serve a period of community service as well as pay pecuniary damages to the client.

reticent

adjective - reluctant to draw attention to yourself; temperamentally disinclined to talk When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent. Synonyms: reserved, silent, hesitant, taciturn, shy Antonyms: extroverted, unreserved, communicative, talkative, confident, outgoing, unshy

trite

adjective - repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse Many style guides recommend not using idioms in writing because these trite expressions are uninteresting and show a lack of imagination on the part of the writer. Synonyms: banal, dull, corny, hackneyed Antonyms: fresh, new, original

mundane

adjective - repetitive and boring; not spiritual Nancy found doing dishes a thorougly mundane task, although Peter found a kind of Zen pleasure in the chore. Synonyms: prosaic, normal, humdrum, banal Antonyms: abnormal, unusual, uncommon

contemptuous

adjective - scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitude Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa looked contemptuously at anyone wearing dated clothing. Synonyms: derisive, haughty, insulting, disrespectful, condescending, disdainful, scornful Antonyms: flattering, respectful, praising, humble

dolorous

adjective - showing sorrow Chopin's ballades are filled with sharp changes in moods--a dolorous melody can give way to a lighthearted tempo.

muted

adjective - softened, subdued Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked. Synonyms: dampen, subdue, soften

martial

adjective - suggesting war or military life Americans tend to remember Abraham Lincoln as kindly and wise, not at all martial, despite the fact that he was involved in the fiercest war America has even fought.

timorous

adjective - timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness Since this was her first time debating on stage and before an audience, Di's voice was timorous and quiet for the first 10 minutes.

arch

adjective - to be deliberately teasing The baroness was arch, making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.

diabolical

adjective - to be extremely wicked like the devil The conspirators, willing to dispatch anyone who stood in their way, hatched a diabolical plan to take over the city. Synonyms: vile, fiendish, vicious Antonyms: kind, gentle, nice, good

gregarious

adjective - to be likely to socialize with others Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted. Synonyms: affable, sociable Antonyms: unfriendly

demure

adjective - to be modest and shy The portrait of her in a simple white blouse was sweet and demure. Synonyms: unassuming, timid, reticent, prim Antonyms: brave, bold

undermine

adjective - to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term) The student undermined the teacher's authority by questioning the teacher's judgment on numerous occasions. Synonyms: undercut, erode, frustrate, wreck, subvert, blunt, ruin, cripple, hurt Antonyms: construct, aid, assist, create, strengthen, build, fix, encourage, help, support, relieve

ineffable

adjective - too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description While art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work's greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely ineffable. Synonyms: indescribable, heavenly, transcendent, unspeakable, ethereal

insolvent

adjective - unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt With credit card bills skyrocketing, a shockingly large number of Americans are truly insolvent. Synonyms: indebted, bankrupt, broke, strapped Antonyms: solvent, wealthy, rich

bereft

adjective - unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft after the death of his wife.

diminutive

adjective - very small When he put on his father's suit and shoes, his appearance was that of a diminutive youth. Synonyms: miniature

malevolent

adjective - wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred Villians are known for their malevolent nature, oftentimes inflicting cruetly on others just for enjoyment. Synonyms: vengeful, malicious, murderous, sinister, vicious, malignant, wicked Antonyms: benevolent, friendly, kind, pleasant, good, nice

artless

adjective - without cunning or deceit Despite the president's seemingly artless speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator.

inarticulate

adjective - without or deprived of the use of speech or words Although a brilliant economist, Professor Black was completely inarticulate, a terrible lecturer. Synonyms: incoherent

evenhanded

adjective - without partiality Teachers often have trouble being evenhanded to all of their varied students. Synonyms: impartial, unbiased, fair-minded Antonyms: biased, unfair, unjust, partial, prejudiced

apparently

adverb - As far as one knows or can see: The anonymous buyer apparently then consumed the contents of the bottle in one sitting. Synonyms: ostensibly, probably, supposedly, allegedly, possibly Antonyms: improbably, unlikely, vaguely

according

adverb - As stated by or in: The comments are published on the Danish army website, according to Reuters news agency. Synonyms: bestow, confer, give Antonyms: take, refuse, differ, disagree

initially

adverb - At first : I think I found it hard to like the album initially precisely because it's so varied. Synonyms: originally

altogether

adverb - Completely; totally : And then there's the question of adjusting for inflation which I am not altogether sure how to go about. Synonyms: en masse, generally Antonyms: partially, incompletely, inadequately, partly

regardless

adverb - Despite the prevailing circumstances: What I normally do in these circumstances is grit my teeth and carry on regardless.

awhile

adverb - For a short time : For many of us, New Year Day gives us time to pause awhile and think about our loved ones in a special way.

plain

noun - A large area of flat land with few trees: The land terrain in Cambodia is mostly made up of low lands, flat plains, with mountains in the Southwest and north. Synonyms: transparent Antonyms: intelligent, unusual, abnormal, smart, new, irregular, uncommon, different, indefinite

billboard

noun - A large outdoor board for displaying advertisements ; a hoarding : Costly advertising on websites has been withdrawn and money spent on billboards and radio advertisements instead. Synonyms: poster, placard

dynamo

noun - A machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, typically by means of rotating coils of copper wire in a magnetic field . A dynamo converts mechanical energy from a moving electrical conductor into electromagnetic energy and thus generates current.

papyrus

noun - A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant, used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on and also for making articles such as rope : The ramps were built out of clay, wood and papyrus. Synonyms: sheet, poster, note, pad

concern

noun - A matter of interest or importance to someone: It is obvious that our children's needs and concerns extend over the whole spectrum of issues which are of concern to adults in our communities. Synonyms: interest, matter, thing, involvement, burden, worry Antonyms: calmness, disregard, ignorance, negligence, neglect, calm, reassure, soothe, aid, ignore, please, help

cadence

noun - A modulation or inflection of the voice: Her voice was the same, but the cadence and inflection of speech was entirely Karen's. Synonyms: tempo, inflection, accent, lilt

bent

noun - A natural talent or inclination: He has a talent for being a down-and-out guy and he has a natural bent for comedy, as Russ reminded me on the way out of the theater.

surveyor

noun - A person who examines the condition of land and buildings professionally . A series of unmanned American spacecraft sent to the moon between 1966 and 1968, five of which successfully made soft landings . Chartered building surveyors will examine a property (particularly older ones) for structural damage such as subsidence, dry and wet rot and leaking roofs. Synonyms: cartographer

culprit

noun - A person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed: The culprits behaved like seasoned thugs but claimed that they were guardians of law and order. Synonyms: miscreant, offender, fugitive, felon, wrongdoer Antonyms: police

overseer

noun - A person who supervises others, especially workers . We also thank our area engineer, overseer workers, and FAS overseers for their help and support. Synonyms: superintendent, supervisor

curtain

noun - A piece of material suspended at the top to form a screen, typically movable sideways along a rail and found as one of a pair at a window: I can draw a window curtain or adjust overhead lights. Synonyms: decoration, drape, screen, shutter, shroud

tapestry

noun - A piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving coloured weft threads or by embroidering on canvas , used as a wall hanging or soft furnishing : On the walls, there were thick tapestries made of expensive fabrics, and old pictures painted in glory.

parcel

noun - A quantity or amount of something, especially as dealt with in one commercial transaction : Big charities can bundle share parcels together, making them much more valuable. Synonyms: carton, bundle

hiss

noun - A sharp sibilant sound: As her hand almost touched the pile, a sharp hiss filled the air, drowning out all other sounds. Synonyms: catcall, hoot

inheritance

noun - A thing that is inherited : The 8th shows gain from dowries, unexpected inheritances and legacies. Synonyms: legacy, bequest, estate

derring-do

noun - Action displaying heroic courage : After decades of being considered bad form, tales of imperial derring-do are making something of a comeback. Synonyms: bravado, valor Antonyms: cowardice

dash

noun - An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily: The new initiative comes just months after a defendant leapt over the dock at Southend court and made a dash for freedom. Synonyms: sprint Antonyms: lot, walk, slow, wait, dawdle, stay, mend, aid, assist, retreat, fix, lose, help, grow, encourage

deal

noun - An agreement entered into by two or more parties for their mutual benefit, especially in a business or political context: Mr Firth said that Yorkshire business people were also becoming better networkers and he expected many businesses to benefit from deals secured at the event. Synonyms: pact, accord, transaction Antonyms: denial, dissension, refusal, disagreement

yield

noun - An amount produced of an agricultural or industrial product: It severely reduces agricultural yields and productivity. Synonyms: return, revenue, profit Antonyms: debt, payment, bills, withhold, deny, refuse, withstand, take, lose, hold, keep, defend, fight, reject, dispute, repudiate, contradict, dissent, decline, disagree, win

claim

noun - An assertion that something is true: The claim that professors at the leading law schools tilt to the left is supported by statistics. Synonyms: case, requirement, interest, plea, suit, request, assertion, application Antonyms: answer, reply, disbelieve, forsake, desert, deny, reject, repudiate, abandon, quit, stop, answer, give

entreaty

noun - An earnest or humble request : And she mostly steadfastly ignores my shouted commands, my entreaties and panting demands to be set free when the siren songs call me again.

cornerstone

noun - An important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based: Yoga will continue to remain an important cornerstone, but I really need to make more time for weight training. Synonyms: mainstay, foundation, pillar

slur

noun - An insinuation or allegation about someone that is likely to insult them or damage their reputation: I would never ask anybody to lie and these allegations represent a gross slur on the many tried and trusted employees who continue to work for Angel. Synonyms: innuendo, accusation, put-down, smear Antonyms: praise

injury

noun - An instance of being injured: Damage to a person's feelings: Carey has had a recurrence of an ankle injury which has severely limited his training. Synonyms: shock, loss, cramp, cut, bruise, burn, wound, damage, laceration, sore, suffering, abuse, trauma, fracture Antonyms: praise, help

skyline

noun - An outline of land and buildings defined against the sky: Anybody who knows Auckland will know that the city skyline is dominated by the Sky Tower. Synonyms: horizon

oversight

noun - An unintentional failure to notice or do something: Full of contradictions, failures and oversights, the architect's personal life seemed to have none of the clarity possessed by his great works. Synonyms: lapse, neglect, mistake Antonyms: achievement, success, ignorance, mismanagement, neglect

boo

noun - An utterance of 'boo' to show disapproval of a speaker or performer: As Moore shouted over boos and cheers, most of the nominees who had just given him a standing ovation sat silent. Synonyms: heckle, jeer

strife

noun - Angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict: Many Iraqis hope that it will head off sectarian strife and even civil war. Synonyms: squabble, warfare, clash, discord, disunity, disagreement, fighting, dissension, quarrel, wrangle, friction Antonyms: concurrence, accord, agreement, harmony, peace

heed

noun - Careful attention: He urged the vicar to reconsider the plans and take heed of what protesters were saying. Antonyms: ignore

verbiage

noun - Excessively lengthy or technical speech or writing: Corruption and tyranny both hide in irrelevant public verbiage.

fodder

noun - Food, especially dried hay or straw , for cattle and other livestock . The lower level is used to house livestock, fodder, food, and firewood, while the upper story holds the living quarters. Synonyms: forage, food, hay, grain

mankind

noun - Human beings considered collectively; the human race: Men, as distinct from women . Arms races have dogged mankind from the dawn of history, and history seems bound to repeat itself. Synonyms: society, humankind, humanity

ineptitude

noun - Lack of skill or ability: the officials displayed remarkable ineptitude Synonyms: inability, incompetence Antonyms: skill

mistrust

noun - Lack of trust; suspicion: It also helps to create a poisonous atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust. Synonyms: wariness, apprehension, foreboding, uncertainty, misgiving Antonyms: certainty, sureness, confidence, trust, belief, faith

upholstery

noun - Soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas : For a chic design with a contemporary edge, Monty favors sophisticated fabrics and tailored upholstery in leather and linen.

spread

noun - The range or variety of something: Maybe that means greater audience spread and fewer must-see shows. Synonyms: advance, escalation, transmission, spreading, advancement, dissemination, increase Antonyms: halt, stop, decrease, compress, lessen, abridge, shorten, end, contract, lower, shrink, diminish, lose, collect, gather

deceased

noun - The recently dead person in question : Damages were reduced by two thirds for the deceased's contributory negligence. Synonyms: departed

jargon

noun - a characteristic language of a particular group To those with little training in medicine, the jargon of doctors can be very difficult to understand. Synonyms: patois, vocabulary, argot, idiom, vernacular, lingo, parlance, slang Antonyms: standard

miscreant

noun - a person who breaks the law Come back you miscreant! yelled the woman who just had her purse stollen.

reprobate

noun - a person who is disapproved of Those old reprobates drinking all day down by the river--they are not going to amount to much.

epigram

noun - a witty saying My favorite epigram from Mark Twain is A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way. Synonyms: aphorism

invective

noun - abusive or denunciatory language The Internet has unleashed the invectives in many of us; many people post stinging criticism on the comments section underneath newspaper articles or YouTube videos. Synonyms: tirade, denunciation, epithet, diatribe Antonyms: praise

vitriol

noun - abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will His vitriol spewed forth from a deep-seated racisim that consumed his whole life. Synonyms: sarcasm, venom, nastiness

audacity

noun - aggressive boldness in social situations She surprised her colleagues by having the audacity to publically criticize the findings of an distinguished scientist. Synonyms: guts, courage, boldness Antonyms: cowardice, fear, timidity

bastardization

noun - an act that debases or corrupts The movie World War Z is a complete bastardization of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title.

dilettante

noun - an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge Fred has no formal medical training; while he likes to claim authority on medical issues, he is little more than a dilettante

prolixity

noun - boring verbosity I loved my grandfather dearly, but his prolixity would put me to sleep, regardless of the topic.

sangfroid

noun - calmness or poise in difficult situations The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat, or the gun at his head.

vicissitude

noun - change in ones circumstances, usually for the worse Even great rulers have their vicissitudes--massive kingdoms have diminished overnight, and once beloved kings have faced the scorn of angry masses.

duress

noun - compulsory force or threat The witness said he signed the contract under duress and argued that the court should cancel the agreement. Synonyms: coercion

tact

noun - consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia's husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia. Synonyms: refinement, subtlety, prudence, common sense, discretion, sensitivity Antonyms: carelessness

graft

noun - corruption, usually through bribery In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver's license can require no more than paying an official. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

veneer

noun - covering consisting of a thin superficial layer that hides the underlying substance Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in America as the Gilded Age, implying the ample moral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer of respectability. Synonyms: layer, semblance, mask, gloss, coating

exegesis

noun - critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text The Bible is fertile ground for exegesis--over the past five centuries there have been as many interpretations as there are pages in the Old Testament.

artifice

noun - cunning tricks used to deceive others The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of artifices designed to mislead the voting public. Synonyms: gimmick, contrivance

duplicity

noun - deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something else A life of espionage is one of duplicity: an agent must pretend to be a totally different person than who she or he actually is. Synonyms: falsehood, chicanery, hypocrisy, artifice, deceit, dishonesty Antonyms: honesty, truthfulness, sincerity, frankness, truth, forthrightness, openness

truculence

noun - defiant aggressiveness When the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter truculence, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss' face and walking away.

turpitude

noun - depravity; a depraved act During his reign, Caligula indulged in unspeakable sexual practices, so it not surprising that he will forever be remembered for his turpitude.

decimation

noun - destroying or killing a large part of the population The decimation after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is incomprehensible. Synonyms: annihilation, devastation Antonyms: happiness, miracle, good fortune, wonder, building, construction

panache

noun - distinctive and stylish elegance Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and a long cape covered in sequins.

apotheosis

noun - exaltation to divine status; the highest point of development As difficult as it is to imagine, the apotheosis of Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, is yet to come.

largess

noun - extreme generosity and giving Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.

avarice

noun - greed (one of the seven deadly sins) The Spanish conquistadors were known for their avarice, plundering Incan land and stealing Incan gold.

cupidity

noun - greed for money Some believe people that amassing as much wealth as possible is the meaning to life--yet they often realize that cupidity brings anything but happiness.

asperity

noun - harshness of manner The editor was known for his asperity, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.

panacea

noun - hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; a universal solution While the company credit card has made most large purchases easier, it is no panacea: some smaller basic transactions still must be conducted in cash. Synonyms: elixir

inequity

noun - injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards After decades of racial inequity, the separate but equal doctrine was successfully overturned. Synonyms: unfairness

animosity

noun - intense hostility The governor's animosity toward his rival was only inflamed when the latter spread false lies regarding the governor's first term. Synonyms: antagonism, enmity, hostility, bitterness, resentment Antonyms: rapport, friendship, good will, friendliness, happiness, liking, sympathy, kindness, love, sweetness, like, loving, respect

insouciance

noun - lack of concern Surprisingly, Hank had become a high-powered CEO; his high school friends remembered him as Hanky Panky", who shrugged off each failed class with insouciance. Synonyms: lethargy, indifference Antonyms: admiration, esteem, love, respect, care, concern, feeling, interest, sympathy, regard, approval, inability, attention

clemency

noun - leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice In the final moments of the trial, during his closing speech, Phillips was nearly begging the judge for clemency. Synonyms: compassion, mercy, indulgence, leniency Antonyms: cruelty, meanness

raillery

noun - light teasing The new recruit was not bothered by the raillery, finding most of it light-hearted and good-natured.

apex

noun - the highest point The Ivy League is considered the apex of the secondary education system. Synonyms: culmination, pinnacle, apogee

apogee

noun - the highest point The apogee of the Viennese style of music, Mozart's music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century. Synonyms: apex

qualm

noun - uneasiness about the fitness of an action While he could articulate no clear reason why Harkner's plan would fail, he neverless felt qualms about committing any resources to it. Synonyms: nervousness, anxiety, hesitation, apprehension, twinge, reluctance, unease, misgiving Antonyms: calm, calmness, collectedness, happiness, ease, peace, certainty, sureness

travail

noun - use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish While they experienced nothing but travails in refinishing the kitchen, they completed the master bedroom in less than a weekend. Synonyms: woe, agony, anguish, tribulation Antonyms: happiness, joy, comfort, peace

opulence

noun - wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living Russian oligarchs are famous for their opulence, living in fancy homes and dining on expensive cavier.

whereby

relative adverb - By which: This follows another story last week whereby prisoners were trying to get permission to vote in elections.

tag

verb - Attach a label to: The bear was tagged before it was released, to show that it had been causing trouble. Synonyms: insignia, chip, pin, stamp, button, identification, logo

repel

verb - Be repulsive or distasteful to: Then I asked them each to pick out one painting that he or she couldn't stand and tell me what it was about the picture that repelled or repulsed him or her. Synonyms: withstand, confront, fend off, resist, rebuff Antonyms: enchant, please, appeal

rely

verb - Depend on with full trust or confidence: This is a situation where an ally, the United States, can rely upon us, can trust upon us.

portray

verb - Depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature: Rather, Thai children's literature portrays cultural practices and values through both explicit instructions and implicit morals. Synonyms: depict, render, characterize, describe, paint, interpret Antonyms: mix up, obscure, confuse

divert

verb - Distract (someone) from something: As memes evolve, they become better and better at distracting and diverting us from whatever we'd really like to be doing with our lives. Synonyms: switch, alter, deflect Antonyms: encourage

sever

verb - Divide by cutting or slicing , especially suddenly and forcibly : The head is then severed from the animal whereafter it is handed to the father of the owner. Synonyms: detach, disconnect, split, separate Antonyms: combine, connect, couple, link, unite, attach, join, combine, unite, marry, join, begin, start

deserve

verb - Do something or have or show qualities worthy of (a reaction which rewards or punishes as appropriate): He deserves some reward for all the hard work he puts in and now he just has to be more selfish. Synonyms: earn, get, win, merit, gain Antonyms: forfeit, lose, spend, fail, miss, pass

bear

verb - Endure (an ordeal or difficulty): But, you see, it's the woman that bears the difficulties of the pregnancy. Synonyms: carry, deliver, take Antonyms: fail, lose, hold, keep, destroy, ruin, halt, stop

enlist

verb - Enrol or be enrolled in the armed services: We lost all contact, but as it happened we both enlisted in the armed services the moment we turned eighteen. Synonyms: appoint, hire, engage, join, enroll, gather, serve, recruit, employ, admit, enter Antonyms: refuse, reject, eject, oust, shun, ignore, refrain, dismiss, fire, discharge, lay off, let go, expel, cancel, divide, separate, leave, withdraw, repel, stop

abound

verb - Exist in large numbers or amounts: In some situations, the declines are so gentle that arguments abound as to whether a bear market really existed at all. Synonyms: proliferate, flourish, thrive Antonyms: languish, decline, fail

assent

verb - Express approval or agreement: The others nodded in mute agreement, assenting to the terms set down by the car's owner. Synonyms: consent, concurrence, acknowledgment, acquiescence Antonyms: disagreement

subscribe

verb - Express or feel agreement with (an idea or proposal): McGrath also subscribes to the idea that good International Rules players ideally consists of the same qualities as a good Gaelic footballer.

replenish

verb - Fill (something) up again: The fact is that, in a year of frequent and adequate rainfalls, there was not always the volume to fill or replenish dams and underground resources. Synonyms: restore, refresh Antonyms: damage

overarch

verb - Form an arch over: The morning light fell upon him, dappled as it was by the trees that overarched us, and revealed the full horror of what he had suffered.

conceive

verb - Form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind: MK and AB conceived the idea, devised the protocol, and obtained funding for the study. Synonyms: assume, believe, realize, accept, perceive Antonyms: neglect, result, end

soothe

verb - Gently calm (a person or their feelings): Sir Irwin held him down gently, soothing him with soft words and petting him. Synonyms: mitigate, appease, assuage, relieve, soften, alleviate, pacify, mollify, allay, cool Antonyms: incite, increase, intensify, worsen, worry, aggravate, irritate, provoke, upset, trouble, agitate

allowance

verb - Give (someone) a sum of money as an allowance: She spoke of getting travel allowanced but this depended on the social worker who had been assigned and they are not allowed leave their accommodation for more than three days. Synonyms: salary, wage, fee, gift, grant, ration, quota, stipend, subsidy, allotment, allocation Antonyms: forfeit, loss, increase

wrangle

verb - Have a long, complicated dispute or argument: While politicians wrangle, rangers continue working in a dangerous climate, and the parks are getting trashed. Synonyms: squabble, flap, tiff, ruckus, disagreement, hassle, altercation, fracas Antonyms: calm, agreement, peace, harmony, concur, agree

overwhelm

verb - Have a strong emotional effect on: Both the mothers flinched at the coldness in his voice, and Mrs. Trousdale was suddenly overwhelmed with guilt. Synonyms: crush, inundate, deluge, rout, overpower, swamp Antonyms: surrender, lose, yield, encourage, inspirit, underwhelm, enlighten, explain, comfort, organize, clarify, clear up, order

overlook

verb - Have a view of from above: A large flowing fountain centered it all, and beyond, the rear windows overlooked the valley with a grandiose view of the lake and the city in the distance. Synonyms: ignore, discount, omit, forget Antonyms: remember, pay attention, recognize, note, pay attention, regard

slight

verb - Insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention: Joey's management company, afraid that the film was slighting their dead client for Johnny, demanded that the film-makers find more interview footage of Joey before okaying the final cut. Synonyms: superficial, slim, meager, slender, modest, negligible Antonyms: large, important, major, significant, approve

stare

verb - Look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something with one's eyes wide open: The rest of us sat staring into space, apparently waiting for an answer to arrive like a visitor from the spirit world. Synonyms: peer, beam, glare, look, gawk

concoct

verb - Make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients : Now the couple are employing a chef to concoct pre-packaged meals and light lunches using home-grown ingredients. Synonyms: dream up, envision, fabricate, create, contrive, discover, invent, devise Antonyms: demolish, destroy, ruin, wreck, tell truth

utter

verb - Make (a sound) with one's voice: Stepping back, he opened his mouth to speak but could not utter a sound. Synonyms: sheer, unmitigated, pure Antonyms: indefinite, uncertain, mixed, mumble, conceal, hide, be quiet

ease

verb - Make (something unpleasant or intense) less serious or severe: The process will test his ability to make good on his promises to use rail to ease Westside traffic congestion. Synonyms: content, calm, comfort, satisfaction, calmness, luxury, relaxation, serenity Antonyms: discontent, agitation, unhappiness, inability, incite, increase, intensify, worsen, excite, worry, delay, slow, harm, injure, condemn, enlarge, demote, weaken, block, cease, hinder, irritate, agitate, halt, hurt, trouble, upset, extend, check, stop

riddle

verb - Make many holes in (someone or something), especially with gunshot: The hydrants were not working and the hoses the fire officers were using to extinguish the blaze were riddled with holes. Synonyms: mystery, dilemma, conundrum, puzzle, quandary, complexity, enigma Antonyms: solution

even

verb - Make or become even: Our busiest months used to be during the winter but now it has evened out. Synonyms: alike

melt

verb - Make or become liquefied by heating : This snow didn't melt as soon as it touched you... it stuck to your skin and sat there before slowly melting away. Synonyms: thaw, disintegrate, evaporate, soften, heat, warm Antonyms: freeze, cool, appear, arrive

sour

verb - Make or become sour: Aftershocks, rain and landslides are hampering aid efforts and souring drinking water, but survivors want more from authorities. Synonyms: sharp, acid, acrid, biting, pungent, caustic, briny, musty, peppery, unpleasant Antonyms: kind, blah, pleasant, wonderful, dull, calm, mild, nice, bland, tasteless, sweet, agreeable, good, content, complimentary, comfort, help

foray

verb - Make or go on a foray: We are also foraying into commercial property to build a five-acre tech park in Whitefield with a 12-storey tower for the knowledge industry. Synonyms: inroad, raid, invasion

cavil

verb - Make petty or unnecessary objections : It's a fantastic achievement - and one in the eye for those who have carped and cavilled about the underperformance of Great Britain's competitors in Athens.

insinuate

verb - Manoeuvre oneself into (a favourable position) by subtle manipulation : By manipulating the Government, by insinuating themselves into Government positions they became bureaucrats and have done it through bureaucratic and administrative policies.

stroke

verb - Move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface), typically repeatedly; caress: Anna sat by the bed, once again, stroking his hair, and she stroked his side too. Synonyms: blow

toss

verb - Move or cause to move from side to side or back and forth : I could tell his leg was broken by the way it didn't move with the rest of him as he tossed and turned, I could tell it was hurting just to do so.

conceal

verb - Not allow to be seen; hide: My dark hair conceals my damp yellow eyes, like a funeral veil that hides a widow's tears. Synonyms: harbor, cover, stow, mask, cloak, stash, lurk, camouflage, wrap, obscure Antonyms: uncover, disregard, ignore, unwrap, reveal

smack

verb - Part (one's lips) noisily in eager anticipation or enjoyment of food or drink: This may seem like something very minor to some people, but the sight and sound of chewed food and smacking lips at the table make me lose my appetite. Synonyms: squarely, bang

shun

verb - Persistently avoid, ignore , or reject (someone or something) through antipathy or caution : Because if society shuns them and refuses to hire them, then what are they left with besides more crime? Synonyms: despise, disdain, eschew, refuse, snub, reject, scorn, neglect Antonyms: admire, cherish, sanction, like, love, approve, accept, allow

cajole

verb - Persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery: Elsewhere, it may be acceptable for shop assistants to flatter and cajole you into buying anything, irrespective of whether it suits you. Synonyms: wheedle, entice, seduce, tantalize, dupe, deceive, tempt, entrap, delude Antonyms: repulse, turn off, disenchant

harm

verb - Physically injure: Despite all these, if I ever hear again about you physically harming others, don't be surprised if the police come and arrest you for assault. Synonyms: loss, mischief, sabotage, violence, damage, wrong, abuse, vandalism, disservice Antonyms: favor, help, kindness, create, aid, assist, benefit, mend, heal, respect, build, repair, fix, strengthen, cure, please, approve

bow

verb - Play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow: Equally, it is not string players who are expected to bow a saw or a cymbal. Synonyms: nod Antonyms: deny, refuse, reject, disallow, disagree, decline, oppose, conquer, fight, win

laud

verb - Praise (a person or their achievements) highly: I imagine he's out there drawing cartoons somewhere or painting paintings, but no one's beating his door down lauding him as the great artist that he is. Synonyms: admire, eulogize, revere, commend, honor, adore, celebrate Antonyms: abhor, condemn, despise, detest, hate, censure, denounce, blame, criticize

outfit

verb - Provide with a set of clothes: In both photographs, he is outfitted in designer clothes.

deem

verb - Regard or consider in a specified way: At the same time, reports have emerged that the provincial government is making preparations to have the strike declared illegal by deeming it a public emergency. Synonyms: allow, feel, assume, suspect, expect, presume, suppose, believe Antonyms: disbelieve

endure

verb - Remain in existence; last : Your strength in personal affairs is your ability to build a well-knit, solid relationship that endures and continues to thrive year after year. Synonyms: withstand, go through, brave, undergo, feel, tolerate, experience, face, weather, sustain, suffer, encounter Antonyms: surrender, hide, disallow, retreat, refuse, reject, yield, run away, halt, stop, cease, go, leave, depart, die, quit

beam

verb - Smile radiantly: Organisers of the new Yorkshire Forward quality customer care scheme whose logo is a huge smile, are beaming with pleasure. Synonyms: girder, scaffolding, joist, shaft, pillar, pole, plank, timber

steep

verb - Soak (food or tea) in water or other liquid so as to extract its flavour or to soften it: Tea was steeped, cakes and cookies presented, comfortable seats procured for the triplet to lounge in. Synonyms: arduous, precipitous, hilly, abrupt, sharp Antonyms: gradual, kind, calm, nice, low, moderate, reasonable, dry, dehydrate

assert

verb - State a fact or belief confidently and forcefully : These types of beliefs, he asserts, are closely connected to languages and texts. Synonyms: contend, claim, stress, profess, uphold, affirm, defend, proclaim, say Antonyms: desert, surrender, deny, conceal, hide, abandon, leave, question

smite

verb - Strike with a firm blow: Giles, aware that Warne was more musketeer in approach than monk, cleverly tossed one higher and shorter as Warne advanced to smite another blow. Synonyms: afflict

contend

verb - Struggle to surmount (a difficulty): Otherwise, you can spend much of your precious vacation time contending with the difficulties mentioned above. Synonyms: vie, confront, cope, resist, grapple, oppose, meet, argue, dispute Antonyms: comply, go along, agree, deny, desert, question, forget

hint

verb - Suggest or indicate something indirectly or covertly : So I wondered whether people were suggesting or hinting to me that I should step down. Synonyms: impression, reference, taste, whisper, sign, idea, evidence, warning, scent, information, wrinkle, tip, suspicion Antonyms: information, lot

provision

verb - Supply with food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey: They were normally kept fuelled and provisioned by supply ships, though Japanese island bases were used to refit and refuel some of them while Japan was still officially neutral. Synonyms: plan, arrangement

dwell

verb - Think, speak, or write at length about (a particular subject, especially one that is a source of unhappiness, anxiety, or dissatisfaction): The Law Commission too dwelt on the subject extensively. Synonyms: reside, squat, hole up, exist, bide, inhabit Antonyms: move

misattribute

verb - To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship. I made a mistake; I misattributed Crime and Punishment to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

morph

verb - To undergo dramatic change in a seamless and barely noticeable fashion. The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the 1970's has morphed into something far more sensational and vulgar: today guests actually standup and threaten to take swings at one another. Synonyms: transform, alter, modify Antonyms: maintain, stagnate

bulk

verb - Treat (a product) so that its quantity appears greater than it is: However, the Food Standards Agency found last year that imported chicken meat is sometimes bulked out with water, increasing the weight by as much as a third. Synonyms: weight, volume, amount, extent, total

hoax

verb - Trick or deceive (someone). I now have reason to believe that in unraveling a hoax I was hoaxed myself.

pivot

verb - Turn on or as if on a pivot: He deliberately pivoted in his swivel chair, as if thinking. Antonyms: stay

intuit

verb - Understand or work out by instinct : But I've never, ever learned to intuit Celsius as a way to express temperature.

prize

verb - Value extremely highly: Horses in the Middle East are prized possessions and give their owners a lot of status. Synonyms: topnotch, outstanding Antonyms: hindrance, loss

keen

verb - Wail in grief for a dead person: She could hear voices speaking in soothing tones, but Anna keened and wailed, and Kathleen tried not to imagine the scene on the other side of the door. Synonyms: impatient, avid, fierce, fervent, anxious, eager, ardent, intense Antonyms: dispassionate, indifferent, peaceful, apathetic, unconcerned, unenthusiastic, calm, cool, dull, mild, moderate, foolish, ignorant, stupid, unintelligent, lazy, slow

mince

verb - Walk with short quick steps in an affectedly dainty manner: And he minces; he takes short, feline, footsteps. Synonyms: crumble, grind

countermand

verb - a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command By the time the colonel countermanded his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire.

finagle

verb - achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats on the train by convincing the conductor that his torn stub was actually a valid ticket.

concede

verb - admit (to a wrongdoing) After a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia conceded to having broken the window. Synonyms: relinquish, cede, hand over, quit, confess, grant, accept, admit, yield Antonyms: deny, repudiate, refuse, veto, reject, dispute, disallow, disapprove, hold, keep, defend, fight, win

tout

verb - advertize in strongly positive terms; show off At the conference, the CEO touted the extraordinary success of his company's Research & Development division. Synonyms: laud, proclaim, praise, publicize Antonyms: blame, conceal, hide, condemn

lionize

verb - assign great social importance to Students in the U.S. learn to lionize Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington because they are the founding fathers of the nation. Synonyms: eulogize, glorify, idolize Antonyms: condemn, criticize

relegate

verb - assign to a lower position When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic duties, instead of firing him, the boss relegated him to kitchen cleanup. Synonyms: consign, entrust, refer

posit

verb - assume as fact Initially, Einstein posited a repulsive force to balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as a blunder. Synonyms: postulate, hypothesize, presuppose

impugn

verb - attack as false or wrong Though many initially tried to impugn Darwin's theory, in scientific circles today, the is idea taken as truth. Synonyms: assail, contravene

differentiate

verb - be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait (sometimes in positive sense) Mozart's long melodic lines differentiate his compositions from other works of late 18th century music. Synonyms: discriminate, separate, extricate, comprehend, understand, discern Antonyms: mistake, misunderstand, misinterpret, remain, stagnate, preserve, leave alone

flummox

verb - be a mystery or bewildering to Mary's behavoir completely flummoxes me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be. Synonyms: mystify, confound, perplex, bewilder Antonyms: enlighten, explain, clear up, clarify

browbeat

verb - be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner During the interrogation, the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession. Synonyms: bully, hector, intimidate, coerce, harass, oppress Antonyms: assist, aid, leave alone, help

exemplify

verb - be characteristic of Lincoln exemplified the best of not only America, but also the potential greatness that exists within each person. Synonyms: represent, depict, illuminate, elucidate, mirror, manifest, typify Antonyms: distort, mix up, obscure, conceal, hide, confuse

rescind

verb - cancel officially The man's driver's license was rescinded after his tenth car accident, which meant he would never be allowed to legally drive again. Synonyms: quash, invalidate, annul, revoke, reverse, void, dismantle, abolish Antonyms: permit, sanction, validate, enforce, institute, legalize, ratify, uphold, allow, support, approve, keep, enact, establish

rile

verb - cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes only one intense glare from Sabrina to rile him. Synonyms: annoy, disturb, roil, exasperate, peeve, bother Antonyms: aid, soothe, appease, calm, comfort, pacify, placate, assist, delight, make happy, please, help

stultify

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

placate

verb - cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of I was able to placate the angry mob of students by promising to bring cookies on Monday. Synonyms: satisfy, appease, reconcile, assuage, soothe, pacify Antonyms: incite, worry, upset, irritate, provoke, agitate

disseminate

verb - cause to become widely known Before the effects of anaethesia were disseminated, patients had to experience the full pain of a surgery. Synonyms: publish, propagate, disperse, publicize, advertise, circulate Antonyms: conceal, hide

chagrin

verb - cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother. Synonyms: dismay, embarrassment, irritation, disquiet, annoyance Antonyms: happiness, confidence, comfort, aid, soothe, calm, delight, assist, make happy, please, satisfy, help

abstain

verb - choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable) Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar--even chocolate. Synonyms: quit, renounce, refrain, withhold, forgo, cease, shun Antonyms: continue, do

exemplify

verb - clarify by giving an example of Please present some case studies that exemplify the results that you claim in your paper. Synonyms: represent, depict, illuminate, elucidate, mirror, manifest, typify Antonyms: distort, mix up, obscure, conceal, hide, confuse

glean

verb - collect information bit by bit Herb has given us no formal statement about his background, but from various hints, I have gleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances. Synonyms: cull, extract, gather, sift Antonyms: disperse, put in, divide, separate, spread, plant

derive

verb - come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example Many words in the English language are derived from Latin, including the word derive. Synonyms: evolve, develop, receive, glean, acquire, obtain, collect, assume Antonyms: decrease, forfeit, doubt, halt, stop, give, lose

vanquish

verb - come out better in a competition, race, or conflict For years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament. Synonyms: overpower, subdue, rout, repress, crush Antonyms: surrender, release, give in, yield, win, let go, lose

proscribe

verb - command against My doctor proscribes that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast. Synonyms: forbid, prohibit, outlaw Antonyms: permit, allow

subsume

verb - contain or include The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.

proselytize

verb - convert to another religion, philosophy, or perspective Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast, Jake will proselytize, interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn't purchase an iPhone.

lambast

verb - criticize severely or angrily Showing no patience, the manager utterly lambasted the sales team that lost the big account.

rebuke

verb - criticize severely or angrily; censure The police chief rebuked the two officers whose irresponsible decisions almost led to the deaths of seven innocent by-standers. Synonyms: condemnation, admonition, censure, disapproval, snub, reproach, punishment, rebuff Antonyms: encouragement, endorsement, praise, exoneration, approval, sanction, compliment, laud, flatter, approve

besmirch

verb - damage the good name and reputation of someone The prince's distasteful choice of words besmirched not only his own name, but the reputation of the entire royal family. Synonyms: defile, slander, blacken Antonyms: honor, praise, upgrade

lacerate

verb - deeply hurt the feelings of; distress The teacher was fired for lacerating a student who wrote a poor essay. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: mangle

gainsay

verb - deny or contradict; speak against or oppose I can't gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don't trust his conclusion.

disenfranchise

verb - deprive of voting rights The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote. Synonyms: incarcerate, suppress, deprive, coerce, shackle, imprison, subjugate, oppress Antonyms: release, free, let go

delineate

verb - describe in detail After a brief summary of proper swimming technique, the coach delineated the specifics of each stroke, spending 30 minutes alone on the backstroke. Synonyms: lay out, depict, limn, define Antonyms: distort, confuse

enumerate

verb - determine the number or amount of The survey enumerates the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers. Synonyms: recite, calculate, itemize, spell out, specify

dispatch

verb - dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle, they caught the king and swiftly dispatched him. Antonyms: hold, keep

perturb

verb - disturb in mind or cause to be worried or alarmed Now that Henry is recovering from a major illnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, perturb him. Synonyms: annoy, dismay, disturb, perplex, bewilder, disconcert, alarm, vex Antonyms: aid, soothe, calm, comfort, quiet, reassure, organize, enlighten, explain, assist, make happy, please, assure, order, clarify, clear up, help

deign

verb - do something that one considers to be below one's dignity The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants.

bowdlerize

verb - edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate To recieve an R rating, the entire movie was bowdlerized because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter.

banish

verb - expel from a community, residence, or location; drive away The most difficult part of the fast was banishing thoughts of food. Synonyms: oust, relegate, eject, ostracize, get rid of, dismiss, isolate, remove Antonyms: welcome, include, incorporate, hold, keep, take in, accept, fix, plant, admit, allow

debunk

verb - expose as false ideas and claims, especially while ridiculing Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religious belief, but his ridicule tends to push people away from his points rather than convince them. Synonyms: disparage, puncture, mock Antonyms: praise, flatter

bemoan

verb - express discontent or a stong regret While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees bemoaned the cuts as further evidence that management was against them. Synonyms: mourn, deplore, regret, lament Antonyms: praise, be happy

decry

verb - express strong disapproval of The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, decrying the penalty card issued by the referee. Synonyms: minimize, belittle, denounce, condemn Antonyms: praise, approve

ingratiate

verb - gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts Even though Tom didn't like his new boss, he decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career. Synonyms: flatter

delegate

verb - give an assignment to (a person) Since the senior manager had to go on many international business trips, she was forced to delegate many of her responsibilities to two lower-level managers. Synonyms: commissioner, nominee, deputy, envoy, member, minister, senator Antonyms: deny, reject, hold, keep

underscore

verb - give extra weight to (a communication) While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water. Synonyms: highlight, stress, accentuate, mark

enjoin

verb - give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority The government agency enjoined the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years. Synonyms: admonish Antonyms: permit, allow

concede

verb - give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another The Spanish were forced to concede much of the territory they had previously conquered. Synonyms: relinquish, cede, hand over, quit, confess, grant, accept, admit, yield Antonyms: deny, repudiate, refuse, veto, reject, dispute, disallow, disapprove, hold, keep, defend, fight, win

engender

verb - give rise to The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people. Synonyms: spawn, instigate, bring about, beget, incite, breed, induce, stimulate Antonyms: destroy, prevent, calm, wait, halt, stop, discourage

rankle

verb - gnaw into; make resentful or angry His constant whistling would rankle her, sometimes causing her to leave in a huff. Synonyms: embitter, exasperate, inflame, bother, harass, vex Antonyms: calm, comfort, pacify, placate, soothe, aid, assist, delight, make happy, please, help

besiege

verb - harass, as with questions or requests; cause to feel distressed or worried After discovering a priceless artifact in her backyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls, emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see the rare piece of history. Synonyms: encircle, beleaguer, beset, blockade, trap Antonyms: let go, aid, assist, help, please

frustrate

verb - hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of I thought I would finish writing the paper by lunchtime, but a number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan. Synonyms: hinder, depress, discourage, dishearten, confront, baffle Antonyms: aid, assist, hearten, encourage, help, inspirit

thwart

verb - hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans. Synonyms: obstruct, prevent, stymie, counter, frustrate, foil, curb, oppose, defeat, impede, circumvent Antonyms: abet, aid, assist, facilitate, help, support, allow, encourage

stymie

verb - hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of The engineers found their plans stymied at every turn and were ultimately able to make amlost no progress on the project. Synonyms: obstruct, thwart, stonewall, foil, stall, impede, crimp Antonyms: abet, aid, assist, help, support, forward, advance

encumber

verb - hold back The costume encumbered all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely. Synonyms: overburden

misconstrue

verb - interpret in the wrong way The politician never trusted journalists because he though that they misconstrue his words and misrepresent his positions. Synonyms: misread, pervert, misinterpret

construe

verb - interpreted in a particular way The author's inability to take a side on the issue was construed by both his opponents and supporters as a sign of weakness. Synonyms: translate, infer, interpret, define Antonyms: misunderstand

irk

verb - irritate or vex My little sister has a way of irking and annoying me like no other person. Synonyms: annoy, disturb, peeve, bother, inconvenience, irritate, rile Antonyms: aid, soothe, calm, assist, delight, make happy, please, help

preclude

verb - keep from happening or arising; make impossible The manager specified that all other gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons without tickets entering the arena undetected. Synonyms: hinder, prevent, rule out, avert, prohibit, forestall Antonyms: aid, assist, facilitate, permit, include, advance, allow, encourage, forward, help, promote, push, add, support

guffaw

verb - laugh boisterously Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth. Synonyms: laughter

belittle

verb - lessen the importance, dignity, or reputation of A good teacher will never belittle his students, but will instead empower them. Synonyms: criticize, decry, squelch, discredit, deride, scorn, downplay, disparage, underestimate Antonyms: compliment, laud, praise, approve, commend, flatter

hamstrung

verb - made ineffective or powerless The FBI has made so many restriction on the local police that they are absolutely hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything. Synonyms: hinder, immobilize, handicap Antonyms: aid, assist, further, allow, encourage, help, promote, strengthen

reconcile

verb - make (one thing) compatible with (another) Peggy was unable to reconcile her kind friend Jane with the cruel and merciless character Jane played on television. Synonyms: conform, resolve, appease, coordinate, reunite, assuage, rectify, accommodate, harmonize, placate, pacify, integrate Antonyms: incite, fight, mismatch, irritate, separate, upset, agitate

elucidate

verb - make clearer and easier to understand Youtube is great place to learn just about anything--an expert elucidates finer points so that even a complete novice can learn. Synonyms: exemplify, expound, illuminate, get across, clear up, decode Antonyms: obscure, complicate, cloud, confuse

tarnish

verb - make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his generation, but his involvement with gambling on baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes of many. Synonyms: sully, dim, harm, mar, pollute, smear, muddy, damage, defame, taint Antonyms: aid, assist, benefit, improve, mend, heal, clean, fix, help, please

incense

verb - make furious When Herb bought football tickets for a game on the day of their wedding anniversary, Jill was incensed. Synonyms: odor, aroma, scent, perfume Antonyms: odor, stink, stench, calm, placate, soothe, pacify, quiet, tranquilize, aid, appease, please, make happy, compose, help

mitigate

verb - make less severe or harsh I can only spend so much time mitigating your disagreements with your wife, and at certain point, you need to do it on your own. Synonyms: dull, lessen, ease, relieve, reduce, temper, soothe, alleviate Antonyms: increase, worsen, worry, intensify, extend, raise, strengthen, irritate, trouble, upset, aggravate, agitate, provoke

embellish

verb - make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.; make more beautiful McCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would embellish them with puns and poetic images. Synonyms: bedeck, dress up, exaggerate, gild, overstate, festoon, embroider, adorn

compound

verb - make more intense, stronger, or more marked Her headache was compounded by the construction crew outside, which had six jackhammers going at the same time. Antonyms: improve, soothe, decrease, lessen, weaken, calm, help

ameliorate

verb - make something bad better Three Cups of Tea tells the story of western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan. Synonyms: mitigate, lighten, alleviate Antonyms: increase, intensify, aggravate

assuage

verb - make something intense less severe Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was assuaged when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line. Synonyms: satisfy, mitigate, placate, appease, quench, lessen, soften, sate, alleviate Antonyms: dissatisfy, incite, increase, intensify, worsen, worry, upset, aggravate, irritate, agitate, provoke, trouble

obscure

verb - make unclear On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock. Synonyms: enigmatic, ambiguous, cryptic, esoteric, arcane, mysterious, complicated, vague, confusing Antonyms: known, obvious, clear, plain, definite, straightforward, common, public, unmysterious, related, relevant, nearby, friendly, open, familiar, approachable, near, warm, explain, uncover, unmask, brighten, lighten, clarify, clear up, reveal, lay out

tender

verb - offer up something formally The government was loath to tender more money in the fear that it might set off inflation. Synonyms: supple, delicate Antonyms: indifferent, pragmatic, unromantic, unfeeling, unkind, uncaring, harsh, rough, violent, hard, loud, strong, unaffecting, healthy

appease

verb - pacify by acceding to the demands of Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to appease Hitler and in doing so sent a clear message: you can walk all over us. Synonyms: mitigate, placate, assuage, lessen, soften, soothe, quell, calm Antonyms: incite, increase, intensify, worsen, worry, aggravate, irritate, agitate, upset, trouble, provoke

devolve

verb - pass on or delegate to another The company was full of managers known for devolving tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves.

juxtapose

verb - place side by side The meaning of her paintings comes from a classical style which juxtaposes modern themes.

antedated

verb - precede in time Harry was so unknowledgable that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs antedated the American Revolution.

hamper

verb - prevent the progress or free movement of As the rain water began to collect in pools on the highway, it began to hamper the flow of traffic. Antonyms: aid, assist, facilitate, further, permit, benefit, advance, allow, encourage, forward, help, promote, push, support, free, let go

exonerate

verb - pronounce not guilty of criminal charges The document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to exonerate him of any charges. Synonyms: acquit, vindicate, pardon, dismiss, absolve Antonyms: blame, condemn, convict, damn, sentence, punish, hire, hold, keep, employ, engage

champion

verb - protect or fight for as a champion Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rights fiercely throughout his short life. Synonyms: unbeaten, undefeated, super Antonyms: forsake

afford

verb - provide with an opportunity The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya. Synonyms: manage, allow Antonyms: deny, refuse, take

derive

verb - reason by deduction; establish by deduction From the multiple set of footprints in the living room, the investigator derived an important clue: Sheila was not alone in the room at the time of the murder. Synonyms: evolve, develop, receive, glean, acquire, obtain, collect, assume Antonyms: decrease, forfeit, doubt, halt, stop, give, lose

discriminate

verb - recognize or perceive the difference Sarah couldn't discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings. Synonyms: segregate

degrade

verb - reduce in worth or character, usually verbally Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy's faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl. Synonyms: debase, lessen, reduce, impair, downgrade, discredit, cheapen, demean, vitiate, degenerate, corrupt, diminish, disgrace Antonyms: honor, praise, upgrade, enhance, improve, purify, enlarge, increase, grow, aid, assist, extend, raise, strengthen, expand, help, develop

debase

verb - reduce the quality or value of something The third-rate script so debased the film that not even the flawless acting could save it from being a flop. Synonyms: disgrace, dishonor, cheapen, demean, demoralize, humiliate Antonyms: honor, upgrade, enhance, esteem, boost, aid, assist, help

snub

verb - refuse to acknowledge; reject outright and bluntly Wheeler was completely qualified for the committee, but the board snubbed him, choosing an obviously lesser qualified candidate instead. Synonyms: ostracize, disregard, scold, boycott, ignore, scorn, shun, neglect, rebuff, humiliate Antonyms: welcome, note, praise, pay attention, regard

cede

verb - relinquish possession or control over Eventually, all parents must cede control of their growing childrens' educations and allow their offspring some autonomy. Synonyms: relinquish, hand over, waive, grant, transfer, renounce, communicate, concede, capitulate Antonyms: refuse, hold, keep, fight

circumscribe

verb - restrict or confine Their tour of South America was circumscribed so that they saw only popular destinations and avoided the dangerous parts of cities. Synonyms: delineate

abrogate

verb - revoke formally As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers abrogated their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance. Synonyms: invalidate, annul, revoke, undo, abolish, nullify, quash Antonyms: permit, validate, sanction, approve, enact, support, pass

pillory

verb - ridicule or expose to public scorn After the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to pillory him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

lampoon

verb - ridicule with satire Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.

maunder

verb - speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly After drinking two expressos each, the animated couple would maunder loudly, annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop.

dissipate

verb - squander or spend money frivolously The recent graduates dissipated their earnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruises in Mexico. Synonyms: deplete Antonyms: garner, collect, gather, assemble, appear

promulgate

verb - state or announce The President wanted to promulgate the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement. Synonyms: promote, declare, publish, notify

emulate

verb - strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; compete with successfully To really become fluent in a new language, emulate the speech patterns and intonation of people who speak the language. Synonyms: imitate, mimic, mirror

glut

verb - supply with an excess of In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with resumes. Synonyms: oversupply, saturation, surplus

bolster

verb - support and strengthen The case for the suspect's innocence was bolstered considerably by the fact that neither fingerprints nor DNA were found at the scene. Synonyms: help, buttress, strengthen, support, cushion, reinforce Antonyms: block, hinder, injure, obstruct, decrease, let down, weaken, undermine, hurt, stop, discourage, neglect, halt

squelch

verb - suppress or crush completely After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to squelch all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime. Synonyms: thwart, muffle, squash, repress, crush Antonyms: aid, encourage, help, let go, light, uncompress

bridle

verb - the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess New curfew laws have bridled people's tendency to go out at night.

deliberate

verb - think about carefully; weigh the pros and cons of an issue Emergency situations such as this call for immediate action and leave no room to deliberate over options. Synonyms: premeditated, careful, conscious, purposeful, calculated, studious, cold-blooded, thoughtful, cautious, willful, prudent, meticulous Antonyms: inattentive, incautious, ignorant, heedless, imprudent, careless, thoughtless, uncareful, unmindful, ignore, discard, disregard, forget, neglect

espouse

verb - to adopt or support an idea or cause As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism, growing his beard out and railing against the evils of the free-market. Synonyms: adopt, uphold, defend, advocate Antonyms: reject, desert, attack

behooves

verb - to be one's duty or obligation The teacher looked down at the student and said, It would behoove you to be in class on time and complete your homework, so that you don't repeat freshman English for a third straight year. "

kowtow

verb - to bow or act in a subservient manner Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the boss herself became nauseated by his sycophancy. Synonyms: pander, genuflect

recrudesce

verb - to break out or happen again After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he'd broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence--he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.

hector

verb - to bully or intimidate The boss's hectoring manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs. Synonyms: nag, irritate, browbeat Antonyms: assuage, please

precipitate

verb - to cause to happen The government's mishandling the hurricane's aftermath precipitated a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity. Synonyms: hasten, trigger, accelerate, expedite Antonyms: block, hinder, check, halt, stop

chortle

verb - to chuckle, laugh merrily Walking past the bar, I could hear happy, chortling people and the blast of horns from a jazz band. Synonyms: snicker, giggle, cackle

eradicate

verb - to completely destroy I tried eradicating the mosquitos in my apartment with a rolled up newspaper, but there were too many of them. Synonyms: wipe out, annihilate, exterminate, expunge, stamp out, abolish, erase, eliminate, uproot, extinguish Antonyms: create, ratify, build, bear

corroborate

verb - to confirm or lend support to (usually an idea or claim) Her claim that frog populations were falling precipitously in Central America was corroborated by locals, who reported that many species of frogs had seemingly vanished overnight. Synonyms: authenticate, confirm, substantiate, verify, validate, justify Antonyms: disprove, invalidate, veto

excoriate

verb - to criticize very harshly Entrusted with the prototype to his company's latest smartphone, Larry, during a late night karaoke bout, let the prototype slip into the hands of a rival company--the next day Larry was excoriated, and then fired. Antonyms: compliment, praise, flatter, approve

hoodwink

verb - to deceive or trick someone Someone tried to hoodwink Marty with an email telling him that his uncle had just passed away, and to collect the inheritance he should send his credit card information. Synonyms: mislead, bilk, dupe, bamboozle, victimize, defraud, swindle Antonyms: protect, give, help

mulct

verb - to defraud or swindle The so-called magical diet cure simply ended up mulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars, but did nothing for her weight.

harangue

verb - to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of home at the age of thirty-five. Synonyms: tirade, jeremiad, spiel, discourse, oration

begrudge

verb - to envy someone for possessing or enjoying something Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudged the happiness of the other children playing outside his window. Synonyms: envy

beg

verb - to evade or dodge (a question) By assuming that Charlie was headed to college--which he was not--Maggie begged the question when she asked him to which school he was headed in the Fall. Synonyms: urge, beseech, pray, sue, implore, solicit, plead, ask Antonyms: reply, answer

censor

verb - to examine and remove objectionable material Every fall, high school English teachers are inundated by requests to censor their curriculum by removing The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letter from their reading lists. Synonyms: blacklist, excise, edit, suppress, withhold, restrict, sanitize, abridge, black out, delete Antonyms: release, enlarge, add, put in, let go, expand

galvanize

verb - to excite or inspire (someone) to action At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding a banner that read, Go Kyle; galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less than 20 minutes. Synonyms: shock, energize, invigorate, stun, motivate, excite, jolt Antonyms: dissuade, calm, lull, quiet, comfort, bore, depress, discourage, compose, expect

censure

verb - to express strong disapproval After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council. Synonyms: condemnation, rebuke, reprimand Antonyms: praise, compliment, laud, forgive, flatter, approve, commend

begrudge

verb - to give reluctantly We never begrudge money spent on ourselves. Synonyms: envy

stem

verb - to hold back or limit the flow or growth of something To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330 on the Revised GRE. Synonyms: branch, trunk Antonyms: aid, assist, encourage, help

hobble

verb - to hold back the progress of something Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage. Synonyms: falter, stagger, shuffle Antonyms: continue, aid, assist, permit, allow, encourage, help, promote

check

verb - to limit (usually modifying the growth of something) Deserted for six months, the property began to look more like a jungle and less like a residence--weeds grew unchecked in the front yard Synonyms: checkup, audit, review Antonyms: ignore, disprove, invalidate, forget, neglect, aid, assist, let go, allow, help, continue, encourage

inure

verb - to make accustomed to something unpleasant Three years of Manhattan living has inured her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse.

err

verb - to make an error He erred in thinking that indigent and indignant were synonyms. Synonyms: stumble, misbehave, stray, miscalculate

unnerve

verb - to make nervous or upset At one time unnerved by math problems, she began avidly Magoosh-ing, and soon became adept at even combinations and permutations questions. Synonyms: dismay, discourage, dishearten, unsettle, dispirit, bewilder, perturb, rattle, frighten, disconcert Antonyms: hearten, explain, calm, soothe, placate, comfort, incite, encourage, inspirit, settle, clear up, clarify, strengthen, help

contrive

verb - to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation. Synonyms: improvise, concoct, fabricate, devise, dream up, manipulate

hound

verb - to pursue relentlessly An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness hounded out graft in all forms--he even helped nab Al Capone. Antonyms: aid, soothe, ignore, make happy, please, help, support

expurgate

verb - to remove objectionable material The censor expurgated every reference to sex and drugs, converting the rapper's raunchy flow into a series of bleeps.

betray

verb - to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip betraying his intense emotions. Synonyms: abandon, mislead, forsake, deceive, seduce

enervate

verb - to sap energy from John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after he'd spent the day sightseeing.

exhort

verb - to strongly urge on; encourage Nelson's parents exhorted him to study medicine, urging him to choose a respectable profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to become a graffiti artist. Synonyms: beseech, admonish, incite, encourage, persuade, caution, enjoin Antonyms: deter, dissuade, discourage

attenuate

verb - to weaken (in terms of intensity); to taper off/become thinner. Her animosity towards Bob attenuated over the years, and she even went so far as to invite him to her party. Synonyms: debilitate, constrict, vitiate Antonyms: aid, assist, help

patronize

verb - treat condescendingly She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her. Synonyms: deign, snub

deride

verb - treat or speak of with contempt The nun derided the students for trying to sneak insects and worms into the classroom. Synonyms: disdain, taunt, ridicule, scoff, scorn, disparage, mock Antonyms: admire, praise, respect, compliment, approve, flatter

avert

verb - turn away Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I averted my eyes as we drove by. Synonyms: rule out, halt, prevent, forestall, avoid Antonyms: aid, assist, allow, help, support

goad

verb - urge on with unpleasant comments Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him into signing up for it. Antonyms: leave alone

slender

adjective - (Of a person or part of the body) gracefully thin: This feline image was enhanced by her painted nails and thin slender body. Synonyms: svelte, lanky, slight, fragile, slim, meager, wispy, lithe, delicate, frail Antonyms: chubby, large, unbreakable, fat, thick, big, firm, strong, liberal, wide, heavy

furnished

adjective - (Of accommodation ) available to be rented with furniture: At the Rivercourt scheme in Ballymahon, there are two fully furnished penthouse apartments available priced

anecdotal

adjective - (Of an account) not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research: Historic accounts of this era give no indication of any negative impact to fish populations and in fact, anecdotal accounts reflect quite the opposite. Synonyms: unreliable

draconian

adjective - (Of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe : The penalty imposed by law is not draconian, and serves more as a reminder to perform a common sense action. Synonyms: oppressive, strict, cruel Antonyms: calm, gentle, mild, temperate, amenable, easy-going, easy

coquettish

adjective - Behaving in such a way as to suggest a playful sexual attraction ; flirtatious : In common with Alcoholics Anonymous, the manual encourages her to face up to the extent of her mendacity and list her lies, an exercise which allows Porter to go through a series of coquettish and flirty set pieces.

preternatural

adjective - Beyond what is normal or natural: Harte's stories, in their matter-of-fact referencing of the preternatural and supernatural, and in their blending of the fantastic and the mundane may be seen as affiliates of Magic Realism.

abrupt

adjective - Brief to the point of rudeness; curt: Having said that, I do not think I deserved the very abrupt and curt way in which I was treated by Mr Hutchinson on trying to explain the situation to him. Antonyms: lazy, expected, slow

convincing

adjective - Capable of causing someone to believe that something is TRUE or real: There is no real convincing evidence for this, yet it was cited as one of the main anti-legalisation arguments for years. Synonyms: credible, trustworthy, satisfactory, satisfying, impressive, solid, reliable, powerful Antonyms: implausible, improbable, unbelievable, unlikely, undependable, unreliable, untrustworthy, ineffective, insignificant, unimportant, impotent, weak, unreasonable

shiftless

adjective - Characterized by laziness , indolence , and a lack of ambition : Anyone who believes that unions serve a function in this day and age is a lazy, good-for-nothing, shiftless shirker.

apparent

adjective - Clearly visible or understood; obvious: The dangers were most conspicuously apparent in the vast sums being made from India. Synonyms: supposed, possible, probable Antonyms: unlikely, indistinct, invisible, obscured, hidden, indefinite, uncertain, unclear, unknown, unsure, vague, inconspicuous, concealed, unintelligible, unnoticeable, obscure, secret, dark, dull, mistakable

scaly

adjective - Covered in scales: Its skin was a nasty shade of brown, covered in visible bumps and scars, even scaly.

orthodox

adjective - Of the ordinary or usual type; normal: One aspect of these changes was the weakening of the orthodox heterosexual double standard.

candid

adjective - a straightforward and honest look at something Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was always candid and would rarely hold anything back. Synonyms: unequivocal, straightforward, impartial, truthful, sincere, outspoken, unbiased, blunt, forthright Antonyms: dishonest, biased, untruthful, tactful, devious, prejudiced

decorous

adjective - characterized by good taste in manners and conduct Sally's parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation. Synonyms: staid, civilized, polite, sedate

discrete

adjective - constituting a separate entity or part What was once known as Czechoslovakia has since split into two discrete, independent nations. Synonyms: distinct, various, disconnected Antonyms: connected, similar

scintillating

adjective - describes someone who is brilliant and lively Richard Feynman was renowned for his scintillating lectures--the arcana of quantum physics was made lucid as he wrote animatedly on the chalkboard. Synonyms: brilliant, exciting, dazzling, sparkling, lively Antonyms: dull

pyrrhic

adjective - describing a victory that comes at such a great cost that the victory is not worthwhile George W. Bush's win in the 2000 election was in many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population.

elusive

adjective - difficult to capture or difficult to remember Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive. Synonyms: tricky, ambiguous, volatile, fleeting, puzzling, illusory, slippery, subtle, incomprehensible Antonyms: honest, stable, intelligible, definite, understandable

disaffected

adjective - discontented as toward authority After watching his superior take rations from the soliders, he quickly became disaffected and rebeled. Synonyms: rebellious

malleable

adjective - easily influenced My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me. Synonyms: flexible, supple, workable, adaptable Antonyms: rigid, inflexible, stiff, unadaptable

peevish

adjective - easily irritated or annoyed Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off another one of his fits.

petulant

adjective - easily irritated or annoyed When Ed first met Ruth, he didn't realize she was so petulant, but now that they are three months into their relationship, Ed feels a day doesn't go by in which she isn't whining about some minor issue. Synonyms: impatient, sullen, perverse, testy, cranky, fractious, irritable Antonyms: patient, willing, cheerful, happy, agreeable, nice

complementary

adjective - enhancing each other's qualities (for two things or more). The head waiter was careful to tell the amateur diners that red wine was complementary with beef, each bringing out subtle taste notes in the other. Synonyms: integral, reciprocal

pejorative

adjective - expressing disapproval (usu. refers to a term) Most psychologists object to the pejorative term shrink, believing that they expand the human mind, not limit it.

abysmal

adjective - extremely bad Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the field after watching a few painful minutes of her abysmal performance.

parsimonious

adjective - extremely frugal; miserly Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them.

auspicious

adjective - favorable, the opposite of sinister Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike's road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile. Synonyms: promising, opportune, advantageous, propitious, felicitous Antonyms: inauspicious, inopportune, unsuitable, unpromising

indignant

adjective - feeling anger over a perceived injustice When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced the driver to brake and elicited an indignant shout of Hey, punk, watch where you're going! Synonyms: resentful, miffed, irate, livid, heated, mad, scornful, incensed Antonyms: pleased, cheerful, peaceful, calm, happy

downward

adjective - Moving or leading towards a lower place or level: He said construction inflation was on a downward trend and prices for tenders were coming down steadily. Synonyms: descending

doughty

adjective - brave; bold; courageous I enjoy films in which a doughty group comes together to battle a force of evil.

apocryphal

adjective - being of questionable authenticity The web is notorious for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news. Synonyms: mythical, untrue, unsubstantiated, inaccurate Antonyms: TRUE

hinder

adjective - (Especially of a bodily part) rear; hind: As William told it, 'He forgot to fit a tail on his hinder parts.' Synonyms: obstruct, hamstring, retard, thwart, burden, prohibit, handicap, preclude, inhibit, cripple, deter, delay, hold up Antonyms: aid, assist, permit, further, expedite, facilitate, help, promote, support, advance, push, encourage, forward, allow

hapless

adjective - (Especially of a person) unfortunate : It is not merely hapless tourists that are suffering in this unstable climate. Synonyms: unlucky, woeful Antonyms: happy

notwithstanding

conjunction - Although; in spite of the fact that: notwithstanding that the hall was packed with bullies, our champion played on steadily andpatiently

throughout

preposition&adverb - In every part of (a place or object): The order covers the teenager's movements throughout the whole of England and Wales.

towards

preposition - Expressing the relation between behaviour or an attitude and the person or thing at which it is directed or with which it is concerned: The law is, of course, important in defining public attitudes towards particular types of behaviour.

upon

preposition - More formal term for on , especially in abstract senses. He is building a fan base upon the goodwill he has generated since taking over the club.

devolve

verb - grow worse (usually devolve into) The dialogue between the two academics devolved into a downright bitter argument.

dam

verb - Build a dam across (a river or lake): Lake Nasser was formed by damming the River Nile. Synonyms: barrier, dike, levee, gate

artful

adjective - exhibiting artistic skill Picasso is generally considered the most artful member of the Cubist movement. Synonyms: ingenious, sly, adroit, slick, shrewd, masterly Antonyms: stupid, clumsy, awkward, inept, unclever

dictatorial

adjective - expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler The coach was dictatorial in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach. Synonyms: overbearing, haughty, oppressive, imperious, totalitarian, domineering, arbitrary Antonyms: meek, obedient, servile, democratic, submissive, humble, yielding

approbatory

adjective - expressing praise or approval Although it might not be her best work, Hunter's new novel has received generally approbatory reviews.

elegiac

adjective - expressing sorrow Few can listen to the elegiac opening bars of the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge to cry. Synonyms: funereal, melancholy Antonyms: cheerful, joyful, happy

refractory

adjective - stubbornly resistant to authority or control Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindgergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.

retiring

adjective - to be shy, and to be inclined to retract from company Nelson was always the first to leave soirees--rather than mill about with fashionable folk, he was retiring, and preferred the solitude of his garret.

tie

noun - A piece of string, cord, or similar used for fastening or tying something: Each kit contains a plastic sheet, a clean razor blade, a cutting surface, soap, and cord ties. Synonyms: connection, link Antonyms: disjoin, disconnect, divide, separate, let go, unfasten

spate

noun - A sudden flood in a river. As the river rapidly went into full spate, the ice blue turned chocolate brown and became unfishable. Synonyms: string, deluge, wave

flamboyance

noun - The tendency to attract attention because of one's exuberance , confidence , and stylishness : His flamboyance earned him a lengthy profile in *The New Yorker*.

paucity

noun - a lack of something There is a paucity of jobs hiring today that require menial skills, since most jobs have either been automated or outsourced. Synonyms: smallness, insufficiency, dearth Antonyms: sufficiency

dearth

noun - a lack or shortage I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street. Synonyms: lack, inadequacy, paucity, deficiency, absence, shortage Antonyms: abundance, enough, plenty, adequacy, sufficiency

raft

noun - a large number of something Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by an overzealous council, noise pollution continued unabated in the megalopolis. Synonyms: craft, catamaran

amalgam

noun - a mixture of multiple things The band's music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with surprising results. Synonyms: admixture, alloy

mendicant

noun - a pauper who lives by begging Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to understand the Christianity of the Russian peasants by wandering among them as a mendicant.

respite

noun - a pause from doing something (as work) Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games. Synonyms: reprieve, interruption, breathing space, layoff, letup, downtime, hiatus, breather, recess, relief, relaxation, truce Antonyms: continuation

savvy

noun - a perceptive understanding Although a great CEO, he did not have the political savvy to win the election. Antonyms: ignorance, inability, ineptness, stupidity

raconteur

noun - a person skilled in telling anecdotes Jude is entertaining, but he is no raconteur: beyond the handful of amusing stories he has memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous story-telling ability. Synonyms: storyteller

chauvinist

noun - a person who believes in the superiority of their group The chauvinist lives on both sides of the political spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideas are not consistent with his own.

misogynist

noun - a person who dislikes women in particular Many have accused Hemingway of being a quiet misogynist, but recently unearthed letters argue against this belief.

culpability

noun - a state of guilt Since John had left his banana peel at the top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability for Martha's broken leg. Synonyms: guilt, accountability

flux

noun - a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event) Ever since Elvira resigned as the head of marketing, everything about our sales strategy has been in a state of flux.

iconoclast

noun - somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a meat dress to a prominent awards show.

maverick

noun - someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action Officer Kelly was a maverick, rarely following police protocols or adopting the conventions for speech common among his fellow officers.

eschew

verb - avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity. Synonyms: abandon, renounce, avoid, forgo, forswear, shun Antonyms: keep, face, meet

steel

verb - Mentally prepare (oneself) to do or face something difficult: It's all because I'm mentally steeling myself in preparation for next Monday. Synonyms: fortify, gird, brace Antonyms: weaken, let go

scroll

verb - Move displayed text or graphics in a particular direction on a computer screen in order to view different parts of them: He scrolled through all the names in his card file and eventually assembled a staff of 'personal friends and business brothers' to support his efforts at gathering additional resources. Synonyms: streamer

predilection

noun - a strong liking Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera. Synonyms: penchant, proclivity, predisposition, propensity, leaning, fondness Antonyms: dislike, hate, hatred, disinclination

broadside

noun - a strong verbal attack Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election. Synonyms: shower, salvo, hail, fusillade, bombardment Antonyms: peace, defense

diatribe

noun - a strong verbal attack against a person or institution Steve's mom launched into a diatribe during the PTA meeting, contending that the school was little more than a daycare in which students stare at the wall and teachers stare at the chalkboard. Synonyms: tirade, invective, denunciation, jeremiad Antonyms: compliment, praise

polemic

noun - a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something. The professor launched into a polemic, claiming that Freudian theory was a pack of lies that absolutely destroyed European literary theory.

nuance

noun - a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude Because of the nuances involved in this case, I hired an outside consultant to advice us and help. Synonyms: hint, subtlety, gradation, nicety, refinement

epiphany

noun - a sudden revelation or moment of insight Gary one day had an epiphany that he was a people person; he prompty quit his factory job and began working as a salesman. Synonyms: flash, vision, inspiration, oracle

bromide

noun - a trite or obvious remark Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky stranger offered Martha the following bromide: Looks like it's raining. Synonyms: cliché

platitude

noun - a trite or obvious remark The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere platitudes. Synonyms: banality, bromide

conflagration

noun - a very intense and uncontrolled fire In the summer months, conflagrations are not uncommon in the southwest, do to the heat and lack of rain. Synonyms: inferno, blaze, bonfire

melee

noun - a wild, confusing fight or struggle After enduring daily taunts about my name, I became enraged and pummeled the schoolyard bully and his sycophantic friends in a brutal melee. Synonyms: tussle, clash, brawl, ruckus, scuffle, scrimmage Antonyms: calm, peace, harmony

quip

noun - a witty saying or remark In one of the most famous quips about classical music, Mark Twain said: Wagner's music is better than it sounds. Synonyms: pun, gibe, satire, banter, retort, repartee

probity

noun - integrity, strong moral principles The ideal politician would have the probity to lead, but reality gravely falls short of the ideal of morally upright leaders. Synonyms: truthfulness, righteousness, sincerity, rightness Antonyms: dishonesty, corruption

schadenfreude

noun - joy from watching the suffering of others From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill.

estimable

adjective - deserving of esteem and respect After serving thirty years, in which he selflessly served the community, Judge Harper was one of the more estimable people in town. Synonyms: praiseworthy

edifying

adjective - enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement I recently read an article in the Times about whether good literature is edifying or not; specifically, does reading more make a person more moral.

challenge

verb - Invite (someone) to engage in a contest: The contest challenged children to describe what they do before bed each night to help them get a good night's sleep - and why. Synonyms: objection, test, protest, threat Antonyms: acceptance, deny

deleterious

adjective - harmful to living things The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was deleterious to the fishing industry in the southern states.

rakish

adjective - marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakish young man bought some drugs and headed straight for the seedy parts of town. Synonyms: saucy, sporty, raffish, dashing, jaunty, profligate

raffish

adjective - marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude. Synonyms: rakish, disreputable, bohemian, jaunty

genteel

adjective - marked by refinement in taste and manners A live string quartet would provide a more genteel air to the wedding than would a folk singer. Synonyms: noble, ostentatious, polite, elegant, aristocratic, stylish, refined Antonyms: unsophisticated, uncivilized, unrefined, unfashionable

malfeasance

adjective - misconduct or wrongdoing (especially by a public official) Not even the mayor's trademark pearly-toothed grin could save him from charges of malfeasance: while in power, he'd been running an illegal gambling rink in the room behind his office. Synonyms: misconduct Antonyms: behavior, manners, obedience

ambivalent

adjective - mixed or conflicting emotions about something Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills. Synonyms: uncertain, equivocal, hesitant, doubtful, contradictory Antonyms: determined, unquestionable, settled, undoubted, certain, clear, definite, secure, sure, decided

loath

adjective - unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by 'to') I was loath to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing. Synonyms: unwilling, afraid, hesitant Antonyms: willing, eager, ready

taxing

adjective - use to the limit; exhaust The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing that I could barely speak or stand up. Synonyms: tedious, onerous, troublesome, demanding, disturbing, trying Antonyms: trivial, facile, easy

boon

adjective - very close and convivial He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed. Synonyms: windfall, blessing, godsend Antonyms: bad luck, bad fortune

voracious

adjective - very hungry; approaching an activity with gusto Steven was a voracious reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day. Synonyms: rapacious, ravenous, insatiable, avid, prodigious Antonyms: satisfied, full

bellicose

adjective - warlike; inclined to quarrel Known for their bellicose ways, the Spartans were once the most feared people from Peloponnesus to Persia. Synonyms: antagonistic, combative, threatening Antonyms: agreeable

becalm

verb - Leave (a sailing ship ) unable to move through lack of wind: To make the point, he recounted the tale of a group of English merchants who, when their ship was becalmed at the mouth of the Thames decided to go ashore in search of a good breakfast.

bequeath

verb - Leave (property) to a person or other beneficiary by a will: By his will dated 8th June 1956 he appointed the Mother to be his executrix and bequeathed all his property whatsoever or wheresoever to her. Synonyms: bestow, entrust, hand down, impart Antonyms: take

backdrop

verb - Lie behind or beyond; serve as a background to: Not only is it busy movement-wise, the stage is a feast of visuals, with a blocky, retro cityscape pattern backdropping the slinky white and black costumes of the dancers. Synonyms: scenery

bill

verb - List (a person or event) in a programme: The result - when the allure of the biggie DJ wears thin, as it has recently, there's nothing to fill the gaps between the next highly billed event. Synonyms: note, debt, check, statement

commendable

adjective - worthy of high praise The efforts of the firefighters running into the burning building were commendable. Synonyms: exemplary, meritorious, excellent Antonyms: unworthy, wrong, bad

laudable

adjective - worthy of high praise To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; he overthrew an empire without violence. Synonyms: commendable, praiseworthy, creditable Antonyms: unworthy, disrespected

callow

adjective - young and inexperienced Both Los Angeles and New York are known for callow out-of-towners hoping to make it big. Synonyms: inexperienced

fledgling

adjective - young and inexperienced; describing any new participant in some activity Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.

therefore

adverb - For that reason; consequently: There are therefore reasons for the historical work now being done in these fields. Synonyms: so, accordingly, thus, then

outright

adverb - Immediately or instantly : Nine horse were killed outright and are now being slaughtered for their meat, and another twenty-eight are sorely injured, and will soon have to be butchered. Synonyms: wholesale, unmitigated, unequivocal, pure, utter, downright, absolute Antonyms: imperfect, mixed, indefinite, uncertain, partial

pell-mell

adverb - In a confused , rushed , or disorderly manner: Bernard embarked on pell-mell international expansion, building strong operations across the rest of Europe, Asia and Latin America.

haphazardly

adverb - In a manner lacking any obvious principle of organization: Whenever anyone investigates, they find tools and engine parts strewn haphazardly everywhere and not a soul in sight. Synonyms: carelessly, casually

seemingly

adverb - So as to give the impression of having a certain quality; apparently : Tiny took us along the seemingly endless corridors to the gate at the end and he opened it for us.

thus

adverb - To this point; so: Labossiere believes the work of the hate crime team has thus far been successful. Synonyms: so

indeed

adverb - Used in a response to express interest, surprise, or contempt : How, indeed, had a boy who looked not much older then she did survive all alone in the woods with all kinds of dangers? Synonyms: easily, certainly, very, truly, absolutely, surely, naturally Antonyms: doubtfully, dubiously, questionably, indefinite

remarkably

adverb - Used to express surprise at an event or situation: remarkably, she hung on to her job Synonyms: strangely, very, uncommonly, exceptionally, extraordinarily, awfully, singularly Antonyms: commonly, little

amuck

adverb - in a frenzied or uncontrolled state Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, his legions of screaming fans ran through the streets amuck, hoping for a glance at his boyish face.

amply

adverb - more than is adequate The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea--no man would go hungry or thirst. Synonyms: generously, lavishly, abundantly, extensively, richly, properly, adequately

askance

adverb - with a look of suspicion or disapproval The old couple looked askance on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, They've got rings through their noses and purple hair! Synonyms: suspiciously, skeptically

assiduously

adverb - with care and persistence The top college football program recruits new talent assiduously, only choosing those who were the top in their county. Synonyms: vigorously, nimbly, eagerly, hastily, carefully, earnestly, energetically, laboriously Antonyms: little, incompletely, partially, partly

assail

verb - attack in speech or writing In the weekly paper, the editor assailed the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed. Synonyms: impugn, blast, revile, trash, berate, criticize, lambaste Antonyms: praise, compliment, uphold

inference

noun - A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning: In which case it remains unreasonable to base inductive inferences on evidence described in those terms. Synonyms: presumption, conjecture, interpretation Antonyms: reality, truth, fact, proof

pottery

noun - A factory or workshop where pottery is made: Her Chateau de Bellevue was on the edge of the Meudon Forest, with a long view of the Seine Valley down to Paris, and with the Sevres potteries tucked under the escarpment.

digit

noun - A finger, thumb , or toe . The researchers found that in people under the age of 25, the thumb has taken over from the index finger as the digit most frequently used.

enamor

verb - attraction or feeling of love She is completely enamored with Justin Bieber, and goes to all his concerts on the East coast. Synonyms: bewitch, enthrall, please, entice, enrapture Antonyms: disgust, displease, disenchant, turn off, repel, repulse

impute

verb - attribute (responsibility or fault) to something He imputed his subpar performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep. Synonyms: ascribe

ascribe

verb - attribute or credit to History ascribes The Odyssey and The Illiad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a historical figure or a fictitious name. Synonyms: attribute, impute

importuned

verb - beg persistently and urgently After weeks of importuning the star to meet for a five-minute interview, the journalist finally got what she wanted.

flounder

verb - behave awkwardly; have difficulties Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has deal with taxes, she flounders. Synonyms: wallow, flop, stumble

elicit

verb - call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses) Just smiling--even if you are depressed-can elicit feelings of pleasure and happiness. Synonyms: extort, wrest, wring, obtain, bring out, evoke, extract

extrapolate

verb - draw from specific cases for more general cases By extrapolating from the data on the past three months, we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website. Synonyms: deduce, hypothesize

spurn

verb - reject with contempt She spurned all his flattery and proposals, and so he walked off embarrassed and sad. Synonyms: refuse, turn down, disdain, repudiate, dismiss, despise, flout, scorn, snub Antonyms: OK, sanction, admire, respect, welcome, include, accept, allow, approve, esteem, like, love

burgeon

verb - grow and flourish China's housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008. Synonyms: sprout, prosper, snowball

adjudicate

verb - to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion Only those with the most refined palates were able to adjudicate during the barbeque competition. Synonyms: arbitrate

prevaricate

verb - to speak in an evasive way The cynic quipped, There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate.

mesmerize

verb - to spellbind or enthrall The plot and the characters were so well developed that many viewers were mesmerized, unable to move their eyes from the screen for even a single second. Synonyms: hypnotize, fascinate, enthrall, stupefy Antonyms: tire, bore

chary

adjective - cautious Jack was wary of GRE words that looked similar, because they usually had different definitions; not so with chary, a word that he began to use interchangeably with wary.

soft-spoken

adjective - Speaking or said with a gentle , quiet voice: I quickly settled in with my gentle, smiling, soft-spoken family. Synonyms: gentle, reserved

ostensible

adjective - Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so: Given that the country does not appear to have been invaded by a foreign power, what is the ostensible cause of this nationwide panic? Synonyms: plausible, avowed, professed

sheer

adjective - (Of a fabric ) very thin; diaphanous : The dress was white, with a sheer fabric over it. Antonyms: indefinite, mixed, cloudy, heavy, thick, opaque

preemptive

adjective - done before someone else can do it Just as Martha was about to take the only cookie left on the table, Noah preemptively swiped it.

yet

conjunction - But at the same time; but nevertheless: None of this is mentioned by Phillips, yet it is a scandal of massive proportions. Synonyms: still, earlier Antonyms: never

whether

conjunction - Expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives : Whether or not: In any case : I would also like to see our children have more of a choice about whether or not to leave the county.

albeit

conjunction - Though: Back to the theme of homicide, albeit in a world rather more familiar than that of Minority Report.

flourish

noun - A bold or extravagant gesture or action, made especially to attract attention: With a flourish and a gesture that was almost comical in its theatrics, she ignored my queen and advanced a totally unconnected pawn. Synonyms: twist, embellishment, ornamentation Antonyms: decrease, lessen, shrivel, wither, shrink, fail, lose

counteract

verb - Act against (something) in order to reduce its force or neutralize it: Unequally spaced white stripes painted across the road leading up to an off-ramp have been used to create an illusion that counteracts motion adaptation and reduces driving speed. Synonyms: prevent, thwart, halt, neutralize, rectify, resist, redress, counterbalance Antonyms: aid, assist, worsen, allow, help, forward

string

verb - Hang (something) so that it stretches in a long line: But a utility could spend even more to string new high-voltage lines to match the same capacity increase. Synonyms: rope, cord

endorse

verb - (In the UK) mark (a driving licence ) with the penalty points given as a punishment for a driving offence : But in many cases the payee indorses the cheque even if it is collected for his own account. Synonyms: sanction, affirm, okay, uphold, ratify, defend, advocate, back, commend, favor, confirm, praise Antonyms: disapprove, refuse, veto, deny, reject, renounce, dissuade, censure, invalidate, disagree, attack, criticize, oppose, discourage

pauper

noun - A very poor person: See also poor Disease spread rapidly among the half starved and half clothed paupers. Synonyms: supplicant

cosmopolitan

adjective - comprising many cultures; global in reach and outlook There are few cities in the world as diverse and cosmopolitan as New York. Synonyms: worldly, urbane, cultured, metropolitan, sophisticated Antonyms: unsophisticated, unrefined

lucid

adjective - (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable Though Walters writes about physics and time travel, his writing is always lucid, so readers with little scientific training can understand difficult concepts. Synonyms: unambiguous, luminous Antonyms: irrational, unsound, unreasonable

aesthetic

adjective - concerned with the appreciation of beauty The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing. Synonyms: artistic, creative

talkative

adjective - Fond of or given to talking: While travelling on the buses, I encountered a very talkative bus driver. Synonyms: voluble, glib, loquacious, articulate, effusive, garrulous, chatty Antonyms: untalkative, quiet, silent

erstwhile

adjective - Former: He assuredly bumped off a formidable array of erstwhile friends and possible rivals.

prone

adjective - Likely or liable to suffer from, do, or experience something unpleasant or regrettable: Indeed, some people are especially prone to error. Antonyms: unsuitable, disinclined, unskilled, unprepared, unwilling, unsusceptible

barren

adjective - Showing no results or achievements; unproductive: Moore's next task is to end a three-month barren spell dating back to his last goal, against Stoke City in September's 2-2 Turf Moor draw. Synonyms: desolate, sterile, arid, parched, impoverished, infertile Antonyms: fruitful, productive, damp, moist, wet, full

halting

adjective - Slow and hesitant , especially through lack of confidence ; faltering : Her shaking hands cover her mouth and she walks backwards in slow, halting steps. Synonyms: clumsy, labored, awkward, tentative Antonyms: adroit, clever, dexterous, graceful, easy

eager

adjective - Strongly wanting to do or have something: All were extremely enthusiastic, and eager for everyone on the course to do well. Synonyms: restless, thirsty, hungry, greedy, impatient, keen, ambitious Antonyms: satisfied

pithy

adjective - concise and full of meaning I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about. Synonyms: concise, trenchant, laconic, terse, cogent Antonyms: long-winded, wordy, impotent, lengthy, weak

rotten

adjective - Suffering from decay : If that wasn't bad enough, it also smelled of putrid rotten eggs. Synonyms: putrid, rotting, disgusting, rancid, noxious, sour, spoiled, corrupt, moldy, stale Antonyms: perfumed, pleasant, helpful, wholesome, fresh, sweet, good, pure, honest, pleasing, wonderful, magnificent, friendly, moral, agreeable, great, happy, clean

trifling

adjective - Unimportant or trivial : Puccini was expert not only at describing the trifling matters of daily life, but also at using various melodies to expose the distinctive personality of each character.

esoteric

adjective - confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most, but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable pasttime. Synonyms: mystical, arcane, abstruse

specious

adjective - based on pretense; deceptively pleasing Almost every image on TV is specious and not to be trusted. Synonyms: incorrect, untrue, inaccurate, spurious, plausible, erroneous, deceptive Antonyms: honest, real, valid, truthful, correct, right, TRUE, accurate, genuine

involved

adjective - complicated, and difficult to comprehend The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate's eyes glazed over. Antonyms: unperturbed, untroubled, disinterested, unconcerned

derelict

noun - (of a building) abandoned At one time the waterfront factories were busy and productive, but now they stand derelict and will be torn down. Antonyms: used, good, nice

perish

verb - (Of rubber, food, etc.) lose its normal qualities; rot or decay: Some argue that organic fruit and vegetables perish quickly, but there's no need to waste food that has reached the end of its shelf life. Synonyms: disintegrate, crumble, wither, cease, disappear, vanish, rot, succumb, pass away Antonyms: grow, build, appear, arrive

hoard

verb - Accumulate (money or valued objects) and hide or store away: It works similar to a 401, which lets you hoard money before taxes for the future. Synonyms: cache, accumulation, nest egg, backlog

buck

verb - resist The profits at our firm bucked the general downturn that effected the real estate industry. Synonyms: bull

high-flown

adjective - (Especially of language or ideas) extravagant and grand - sounding : The language they used was high-flown - some would say overblown.

bold

adjective - (Of a colour, design , or shape) having a strong, vivid , or clear appearance: Utzon's interior design was characterised by bold colours and fantastic shapes. Synonyms: daring, resolute, audacious, courageous, fearless Antonyms: cowardly, meek, timid, cautious, afraid, fearful, shy, unadventurous, weak, reserved, feeble, indistinct, uncertain, unclear, vague, apathetic, dispirited, lethargic, subdued, tasteful, dull, lifeless, obscure, low, soft

heartfelt

adjective - (Of a feeling or its expression) deeply and strongly felt; sincere : To her family and friends, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathy on the loss of their loved one. Synonyms: cordial, warm, profound, sincere Antonyms: aloof, indifferent, unfriendly, dishonest, insincere, untrustworthy, apathetic, dispassionate, cool, cold, unenthusiastic

labyrinthine

adjective - (Of a network ) like a labyrinth ; irregular and twisting: He had a destination in mind and he was not about to get lost in the labyrinthine alleyways and side streets. Synonyms: meandering, tortuous, winding, tangled Antonyms: direct, straight, straightforward, simple

cautious

adjective - (Of a person) careful to avoid potential problems or dangers: Most pickpockets are cautious thieves hoping to avoid any kind of confrontation. Synonyms: watchful, tentative, wary, judicious, discreet, circumspect, vigilant, prudent, leery Antonyms: inattentive, negligent, foolish, incautious, indiscreet, rash, reckless, unwise, certain, sure, careless, thoughtless, uncareful

downcast

adjective - (Of a person) feeling despondent : A woman who appears to be a downcast person who lives under bridges, turns out to be has a metamorphose into a princess and has a regal personage. Synonyms: forlorn, discouraged

congenial

adjective - (Of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to one's own: The reason he had the respect of such a wide range of his younger peers was the quality of his poetry - not just his congenial personality. Synonyms: sympathetic, cordial, genial, harmonious, pleasant, jovial, favorable, sociable, agreeable, mellow Antonyms: unfriendly, unsociable, aloof, unpleasant, discordant, hateful, unkind, cold, cool, disagreeable, unhappy, harsh, nasty, mean

selfish

adjective - (Of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for other people; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure: Since no crime has been committed in the absence of a selfish motive, these are mostly open and shut cases. Synonyms: self-centered, narcissistic, greedy, egotistical Antonyms: benevolent, unselfish

pointed

adjective - (Of a remark or look) expressing criticism in a direct and unambiguous way: Well, I was too angry, and I wanted to ask direct questions, pointed questions. Synonyms: sharp, barbed Antonyms: stupid, kind, gentle, nice

unvarnished

adjective - (Of a statement or manner) plain and straightforward : They want plain, unvarnished statements from the government, not the latest output from the Merrion Street spin machine. Synonyms: candid, unadorned, straightforward Antonyms: deceitful, devious

tight

adjective - (Of an area or space) having or allowing little room for manoeuvre: Triumph engineers believed that women were unable to park or manoeuvre in tight spaces and so the car had to be able to turn on a sixpence. Synonyms: compact, strong, stiff, solid, strained, sturdy, steady, fast, inflexible, tense Antonyms: laid-back, uncaring, pliable, intermittent, untrustworthy, unstable, wobbly, loose, slack, weak, easy-going, moderate, soft, flexible, pliant, calm, broken, unfixed, slow, reasonable, yielding, uncrowded, easy, nice, definite

benign

adjective - (medicine) not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be benign and should not cause you any trouble. Synonyms: benevolent, gentle, mild, favorable, friendly Antonyms: unkind, unfriendly, rough, violent, harsh

derelict

adjective - (of a person) not doing one's duties The teacher was derelict in her duties because she hadn't graded a single student paper in three weeks. Antonyms: used, good, nice

mercurial

adjective - (of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood The fact that Ella's moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic for her relationships--it didn't help that she lived in Chicago. Synonyms: impulsive, unpredictable, volatile, effervescent, changeable, resilient, erratic Antonyms: predictable, unchanging, stable, reliable, constant, certain, steady, sure

glib

adjective - (of a person) speaking with ease but without sincerity I have found that the more glib the salesman, the worse the product. Synonyms: loquacious, facile, eloquent, artful, articulate, talkative Antonyms: quiet, silent

internecine

adjective - (of conflict) within a group or organization The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an internecine conflict.

discursive

adjective - (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is discursive, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale.

turgid

adjective - (of language) pompous and tedious The amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years--by the time he was 60, his novels were so turgid that even his diehard fans refused to read them.

plodding

adjective - (of movement) slow and laborious Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace, but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten hours at a stretch. Synonyms: tramp, slog, lumber, trudge Antonyms: tiptoe

unruly

adjective - (of persons) noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authority Walk in to any preschool and I am sure that you will find an unruly and chaotic scene--unless it's nap time. Synonyms: drunken, uncontrollable, reckless, wayward, rowdy, quarrelsome, lawless, ornery, rebellious, impulsive, violent Antonyms: controllable, manageable, cautious, obedient, patient, passive, mild, moderate, calm, agreeable, happy

untenable

adjective - (of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified With the combination of Kepler's brilliant theories and Galileo's telescopic observations, the old geocentric theory became untenable to most of the educated people in Europe. Synonyms: unsound

inclement

adjective - (of weather) unpleasant, stormy After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.

derivative

adjective - (or a creative product, e.g. music, writing, etc.) not original but drawing on the work of another person Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies, they did well at the box office.

detrimental

adjective - (sometimes followed by to) causing harm or injury Many know that smoking is detrimental to your health, but processed sugar in large quantities is equally bad. Synonyms: inimical, adverse, hurtful, negative, pernicious Antonyms: friendly, kind, helpful, assisting, aiding, favorable, nice, good, positive

ignominious

adjective - (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame Since the politician preached ethics and morality, his texting of revealing photographs was ignominious, bringing shame on both himself and his party. Synonyms: embarrassing, shameful Antonyms: respectable

disgruntled

adjective - Angry or dissatisfied : It seems that some disgruntled moviegoers are angry with the advertisements that now run before most movies. Synonyms: testy, annoyed, irritated

charitable

adjective - Apt to judge others leniently or favourably : In handling the disputes of which daily life in Massachusetts was full, he was unfailingly humble, flexible, lenient, charitable, and fair. Synonyms: altruistic, humanitarian, philanthropic, accommodating, benign Antonyms: inattentive, inconsiderate, unmindful, thoughtless, mean

fishy

adjective - Arousing feelings of doubt or suspicion : That doesn't mean, of course, that you should give the next wonderful scientific speaker you hear a fishy glance of suspicion. Synonyms: odd, dubious

complicit

adjective - Associated with or participating in an activity, especially one of a questionable nature. While the grand jury cleared the senator of all criminal charges, in the public mind he was still complicit in the corruption. Synonyms: conniving Antonyms: honest, open, clear, forthright

thorough

adjective - Complete with regard to every detail; not superficial or partial : Success in this environment requires a thorough understanding of systems theory. Synonyms: detailed, full, complete, profound, comprehensive, accurate Antonyms: incomplete, needy, unfinished, undetailed, careless, thoughtless, incomprehensive

bewildering

adjective - Confusing or perplexing : In the opening laps, however, cars were entering corners sometimes three abreast, exchanging positions with bewildering frequency. Synonyms: mystify, confound, stump, perplex, rattle, befuddle Antonyms: enlighten, explain, explicate, soothe, calm, comfort, clear up, clarify, help

ceaseless

adjective - Constant and unending : And I am sick and tired of listening to his ceaseless and unintelligible chatter. Synonyms: perpetual, constant, unceasing, continuous, incessant, unending Antonyms: temporary, transient, inconstant, interrupted, completed, discontinuous, halting, intermittent, ending, stopping, terminable, terminating, ceasing, finished, broken

livid

adjective - Dark bluish grey in colour: It was a livid blue colour although sometimes it melded through a shocking purple into a bright red. Antonyms: cheerful, pleased, calm, happy

contrived

adjective - Deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously . Here, however, several contrived situations are grafted into the plot to generate artificial tension. Synonyms: phony Antonyms: real, genuine

hasty

adjective - Done with excessive speed or urgency ; hurried : A harbour is a valuable asset and it is to be hoped that no hasty decision is taken that we will regret later. Synonyms: rapid, careless, hurried, impulsive, urgent, sudden, abrupt, quick, ill-advised, expeditious, swift, reckless Antonyms: leisurely, careful, cautious, kind, wise, sluggish, slow, thoughtful

prompt

adjective - Done without delay ; immediate The day I brought Band-Aids, a large number of animals suddenly needed prompt attention. Synonyms: timely, precise, rapid, efficient, punctual, immediate, instantaneous Antonyms: tardy, later, delayed, sluggish, slow, late, dissuade, hinder, prevent, repress, hide, calm, discourage, stop, keep, depress, halt

canned

adjective - Drunk. He came out half canned one night and was addressing the ship's company.

hung

adjective - Emotionally confused or disturbed : At my age, you can either have a moral high horse or you can have sex so unless that high horse is hung like one, I'm easy.

stunning

adjective - Extremely impressive or attractive: My new temporary home in Encinitas was quite superb, walking distance away from stunning California beaches. Synonyms: sensational, great, impressive, remarkable, striking, brilliant, devastating, spectacular Antonyms: usual, insignificant, unimportant, stupid, typical, ordinary, bad, poor, weak, unimpressive, normal, homely, ugly

horny

adjective - Feeling or arousing sexual excitement : There is only one bed in the apartment, a fact that further excites the already horny Kurono.

dismissive

adjective - Feeling or showing that something is unworthy of consideration : The same sort of dismissive attitude is evident in response to the latest findings. Synonyms: cocky

deceptive

adjective - Giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading : But while it looked easy enough, I soon discovered appearances can be deceptive. Synonyms: tricky, ambiguous, underhanded, deceitful, sneaky, slick, fraudulent, misleading, subtle, unreliable, disingenuous Antonyms: aboveboard, frank, honest, real, valid, reliable, truthful, sincere, trustworthy, forthright, genuine, TRUE, open

loyal

adjective - Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution: Followers electing a king were also proclaiming themselves as his loyal supporters. Synonyms: devoted, steadfast, trustworthy, patriotic, ardent, staunch, dutiful Antonyms: disloyal, unfaithful, untrustworthy, unreliable, undependable, faithless

pungent

adjective - Having a sharply strong taste or smell: Raw ginger has a refreshing smell and a pungent taste that most people like. Synonyms: spicy, bitter, poignant, piquant, stinging, aromatic, peppery Antonyms: pleasant, kind, blah, cheerful, bland, dull, tasteless, mild, sweet, nice, good, calm, blunt, happy, soothing, gentle, weak

unbounded

adjective - Having or appearing to have no limits: Too numerous are the friends to mention here, who came to wish her excellent health, unbounded happiness and infinite prosperity.

flawed

adjective - Having or characterized by a fundamental weakness or imperfection : a fatally flawed strategy Synonyms: untoward, improper, awry Antonyms: suitable, proper, healthy, working, adequate, ample, enough, sufficient, perfect, strong, well, sound, abundant, honest, real, valid, TRUE, accurate, correct, genuine, precise, right, substantiated, just, OK, reliable, faultless, flawless, fixed, unbroken, complete, appropriate, fitting, rational, protected, stable, sane, reasonable, certain, secure, sure, safe, firm, steady, balanced, aid, assist, heal, help, cure, repair

dignified

adjective - Having or showing a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect: A man of quiet disposition, Andy's dignified manner engendered widespread respect and regard. Synonyms: noble, stately, solemn, magnificent, somber, courtly, grand, distinguished Antonyms: ignoble, informal, insignificant, undignified, unrefined, common, unimpressive, ordinary, bad, poor

tactless

adjective - Having or showing a lack of skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues: He's tactless and lacks judgment but he's irresistible just the same.

prescient

adjective - Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place : It makes no mention at all of White's passionate and prescient warnings. Synonyms: farsighted

vacant

adjective - Having or showing no intelligence or interest: He stared back with a vacant expression and his mouth slightly ajar. Synonyms: deserted, uninhabited, unfilled, unemployed, unused, idle Antonyms: employed, used, busy, populated, full

former

adjective - Having previously been a particular thing: Previous solo albums by former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon were almost the sound of a man apologising for having once been in the charts. Synonyms: old, departed, erstwhile

reckless

adjective - Heedless of danger or the consequences of one's actions; rash or impetuous: A police investigation blamed the driver of the minibus for reckless driving. Synonyms: foolhardy, thoughtless, daring, brash, hasty, audacious, carefree, negligent, careless, ill-advised, imprudent Antonyms: careful, cautious, discreet, kind, mindful, meek, timid, prudent, wise, thoughtful, attentive, afraid, fearful, shy, reserved

pristine

adjective - Immaculately clean and unused Drill sergeants are known for demanding pristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often make new recruits clean and clean and clean until they meet the expected high standards. Synonyms: intact, natural, snowy, untouched, spotless, sterile, immaculate Antonyms: affected, dirty

unintelligible

adjective - Impossible to understand: Enough of the biting social satire and back to the task of understanding our unintelligible cousins across the pond. Synonyms: illegible, incomprehensible, impenetrable, opaque, meaningless, unfathomable, indecipherable Antonyms: decipherable, comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, understandable, clear

endearing

adjective - Inspiring affection : No one except the Lord spoke to him like that with such an endearing term of undying affection. Synonyms: charming

renowned

adjective - Known or talked about by many people; famous: Faye is internationally renowned for his work with military, law enforcement and security forces. Synonyms: great, outstanding, illustrious, famed, notable, eminent, noted Antonyms: infamous, insignificant, unimportant, unknown, unremarkable, inconspicuous, poor, inferior, ordinary, unnoticeable, common

desultory

adjective - Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm : Some putter along in a slightly languid and desultory fashion. Synonyms: chaotic, haphazard, aimless Antonyms: organized, systematic

protracted

adjective - Lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual: We can expect a protracted tug of war, which may drag on until the review deadline draws near. Synonyms: lengthy, enduring, drawn-out, sustained, extensive, lingering Antonyms: infrequent, halting, intermittent, interrupted, ceasing

fleeting

adjective - Lasting for a very short time : Her heavy lids hid her eyes so well that they were seen only momentarily, like the fleeting glimpse of water in a deep well. Synonyms: short-lived, ephemeral, transitory, sudden, cursory Antonyms: enduring, lasting, long-lived, permanent, perpetual, lengthy

outgoing

adjective - Leaving an office or position: Without further ado, the new coalition is adopting the position of the outgoing right-wing government.

volatile

adjective - Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably , especially for the worse: Nevertheless, the upside from oil prices is offset by their future unpredictability, with the volatile movements of this one global commodity determining how earnings may change. Synonyms: elusive, unsettled, ticklish, fickle, unstable, buoyant, resilient, capricious, erratic Antonyms: reliable, stable, dependable, certain, definite, sure, constant, steady

subtle

adjective - Making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something: Girls tend to use more indirect, subtle, and social methods such as exclusion, manipulation, and spreading rumors. Synonyms: ingenious, faint, slight, profound, sophisticated, indirect, exquisite Antonyms: ignorant, stupid, honest, open, simple

uncertain

adjective - Not able to be relied on; not known or definite : They were released on bail following a public outcry but still faced an uncertain future. Synonyms: questionable, ambiguous, unclear, unsure, hesitant, undetermined, unsettled, insecure, precarious, dubious, erratic Antonyms: undoubted, determined, settled, reliable, trustworthy, predictable, unchanging, certain, definite, sure, clear, secure, decided, safe, resolved

mock

adjective - Not authentic or real, but without the intention to deceive: As the cop turns to leave, the punk's screams change from mock protest to real anger. Synonyms: make-believe, bogus, phony, simulated Antonyms: real, genuine, compliment, praise, flatter

roundabout

adjective - Not following a short direct route; circuitous : She shook her head angrily but followed a roundabout route to Raban's shop.

unethical

adjective - Not morally correct: The following day, North accused his bosses of appalling, dishonest and unethical behaviour. Synonyms: unscrupulous, illegal, unprofessional, unfair, improper, wrong, corrupt Antonyms: ethical, moral, principled, honest, appropriate, suitable, good, right, correct, decent, uncorrupt

lying

adjective - Not telling the truth: Getting out of that situation was the absolute nadir of my barefaced lying career. Synonyms: misleading

faulty

adjective - Not working or made correctly ; having defects : The most common defects were bare tyres, faulty brakes, steering and suspension, plus broken headlights and brake lights. Synonyms: damaged, erroneous, inaccurate, defective, inadequate, deficient, invalid, broken, insufficient, unreliable, cracked, leaky, incomplete Antonyms: ok, working, valid, honest, reliable, faultless, flawless, adequate, enough, sufficient, ample, fixed, perfect, unbroken, correct, right, TRUE, accurate, complete

posthumous

adjective - Occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator : 'I feel that a posthumous award of some kind would be most appropriate, although I am not sure that one exists,' he said.

nugatory

adjective - Of no value or importance: The state interest in prosecuting those who willfully evade their taxes is of great importance, and we should be careful to avoid rendering nugatory the state's ability to investigate and obtain evidence from these offences.

synoptic

adjective - Of or forming a general summary or synopsis : The chapter seems more like a review than a synthesis, and I found myself more than once wishing for a more crisp, synoptic summary of the primary arguments of the schools and of the chapter. Antonyms: incomplete, needy, unfinished, restricted, empty, short, narrow, limited, uncomprehensive, long-winded, wordy, lengthy

nightmarish

adjective - Of the nature of a nightmare ; very frightening or unpleasant: I mean it's a sort of a mythic, horrible, nightmarish kind of vision, isn't it? Synonyms: dreadful, scary, horrid, macabre, spooky, eerie, terrible, hair-raising Antonyms: pleasant, pleasing, wonderful, calming, soothing, normal, good, nice

proper

adjective - Of the required or correct type or form; suitable or appropriate: Often when dealing with parts of the engine, or the hard-to-reach spots under the hood, proper tools are required. Synonyms: good, useful, decent, fitting, appropriate, legitimate, convenient Antonyms: unsuitable, inappropriate, unsuited, unseemly, improper, unfitting, inaccurate, inexact, dishonest, imprecise, bad, corrupt, questionable, FALSE, careless

debatable

adjective - Open to discussion or argument: In reading the commentary it seems that it could be debatable whether the levies issued during that period were legal. Synonyms: questionable, uncertain, problematic, dubious, doubtful, arguable, moot Antonyms: unquestionable, settled, certain, definite, proven, sure, clear, decided, resolved

outdated

adjective - Out of date; obsolete : So here we stand, out in the pasture in very much the same way as the outdated and obsolete horse. Synonyms: old, out-of-date, obsolete, archaic, antiquated, outmoded Antonyms: young, current, modern, up-to-date, new, contemporary, recent, present

courteous

adjective - Polite, respectful, or considerate in manner: But you can at least be polite, courteous and respect the fact that your views are very different to theirs. Synonyms: respectful, civilized, civil, soft-spoken, polite, well-behaved, thoughtful Antonyms: discourteous, unmannerly, impolite, unkind, uncivil, heedless, inattentive, inconsiderate, disrespectful, mean, rude, unrefined, unmindful, thoughtless

alluring

adjective - Powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating ; seductive : Madeline had chosen a tasteful yet alluring little black dress for Elizabeth to wear. Synonyms: enticing, charming, tempting Antonyms: repulsive

strident

adjective - Presenting a point of view , especially a controversial one, in an excessively forceful way: He likes to hold the floor and has strident views on just about everything. Synonyms: vociferous, blatant, loud, jarring, raucous Antonyms: subdued, quiet, silent, soft

thriving

adjective - Prosperous and growing; flourishing : At first glance, the junkyard looks like some sort of post-apocalyptic settlement, a thriving outpost in a wasteland. Synonyms: booming, prosperous, healthy, wealthy, growing, robust, flourishing Antonyms: failing, infirm, poor, unhealthy

elysian

adjective - Relating to or characteristic of heaven or paradise : That past is forever bathed in golden sunlight, an Elysian paradise where the grass is always greener. Synonyms: spiritual, angelic, immortal, otherworldly, supernatural, ethereal Antonyms: earthly

coy

adjective - Reluctant to give details about something regarded as sensitive : Clifford is coy about this, 'No, I think I've got my work cut out here quite frankly.' Synonyms: self-effacing, timid, bashful, skittish, evasive

brash

adjective - Self-assertive in a rude , noisy , or overbearing way: A noisy, brash American, he never knew he was beaten and gave absolutely everything on every point of every game, no matter how apparently hopeless the cause. Synonyms: impetuous, bold, rude, cocky, cheeky, reckless Antonyms: cautious, timid, shy

odd

adjective - Separated from a usual pair or set and therefore out of place or mismatched: I've heard of sock heaven for odd socks, but there must be a bookmark heaven for missing bookmarks as I've lost heaps over the years. Synonyms: different

terse

adjective - Sparing in the use of words; abrupt : The terse, 10-word motion will be considered by members in a special hour-long debate this afternoon. Synonyms: precise, curt, cryptic, incisive, concise, brusque, laconic, pithy, succinct, elliptical Antonyms: polite, kind, long-winded, wordy, verbose, lengthy, gentle, nice

astounding

adjective - Surprisingly impressive or notable: It has a spectacular location on Coal Harbour and an astounding view. Synonyms: startling, breathtaking, surprising

incendiary

adjective - Tending to stir up conflict: Here, in order from least to most effective, is a look at how some people are using incendiary rhetoric, creative accounting and contract law to dodge the Revenue Canada taxman. Synonyms: subversive, inflammatory, treacherous Antonyms: loyal

harsh

adjective - Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses: The walls were painted a serene light yellow, even though the bright white lights lit the room in such a harsh, unforgiving light. Synonyms: hard, grim, severe, rigid, sharp, bitter, strident, bleak Antonyms: pliable, facile, pleasant, cheerful, kind, flexible, pliant, soft, yielding, easy, mild, nice, bright, sunny, calm, moderate, bland, low, inexact, tolerant, considerate, friendly, compassionate, merciful, wonderful, gentle, giving, sympathetic, agreeable, good

pristine

adjective - Unspoiled, untouched (usu. of nature) The glacial lake was pristine and we filled our canteens to drink deeply. Synonyms: intact, natural, snowy, untouched, spotless, sterile, immaculate Antonyms: affected, dirty

scathing

adjective - Witheringly scornful ; severely critical : Speaking ahead of the lecture, the critic launched a scathing attack on the contemporary British art scene dismissing Brit Art as a journalistic invention. Synonyms: harsh, trenchant, scorching, withering, searing Antonyms: kind, gentle, mild, nice, calm

derisive

adjective - abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually, she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial. Synonyms: insulting, rude, sarcastic, mocking, disdainful, cheeky Antonyms: kind, polite, respectful, nice

palatable

adjective - acceptable to the taste or mind MIkey didn't partake much in his friends' conversations, but found their presence palatable. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: pleasant, satisfactory, acceptable, enjoyable, attractive, tempting, appetizing Antonyms: unacceptable, unpleasant, unsatisfactory, repulsive, unattractive, disagreeable, unhappy

unequivocal

adjective - admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion The President's first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was cafeful to make his position completely unequivocal. Synonyms: unambiguous, straightforward, categorical, clear-cut, apparent, explicit, indisputable, obvious, unmistakable, undeniable Antonyms: ambiguous, conditional, equivocal, questionable, vague, indefinite, uncertain, unclear, disputable, unsure, doubtful, dubious, obscure

genial

adjective - agreeable, conducive to comfort Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace. Synonyms: pleasant, amiable, easygoing, upbeat, sunny, jolly, cheerful, gentle, jovial, chipper, sociable Antonyms: hateful, unfriendly, surly, upset, unkind, unsympathetic, disagreeable, nasty, unhappy, gloomy, mean, rude, depressed, sad, serious

hoary

adjective - ancient Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men with long white beards. Synonyms: antiquated, timeworn, age-old Antonyms: new

becoming

adjective - appropriate, and matches nicely Her dress was becoming and made her look even more beautiful.

facile

adjective - arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth Many news shows provide facile explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times. Synonyms: glib, hasty, effortless

overweening

adjective - arrogant; presumptuous Mark was so convinced of his basketball skills that in his overweening pride he could not fathom that his name was not on the varsity list; he walked up to the basketball coach and told her she had forgotten to add his name.

factitious

adjective - artificial; not natural The defendant's story was largely factitious and did not accord with eyewitness testimonies

tempestuous

adjective - as if driven by turbulent or conflicting emotions; highly energetic and wildly changing or fluctuating Chuck and Kathy had always been stable and agreeable people on their own, but when they got involved, it was a tempestuous relationship. Synonyms: impassioned, passionate, turbulent, heated Antonyms: apathetic, indifferent, calm, cool, unexcited

forthcoming

adjective - at ease in talking to others As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn't demand to know details, Larry would never share them with her. Synonyms: upcoming, anticipated, coming, impending, approaching Antonyms: remote

obsequious

adjective - attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery The obsequious waiter did not give the couple a moment's peace all through the meal, constantly returning to their table to refill their water glasses and to tell them what a handsome pair they made.

forthcoming

adjective - available when required or as promised The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill. Synonyms: upcoming, anticipated, coming, impending, approaching Antonyms: remote

evasive

adjective - avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger or commitment His responses were clearly evasive; he obviously did not want to take on any responsibility or any new work. Synonyms: ambiguous, unclear, deceptive, misleading, cagey, vague Antonyms: honest, truthful, clear, definite

economical

adjective - avoiding waste, efficient Journalists favor an economical style of writing, in which no unnecessary words are used and every sentence is as short as possible. Synonyms: efficient, cost-effective, prudent, practical Antonyms: inefficient, expensive

arbitrary

adjective - based on a random, groundless decision One of the arbitrary decrees in place during the emperor's rule is that all citizens pay him weekly homage at his palace. Synonyms: irrational, irresponsible, random, unreasonable, erratic, subjective Antonyms: logical, sensible, reliable, dependable, unchanging, reasonable, definite, consistent, regular, steady

obtain

adjective - be valid, applicable, or true The custom of waiting your turn in line does not obtain in some countries, in which many people try to rush to front of the line at the same time. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: retrieve, secure, win, attain, have, recover, glean, pick up, access, take, achieve, reach, procure, gain Antonyms: forfeit, release, misunderstand, disperse, scatter, give, offer, give up, lose, let go, fail, miss, spend, throw away, free, plant, distribute, divide

chivalrous

adjective - being attentive to women like an ideal knight Marco's chivalrous ways, like opening doors and pulling out chairs, was much appreciated by his date.

impertinent

adjective - being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer's questions impertinent--after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline's favorite snack was?

tantamount

adjective - being essentially equal to something In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence. Synonyms: identical, commensurate

rudimentary

adjective - being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages. Synonyms: simple, elementary, primitive, embryonic, elemental Antonyms: complicated, intricate, complex, difficult, sophisticated

moribund

adjective - being on the point of death; declining rapidly losing all momentum in progress Whether you like it or not, jazz as a genre is moribund at best, possibly already dead.

mordant

adjective - biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style While Phil frequently made mordant remarks about company policy overall, he always was considerably gentler in discussing any person in particular. Synonyms: biting, caustic, scathing, acerbic Antonyms: kind, calm, mild, nice

beatific

adjective - blissfully happy Often we imagine all monks to wear the beatific smile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk can have a bad day and not look very happy.

peremptory

adjective - bossy and domineering My sister used to peremptorily tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether.

crestfallen

adjective - brought low in spirit I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment's thought; I was crestfallen. Synonyms: dispirited, dejected, despondent, discouraged Antonyms: encouraged, cheerful, happy, heartened

serene

adjective - calm and peaceful I'd never seen him so serene; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange. Synonyms: composed, easygoing, peaceful, smooth, quiet, comfortable, placid, sedate, laid-back Antonyms: agitated, annoyed, excited, upset, worried, nervous, clamorous, noisy, turbulent, violent, uncool, loud, poor

malleable

adjective - capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added. Synonyms: flexible, supple, workable, adaptable Antonyms: rigid, inflexible, stiff, unadaptable

provident

adjective - careful in regard to your own interests; providing carefully for the future In a move that hardly could be described as provident, Bert spend his entire savings on a luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills would come due a couple months later.

discreet

adjective - careful to protect one's speech or actions in order to avoid offense or gain an advantage The professor thought that he was discreet, subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but as soon as he stepped off the podium a member of the audience pointed out the large ketchup stain. Synonyms: noncommittal, watchful, prudent, tactful, considerate, thoughtful, reasonable, attentive, careful, intelligent, restrained Antonyms: inattentive, negligent, incautious, unthoughtful, inconsiderate, heedless, idiotic, stupid, careless, thoughtless, unmindful

slapdash

adjective - carelessly and hastily put together The office building had been constructed in a slapdash manner, so it did not surprise officials when, during a small earthquake, a large crack emerged on the faA§ade of the building. Synonyms: haphazard

nettlesome

adjective - causing irritation or annoyance Maria found her coworkers cell phone nettlesome, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message. Synonyms: distressing, troublesome, nagging, annoying

autocratic

adjective - characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty The last true autocratic country is certainly North Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise the absolute control over all aspects of a people the way that Kim Jong-un does. Synonyms: domineering, imperious, arbitrary, dictatorial Antonyms: democratic

belligerent

adjective - characteristic of one eager to fight Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his belligerent tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue. Synonyms: combative, contentious, hostile, quarrelsome, ornery, bellicose, antagonistic Antonyms: peaceful, friendly, kind, agreeable, calm

rustic

adjective - characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial The vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing, but despite these inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm. Synonyms: primitive, pastoral, picturesque, bucolic, homey, simple, austere Antonyms: sophisticated

provincial

adjective - characteristic of the a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated Maggie's enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team. Synonyms: rural, local

diligent

adjective - characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks Michael was a diligent gardener, never leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly watering each plant. Synonyms: industrious, attentive, earnest, indefatigable, persistent, assiduous, studious Antonyms: idle, inactive, lazy, ignorant, inattentive, neglectful, unconcerned, tired, weary, disinterested, unscrupulous, unenthusiastic, thoughtless, careless, uncareful

staid

adjective - characterized by dignity and propriety Frank came from a staid enviroment, so he was shocked that his college rooommate sold narcotics. Synonyms: solemn, decorous, somber, sedate, sober, stuffy Antonyms: indecorous, excited

forthright

adjective - characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion I did not expect the insurance agent to give us any straight answers, but I was pleasent surprised by how forthright he was. Synonyms: categorical, sincere, outspoken, candid, plainspoken, blunt Antonyms: tactful, tricky

laborious

adjective - characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort The most laborious job I've had was working 20 hours a day as a fisherman in King Salmon, Alaska. Synonyms: onerous, backbreaking, arduous, burdensome, strenuous, tiresome Antonyms: facile, easy

scrupulous

adjective - characterized by extreme care and great effort Because of his scrupulous nature, Mary put him in charge of numbering and cataloging the entire collection of rare stamps. Synonyms: precise, meticulous, fastidious, honest, strict, painstaking, conscientious Antonyms: inaccurate, inexact, uncritical, dishonest, lenient, FALSE, careless, loose, uncareful, undemanding, easy-going, easy

industrious

adjective - characterized by hard work and perseverance Pete was an industrious student, completing every assignment thoroughly and on time. Synonyms: productive, energetic, diligent, conscientious Antonyms: inactive, lazy, lethargic

jocular

adjective - characterized by jokes and good humor My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people's hair and telling knock- knock jokes to anyone who would listen. Synonyms: cheerful, joking, humorous, teasing, jolly, playful, jovial, lighthearted Antonyms: depressed, gloomy, sad, serious, unhappy

ethereal

adjective - characterized by lightness and insubstantiality Because she dances with an ethereal style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly. Synonyms: celestial, intangible, exquisite, ghostly, airy, sublime Antonyms: poor

precocious

adjective - characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude) Though only seven years old, she was a precocious chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age. Synonyms: intelligent, bright, cocky, mature Antonyms: stupid, unintelligent

trenchant

adjective - characterized by or full of force and vigor; having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect Jill presented a rather superficial treatment of sales in Asia, but her trenchant analysis of sales in Europe inspired a number of insights into how to proceed in that market. Synonyms: penetrating, salient, acerbic, incisive, pointed, pungent, caustic, biting, mordant, unsparing Antonyms: stupid, kind, soothing, blunt, dull, gentle, nice, mild, bland, calm

impetuous

adjective - characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation Herbert is rarely impetuous, but on the spur of the moment, he spent thousands of dollars on a motorcycle today. Synonyms: ardent, impulsive

gossamer

adjective - characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged. Synonyms: silky, translucent, fibrous

winsome

adjective - charming in a childlike or naive way She was winsome by nature, and many people were drawn to this free and playful spirit. Synonyms: engaging, cute, delightful, appealing

sanguine

adjective - cheerful; optimistic With the prospect of having to learn 3,000 words during the course of the summer, Paul was anything but sanguine. Synonyms: buoyant, enthusiastic, hopeful, cheerful Antonyms: pessimistic, heavy, depressed, down, gloomy, sad

limpid

adjective - clarity in terms of expression Her limpid prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all.

cogent

adjective - clear and persuasive A cogent argument will change the minds of even the most skeptical audience. Synonyms: forceful, persuasive, convincing, compelling, telling, weighty Antonyms: ineffective, unimportant

artful

adjective - clever in a cunning way Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history. Synonyms: ingenious, sly, adroit, slick, shrewd, masterly Antonyms: stupid, clumsy, awkward, inept, unclever

facetious

adjective - cleverly amusing in tone Facetious behavior will not be tolerated during sex eduation class; it's time for all of you to treat these matters like mature adults.

impending

adjective - close in time; about to occur The impending doom of our world has been a discussed and debated for 2000 years--maybe even longer. Synonyms: imminent, looming, approaching

maladroit

adjective - clumsy As a child she was quite maladroit, but as an adult, she has become an adept dancer.

nonchalant

adjective - coming across as cooly uninterested The twenty-somethings at the coffee shop always irked Sheldon, especially the way in which they acted nonchalantly towards everything, not even caring when Sheldon once spilled his mocha on them. Synonyms: unconcerned, lukewarm, offhand, mellow, lackadaisical, dispassionate, unruffled, effortless, aloof, detached, unflappable, unemotional Antonyms: interested, enthusiastic, excited, careful, deliberate, planned, biased, emotional, nervous, upset, worried, responsive, caring, concerned, hard, feeling

expansive

adjective - communicative, and prone to talking in a sociable manner After a few sips of cognac, the octogenarian shed his irascible demeanor and became expansive, speaking fondly of the good old days. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: extensive, inclusive, far-reaching Antonyms: narrow

arrant

adjective - complete and wholly (usually modifying a noun with negative connotation) An arrant fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt.

replete

adjective - completely stocked or furnished with something Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall, the local supermarket shelves were replete with goods, so quick was the disaster relief response. Synonyms: rife, awash, filled, loaded

destitute

adjective - completely wanting or lacking (usually destitute of) Now that the mine is closed, the town is destitute of any economic activity. Synonyms: poor, strapped, poverty-stricken, penniless, needy, exhausted, insolvent, impoverished, indigent, bankrupt Antonyms: wealthy, solvent, affluent, rich

eclectic

adjective - comprised of a variety of styles Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music, one moment dancing to disco the next air conducting along to Beethoven's 9th symphony. Synonyms: broad, diverse, varied Antonyms: like, similar

equivocal

adjective - confusing or ambiguous The findings of the study were equivocal--the two researchers had different opinions on what the results signified. Synonyms: ambiguous, muddled, unclear, puzzling, dubious, evasive, vague, ambivalent Antonyms: clear, definite, certain, sure

vociferous

adjective - conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry In giving Marcia a particular vociferous response, Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn around an look at them angrily. Synonyms: vehement, clamorous, boisterous, shrill Antonyms: quiet, silent, low, soft

complacent

adjective - contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions After the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became complacent and didn't even make it to the playoffs the next year. Synonyms: self-righteous, satisfied, confident, smug, pleased Antonyms: unsure, unhappy

illicit

adjective - contrary to or forbidden by law Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicit activities, he was finally arrested for income tax evasion, a relatively minor offense. Synonyms: illegitimate, unauthorized, illegal, bootleg, unlawful, improper, prohibited Antonyms: authorized, ethical, legal, legitimate, moral, permitted, lawful, aboveboard, forthright, truthful, chaste, allowed, good, right, uncorrupt, open, pure

unprepossessing

adjective - creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the unprepossessing little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl. Synonyms: horrid, grotesque, unseemly, unsightly, awful, grisly, hideous Antonyms: beautiful, pretty, pleasing, nice, attractive

inimitable

adjective - defying imitation; matchless Mozart's music follows a clear pattern that, anyone could imitate, but his music gives an overall sense of effortlessness that is inimitable.

iconoclastic

adjective - defying tradition or convention Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist, totally breaking with tradition by splashing paint on a blank canvas. Synonyms: irreverent

evasive

adjective - deliberately vague or ambiguous Every time I call the bank, I receive the same evasive answers about our mortgage and never get a clear response. Synonyms: ambiguous, unclear, deceptive, misleading, cagey, vague Antonyms: honest, truthful, clear, definite

arduous

adjective - demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance In order to deal with the arduous cross-country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time. Synonyms: uphill, onerous, trying, tough, grueling, backbreaking, tiring Antonyms: facile, trivial, helpful, effortless, pleasant, easy, mild, weak, nice

stringent

adjective - demanding strict attention to rules and procedures Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his stringent homework policy, but many students would later thank him for demanding so much from them. Synonyms: tough, harsh, stiff, forceful, binding, inflexible, demanding, strict, severe Antonyms: kind, facile, pliable, willing, lenient, weak, gentle, nice, easy, mild, soft, flexible, pliant, calm, yielding, amenable, easy-going

stalwart

adjective - dependable; inured to fatigue or hardships Despite all the criticism directed at the President during this scandal, Lisa has remained his stalwart supporter. Synonyms: tenacious, intrepid, vigorous, fearless, redoubtable, indomitable, dependable, stout, staunch Antonyms: timid, undependable, unreliable, weak, yielding, afraid

concomitant

adjective - describing an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another Concomitant with his desire for nature was a desire for the culture and energy of a big city.

creditable

adjective - deserving of praise but not that amazing Critics agreed the movie was creditable, but few gave it more than three out of five stars. Synonyms: exemplary, admirable, estimable, respectable, commendable, laudable Antonyms: unworthy, dishonorable, bad, poor

capricious

adjective - determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason Nearly every month our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around, and none of them worked because we never gave them the time they needed to succeed. Synonyms: whimsical, wayward, quirky, unreasonable, helter-skelter, unpredictable, fickle, unstable, careless, arbitrary, flighty Antonyms: sensible, predictable, unchanging, reliable, stable, cautious, reasonable, constant, steady, thoughtful

whimsical

adjective - determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation. Synonyms: funny, unusual, eccentric, droll, mischievous, amusing, weird, odd Antonyms: dramatic, tragic, standard, usual, boring, sad, serious, common, normal, regular, unfunny

vacuous

adjective - devoid of intelligence, matter, or significance To the journalist's pointed question, the senator gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his overall campaign slogans with platitudes and completely avoiding the controversial subject of the question.

cumbersome

adjective - difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight Only ten years ago, being an avid reader and a traveler meant carrying a cumbersome backpack stuffed with books--these days we need only an e-reader. Synonyms: bulky, heavy, embarrassing, unwieldy, ponderous, burdensome Antonyms: fun, helpful, small, airy, light, easy, convenient, unburdensome, aiding

recondite

adjective - difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book, waiting instead to read it with someone else so we could penetrate its meaning together.

abstruse

adjective - difficult to understand; incomprehensible Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics. Synonyms: perplexing, esoteric

sardonic

adjective - disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking A stand-up comedian walks a fine line when making jokes about members of the audience; such fun and joking can quickly become sardonic and cutting. Synonyms: derisive, acerbic, mocking, satirical, caustic, biting, mordant Antonyms: kind, calm, mild, nice

impermeable

adjective - does not allow fluids to pass through The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding.

hegemony

adjective - dominance over a certain area Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1587, Spain had hegemony over the seas, controlling waters stretching as far as the Americas.

sedulous

adjective - done diligently and carefully An avid numismatist, Harold sedulously amassed a collection of coins from over 100 countries--an endeavor that took over fifteen years, and to five continents.

perfunctory

adjective - done routinely and with little interest or care The short film examines modern perfunctory cleaning rituals such as washing dishes, doing laundry and tooth-brushing. Synonyms: sketchy, cursory, superficial, offhand Antonyms: detailed, thorough, careful, complete

precipitous

adjective - done with very great haste and without due deliberation He was expecting a precipitous rise in the value of a hot tech stock, so he was disappointed when it only inched up a dollar or two each day. Synonyms: sharp, dizzying, abrupt Antonyms: kind, calm, nice, flat

humdrum

adjective - dull and lacking excitement Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacob relished life in New York City after moving. Synonyms: tedious, mundane, monotonous, dreary, drab, uninteresting, everyday Antonyms: exciting, interesting, bright

prosaic

adjective - dull and lacking imagination Unlike the talented artists in his workshop, Paul had no such bent for the visual medium, so when it was time for him to make a stained glass painting, he ended up with a prosaic mosaic. Synonyms: mundane, humdrum, drab, banal, everyday Antonyms: exciting, unusual

insipid

adjective - dull and uninteresting The movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the insipid scripts he would typically use. Synonyms: innocuous, vapid, trite, bland, banal Antonyms: sharp, original, delicious, tasty

jejune

adjective - dull; lacking flavor Although many top chefs have secured culinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being jejune and unfilling.

pugnacious

adjective - eager to fight or argue; verbally combative The comedian told one flat joke after another, and when the audience started booing, he pugnaciously back at them, Hey, you think this is easy -- why dont you buffoons give it a shot?

venial

adjective - easily excused or forgiven; pardonable His traffic violations ran the gamut from the venial to the egregious--on one occasion he simply did not come to a complete stop; another time he tried to escape across state lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph.

docile

adjective - easily handled or managed; willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed Barnyard animals are considerably more docile than the wild animals. Synonyms: meek, pliable, gentle, obedient, pliant, laid-back, well-behaved, easygoing

amenable

adjective - easily persuaded Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping. Synonyms: responsive, susceptible, agreeable Antonyms: unsusceptible, unaccountable, irresponsible

sentimental

adjective - effusively or insincerely emotional, especially in art, music, and literature I don't like romanticism for the same reason I don't like melodramatic acting and soap operas--overly sentimental. Synonyms: weepy, affectionate, mushy, idealistic, nostalgic, dreamy, touching, silly, maudlin, corny, sweet, tender Antonyms: unfeeling, unromantic, mature, uncaring, cold, cool, hard, serious

cadaverous

adjective - emaciated; gaunt Some actors take challenging roles in which they have to lose so much weight that they appear cadaverous.

poignant

adjective - emotionally touching After the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the play's most poignant moment, the two griefstricken familes agree to end their feud once and for all. Synonyms: sentimental, pathetic, heartrending, sad, heartbreaking, touching Antonyms: indifferent, unemotional, cheerful, wonderful, unmoving, happy, unaffecting, kind, calm, mild, nice

pernicious

adjective - exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way The most successful viruses are pernicious: an infected person may feel perfectly healthy for several months while incubating and spreading the virus. Synonyms: devastating, noxious, deadly, poisonous, virulent, malicious, harmful, toxic, nefarious, detrimental Antonyms: healthy, helpful, wholesome, harmless, benevolent, kind, advantageous, assisting, beneficial, good, nonpoisonous

hagiographic

adjective - excessively flattering toward someone's life or work Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were hagiographic, until, that is, his affairs made headlines.

presumptuous

adjective - excessively forward Many felt that Barney was presumptuous in moving into the large office before the management even made any official announcement of his promotion. Synonyms: foolhardy, rude, pushy, pretentious, smug, overconfident, pompous Antonyms: cautious, unassuming, modest, humble, unconceited

avaricious

adjective - excessively greedy Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust--sins of excess--it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church.

lugubrious

adjective - excessively mournful At the funeral, lugubrious songs filled the small church. Synonyms: mournful, sorrowful

derogative

adjective - expressed as worthless or in negative terms Never before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so derogative and filthy.

snide

adjective - expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way The chairman interpreted Taylor's question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company's process. Synonyms: disparaging, sneering, unkind Antonyms: kind, nice

inflammable

adjective - extremely controversial, incendiary It only takes one person to leave an inflammable comment on an Internet thread for that thread to blow up into pages upon pages of reader indignation.

Pollyannaish

adjective - extremely optimistic Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained Pollyannaish, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when prospective customers hung up on her.

excruciating

adjective - extremely painful After the boulder rolled a couple of feet, pinning my friend's arm, he experienced excruciating pain. Synonyms: unbearable, grueling, acute, searing, severe, agonizing, harrowing Antonyms: facile, easy, dull, calm, mild

equitable

adjective - fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience The equitable distribution of ice cream to a group of 5 year olds will ensure little to no fighting--at least until the ice cream is gone. Synonyms: fair, decent, honest, unbiased, reasonable, stable, proper Antonyms: biased, unsuitable, intolerable, prejudiced, unreasonable

benighted

adjective - fallen into a state of ignorance Far from being a period of utter benightedness, The Medieval Ages produced some great works of theological speculation.

intrepid

adjective - fearless Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain whose reckless and fearless style ultimate leads to his downfall. Synonyms: heroic, fearless, spunky, courageous, plucky Antonyms: cowardly, meek, timid, afraid, fearful

vicarious

adjective - felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's dream, as he or she can--through hundreds of intimate tweets--vicariously live the life of a famous person.

mettlesome

adjective - filled with courage or valor For its raid on the Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for many Americans, the embodiment of mettle.

doleful

adjective - filled with or evoking sadness No event is more doleful than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone.

precarious

adjective - fraught with danger People smoke to relax and forget their cares, but ironically, in terms of health risks, smoking is far more precarious than either mountain-climbing or skydiving. Synonyms: hazardous, dangerous, uncertain, unhealthy, touchy, unsettled, insecure, shaky, risky, unreliable Antonyms: guarded, protected, healthy, settled, reliable, stable, certain, safe, secure, definite, sure, strong, happy, steady

impartial

adjective - free from undue bias or preconceived opinions The judge was not impartial since he had been bribed by the witness's family. Synonyms: disinterested, evenhanded, fair-minded, open-minded, dispassionate, unbiased Antonyms: biased, interested, subjective, unfair, involved, passionate, prejudiced, partial

guileless

adjective - free of deceit At first I thought my niece was guileless, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop. Synonyms: unsophisticated

amiable

adjective - friendly Amy's name was very apt: she was so amiable that she was twice voted class president. Synonyms: cordial, genial, cheerful, good-humored, charming, pleasant, delightful, good-natured, lovable, sociable, engaging, affable Antonyms: aloof, hostile, unfriendly, unpleasant, unsociable, repulsive, hateful, unkind, disagreeable, cold, unhappy, sad, nasty, bad, mean

jubilant

adjective - full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE. Synonyms: elated, triumphal, overjoyed, joyous, triumphant, pleased Antonyms: sorrowful, discouraged, depressed, sad, unhappy, unenthusiastic, unexcited

garrulous

adjective - full of trivial conversation Lynne was garrulous: once, she had a fifteen minute conversation with a stranger before she realized the woman didn't speak English. Synonyms: glib, chatty, loquacious, voluble Antonyms: quiet, silent

demonstrative

adjective - given to or marked by the open expression of emotion When Sally told James that she wanted to break up with him, she expected he would react demonstratively, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word. Synonyms: effusive, candid, outspoken

exorbitant

adjective - greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation Shelley made one exorbitant purchase after another, buying new clothes and taking vacations even though she earned a limited salary. Synonyms: unwarranted, enormous, inordinate, unreasonable, outrageous, unconscionable, steep Antonyms: warranted, sensible, reasonable, moderate, cheap, good, mild

pragmatic

adjective - guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill. Synonyms: hardheaded, businesslike, efficient, down-to-earth Antonyms: inefficient, excited, impractical, irrational, unrealistic, unreasonable

inveterate

adjective - habitual He is an inveterate smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit. Synonyms: incurable, hard-core, habitual, addicted, hardened, lifelong

querulous

adjective - habitually complaining The querulous old woman was begining to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her ceaseless complaining.

taciturn

adjective - habitually reserved and uncommunicative While the CEO enthusiastically shares his plans and agenda with all who will listen, the CFO is far more taciturn, rarely revealing his perspective. Synonyms: reticent, aloof, dour, laconic

inadvertent

adjective - happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally Although Prohibition was rooted in noble ideals, the inadvertent and costly consequences of making alcohol illegal in the U.S. led its the repeal. Synonyms: unintentional, unintended, careless, unwitting, reckless Antonyms: intentional, careful, cautious

innocuous

adjective - harmless and doesnt produce any ill effects Everyone found Nancy's banter innocuous--except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on him. Synonyms: bland, banal, inoffensive, insipid Antonyms: delicious, tasty, yummy

acerbic

adjective - harsh in tone Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage. Synonyms: sharp, harsh Antonyms: kind, calm, mild, nice

vitriolic

adjective - harsh or corrosive in tone While the teacher was more moderate in her criticism of the other student's papers, she was vitriolic toward Peter's paper, casting every flaw in the harshest light. Synonyms: antagonistic, scathing Antonyms: kind, nice, agreeable, bland, calm, mild, sweet

precipitate

adjective - hasty or rash Instead of conducting a thorough investigation after the city hall break-in, the governor acted precipitately, accusing his staff of aiding and abetting the criminals. Synonyms: hasten, trigger, accelerate, expedite Antonyms: block, hinder, check, halt, stop

supercilious

adjective - haughty and disdainful; looking down on others Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted superciliously towards the underclassmen; really, she fumed, must he act so preternaturally omniscient each time he intones some obscure fact--as though everybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in Sout

bleak

adjective - having a depressing or gloomy outlook Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to create bleak literature and lugubrious music -- compare England's band Radiohead to any band from Southern California. Synonyms: desolate, austere, dreary, chilly, cold, grim Antonyms: cheerful, friendly, happy, bright, hot, warm, sympathetic, joyful, pleasant, glad, encouraging, light, hopeful, sunny

scrupulous

adjective - having a sense of right and wrong; principled Everyone trusted what he said and followed his example because he was scrupulous and honest. Synonyms: precise, meticulous, fastidious, honest, strict, painstaking, conscientious Antonyms: inaccurate, inexact, uncritical, dishonest, lenient, FALSE, careless, loose, uncareful, undemanding, easy-going, easy

debonair

adjective - having a sophisticated charm James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and debonair manner. Synonyms: suave, affable, dashing, urbane Antonyms: unsophisticated

piquant

adjective - having an agreeably pungent taste The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turned the bland tomato soup into a piquant meal. Synonyms: spicy, pungent, poignant, racy, savory, peppery Antonyms: flavorless, moral, blah, bland, dull, tasteless, clean

noisome

adjective - having an extremely bad smell Each August, when the winds moved in a south easterly direction, the garbage dump would spread noisome vapors through the small town.

sagacious

adjective - having good judgement and acute insight Steve Jobs is surely one of the most sagacious CEOs, making Apple the most recognizable and valuable companies in the world.

unprecedented

adjective - having never been done or known before; novel When America first created its national parks, the idea of setting aside the most beautiful land in a country was unprecedented in the history of mankind. Synonyms: unusual, remarkable, singular, fantastic, unheard-of, uncommon, extraordinary, unparalleled, miraculous Antonyms: standard, usual, commonplace, customary, common, familiar, normal, regular, ordinary, bad, poor

incisive

adjective - having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions The lawyer had an incisive mind, able in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate the essential laws at play. Synonyms: trenchant, penetrating, piercing Antonyms: weak, kind, long-winded, wordy, nice, lengthy, calm, mild

stolid

adjective - having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives. Synonyms: impassive

consummate

adjective - having or revealing supreme mastery or skill Tyler was the consummate musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time. Synonyms: superlative, gifted, polished, talented, skilled, superb, accomplished Antonyms: poor, inept

haughty

adjective - having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy The haughty manager didn't believe that any of his subordinates could ever have an insight as brilliant his own. Synonyms: imperious, snobbish, cavalier, indifferent, snooty, contemptuous Antonyms: humble, shy

erudite

adjective - having or showing profound knowledge Before the Internet, the library was typically were you would find erudite readers. Synonyms: knowledgeable, literate, scholarly Antonyms: uneducated

convoluted

adjective - highly complex or intricate Instead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solution requiring fifteen steps. Synonyms: perplexing, puzzling, tortuous, tangled Antonyms: understandable, direct, straight, straightforward, simple

dogmatic

adjective - highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat, claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are computer generated. Synonyms: stubborn, fanatical, categorical, assertive, unequivocal, obstinate, arbitrary, intolerant, emphatic, arrogant Antonyms: willing, impartial, ambiguous, equivocal, vague, indefinite, yielding

percipient

adjective - highly perceptive Even the most percipient editor will make an occasional error when proofreading. Synonyms: sensible, watchful, sure, mindful, certain, informed, aware, keen, cognizant, responsive, vigilant Antonyms: indiscreet, inattentive, negligent, uncertain, unsure, heedless, unaware, ignorant, uninformed, doubtful, dubious, unconfident, careless, unknowledgeable, insensitive, idiotic, stupid, unintelligent, foolish, thoughtless, undiscerning, implausible, improbable, unbelievable, unlikely, senseless, unrealistic, unwise, irrational, unsound, unreasonable

eccentric

adjective - highly unconventional or usual (usually describes a person) Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities, often speaking words backward to confuse those around him. Synonyms: whimsical, funny, unconventional, bizarre, strange, peculiar, offbeat, nutty, outlandish, curious, quirky Antonyms: standard, usual, reasonable, common, normal, conventional, familiar, regular, ordinary, regularity, normality

inimical

adjective - hostile (usually describes conditions or environments) Venus, with a surface temperature that would turn rubber to liquid, is inimical to any form of life. Synonyms: hostile, harmful, adverse, unfriendly, opposed Antonyms: friendly, kind, helpful, assisting, nice, aiding, favorable, good

ribald

adjective - humorously vulgar The speaker was famous for his ribald humor, but the high school principal asked him to keep the talk G- rated when he spoke to the student body. Synonyms: naughty, sly, rude, off-color, racy, coarse, bawdy, lewd Antonyms: moral, polite, clean, nice, refined, sophisticated, smooth, decent

halcyon

adjective - idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity; marked by peace and prosperity The first decade after WWI was a halcyon period in America with new-found wealth and rapidly improving technology.

boorish

adjective - ill-mannered and coarse or contemptible in behavior or appearance Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunk and alienating close friends and family. Synonyms: rude, tasteless, vulgar, churlish, impolite, ugly, barbaric, uncivilized, coarse Antonyms: kind, mannerly, polite, pleasant, nice, polished, refined, sophisticated, smooth, gentle, delicate

morose

adjective - ill-tempered and not inclined to talk; gloomy After Stanley found out he was no longer able to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his room morosely. Synonyms: melancholy, sullen, grouchy, testy, cranky, dour, sad, ugly, gloomy, glum, surly, mournful Antonyms: cheerful, joyful, content, pleasant, happy, bright, gentle

phantasmagorical

adjective - illusive; unreal Those suffering from malaria fall into a feverish sleep, their world a whirligig of phantasmagoria; if they recover, they are unsure of what actually took place and what was simply a product of their febrile imaginations. Synonyms: whimsical, pensive, introspective, gentle, otherworldly, fanciful, utopian, quixotic, nightmarish Antonyms: real, rational, sane, unimaginative, believable, credible, plausible, usual, logical, sensible, balanced, reasonable, normal, ordinary, regular, realistic, familiar, serious

jejune

adjective - immature; childish Her boss further cemented his reuptation for being jejune after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn't refilled.

impregnable

adjective - immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with As a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were impregnable fotresses. Synonyms: impenetrable, unassailable, invincible Antonyms: breakable, destructible

unassailable

adjective - immune to attack; without flaws Professor Williams is so self-assured as to seem arrogant, presenting each and every opinion as an unassailable fact. Synonyms: undeniable, unequivocal, indisputable, infallible, conclusive, irrefutable, absolute Antonyms: disputable, indefinite, uncertain, unsure, vague, questionable, imperfect, doubtful, dubious, refutable

imponderable

adjective - impossible to estimate or figure out According to many lawmakers, the huge variety of factors affecting society make devising an efficient healthcare system an imponderable task.

inexorable

adjective - impossible to stop or prevent The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture. Synonyms: implacable, unrelenting, inescapable, relentless, merciless Antonyms: kind, merciful, nice, sympathetic

impudent

adjective - improperly forward or bold In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge. Synonyms: cheeky, brazen

embryonic

adjective - in an early stage of development The Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an embryonic stages. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: immature, undeveloped, incipient Antonyms: adult, developed, grown, mature

subversive

adjective - in opposition to a civil authority or government The ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as a threat to national safety. Synonyms: incendiary, riotous

dilapidated

adjective - in terrible condition The main house has been restored but the gazebo is still dilapidated and unuseable. Synonyms: damaged, run-down, shabby, decaying, crumbling, unkempt, broken-down, neglected, dingy, decrepit Antonyms: OK, repaired, healthy, stable, good, nice, neat, sound

irrevocable

adjective - incapable of being retracted or revoked Once you enter your plea to the court, it is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say. Synonyms: permanent, irreversible, immutable

implacable

adjective - incapable of making less angry or hostile Win or lose, the coach was always implacable, never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break. Synonyms: uncompromising, unrelenting, intractable, inexorable, ruthless Antonyms: compassionate, merciful, remorseful, kind, flexible, sympathetic, yielding

surly

adjective - inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace Every morning, Bhavin was a surly unhappy person, but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing, and a joy to be around. Synonyms: boorish, dour, sullen, rude, testy, ugly Antonyms: polite, cheerful, kind, pleasant, refined, sophisticated, bright, happy, nice

soporific

adjective - inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.

anodyne

adjective - inoffensive Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill prefered a far more anodyne meal in the mornings.

redoubtable

adjective - inspiring fear or awe On television basketball players don't look that tall, but when you stand in front of a seven-foot tall NBA player, he is truly redoubtable.

didactic

adjective - instructive (especially excessively) Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.

ostentatious

adjective - intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood. Synonyms: gaudy, swank, splashy, flamboyant, extravagant, classy, garish, jaunty, conspicuous Antonyms: tasteful, calm, modest, plain, moderate

insufferable

adjective - intolerable, difficult to endure Chester always tried to find some area in which he excelled above others; unsurprisingly, his co-workers found him insufferable and chose to exclude him from daily luncheons out. Synonyms: unbearable

byzantine

adjective - intricate and complex Getting a driver's license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so byzantine that many have found themselves at the mercy of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

sordid

adjective - involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive The nightly news simply announced that the senator had had an affair, but the tabloid published all the sordid details of the interaction. Synonyms: disreputable, vile, nasty, shameful, sleazy, squalid Antonyms: reputable, kind, decent, nice, clean, good, respectable

bilious

adjective - irritable; always angry Rex was bilious all morning, and his face would only take on a look of contentedness when he'd had his morning cup of coffee. Antonyms: content, happy, comfortable, healthy, hearty, sound, strong

ebullient

adjective - joyously unrestrained Can you blame him for his ebullient mood? He just graduated from medical school. Synonyms: brash, elated, buoyant, agitated, effusive Antonyms: depressed, down, unhappy, serious, unenthusiastic

obscure

adjective - known by only a few Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films. Synonyms: enigmatic, ambiguous, cryptic, esoteric, arcane, mysterious, complicated, vague, confusing Antonyms: known, obvious, clear, plain, definite, straightforward, common, public, unmysterious, related, relevant, nearby, friendly, open, familiar, approachable, near, warm, explain, uncover, unmask, brighten, lighten, clarify, clear up, reveal, lay out

wanting

adjective - lacking She did not think her vocabulary was wanting, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn't know. Synonyms: deficient

myopic

adjective - lacking foresight or imagination The company ultimately went out of business because the myopic managers couldn't predict the changes in their industry. Synonyms: nearsighted, shortsighted

pedestrian

adjective - lacking imagination While Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation, her brother was occupied with far more pedestrian concerns: how to earn a salary and run a household. Synonyms: mundane, prosaic, humdrum, banal, mediocre Antonyms: exciting, extraordinary, unusual

gauche

adjective - lacking social polish Sylvester says the most gauche things, such as telling a girl he liked that she was much prettier when she wore makeup.

perennial

adjective - lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal; everlasting Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial would get the loudest cheer: he was a perennial favorite of the fans there. Synonyms: eternal, recurrent, continuing, persistent, never-ending, chronic, continual Antonyms: temporary, infrequent, halting, intermittent, interrupted, occasional, ending, ceasing

feckless

adjective - lazy and irresponsible Two years after graduation, Charlie still lived with his parents and had no job, becoming more feckless with each passing day.

lascivious

adjective - lecherous; sexually perverted Lolita is a challenging novel for many, not necessarily because of the elevated prose style but because of the depravity of the main character, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old, lascivious man, falls in love with a girl. Synonyms: salacious, pornographic, vulgar, indecent, prurient, lewd Antonyms: moral, clean, decent

fickle

adjective - liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachments She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace a side, and the next week she would denounce it. Synonyms: unpredictable, unstable, volatile, flighty, capricious, changeable, temperamental Antonyms: stable, steadfast, constant, steady

affable

adjective - likeable; easy to talk to For all his surface affability, Marco was remarkably glum when he wasn't around other people. Synonyms: pleasant, genial, amiable, polite, urbane, approachable, gentle Antonyms: hateful, unfriendly, irritable, impolite, uncivil, uncivilized, unmannerly, unsophisticated, unsociable, unkind, discourteous, disagreeable, nasty, unhappy, mean, rude, unrefined

contentious

adjective - likely to argue Since old grandpa Harry became very contentious during the summer when only reruns were on T.V., the grandkids learned to hide from him at every opportunity. Synonyms: testy, antagonistic, combative Antonyms: agreeable

invidious

adjective - likely to cause resentment At a time when many others in the office were about to be laid off, many considered Cheryl's fine clothes that day an invidious display. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

tendentious

adjective - likely to lean towards a controversial view Because political mudslinging has become a staple of the 24-hour media cycle, most of us, despite protestations to the contrary, are tendentious on many of today's pressing issues. Synonyms: prejudicial

conducive

adjective - making a situation or outcome more likely to happen Studying in a quiet room is conducive to learning; studying in a noisy environment makes learning more difficult. Synonyms: useful, helpful Antonyms: useless, worthless

extenuating

adjective - making less guilty or more forgivable The jury was hardly moved by the man's plea that his loneliness was an extenuating factor in his crime of dognapping a prized pooch.

apathetic

adjective - marked by a lack of interest Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally apathetic students took interest. Synonyms: uninterested, callous, passive, stoic, laid-back, indifferent Antonyms: interested, compassionate, caring, concerned, feeling, sympathetic

pedantic

adjective - marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field. Synonyms: pompous, stilted, abstruse Antonyms: plain, simple

foolhardy

adjective - marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences The police regularly face dangerous situations, so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof vest is foolhardy. Synonyms: daring, irresponsible, audacious, bold, adventurous, reckless Antonyms: cowardly, meek, timid, careful, cautious, prudent, afraid, fearful, shy, unadventurous, responsible

rash

adjective - marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; imprudently incurring risk Although Bruce was able to make the delivery in time with a nightime motorcycle ride in the rain, Susan criticized his actions as rash. Synonyms: impetuous, foolhardy, ill-considered, thoughtless, indiscreet, bold, hasty, daring, audacious, ill-advised, immature Antonyms: cautious, considerate, reflective, sensible, wise, careful, discreet, cowardly, meek, timid, thoughtful, afraid, fearful, shy, reasonable

meticulous

adjective - marked by extreme care in treatment of details The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person take over the task. Synonyms: precise, cautious, scrupulous, accurate, fastidious, thorough Antonyms: inaccurate, inexact, questionable, negligent, unscrupulous, uncritical, indefinite, FALSE, imprecise, careless, thoughtless, uncareful, undemanding

vehement

adjective - marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs. Synonyms: furious, zealous, impassioned, forceful, enthusiastic, potent, fervent, ardent, violent, rabid Antonyms: pleased, peaceful, apathetic, indifferent, lethargic, impotent, ineffective, meek, dispassionate, happy, calm, mild, moderate, unenthusiastic, cool, unexcited, weak, gentle

steadfast

adjective - marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm. Synonyms: stubborn, unwavering, single-minded, faithful, unflinching, inflexible, resolute, unswerving, dedicated, intense, abiding, unyielding Antonyms: willing, dishonest, disloyal, unreliable, pliable, irresolute, yielding, wavering, FALSE, afraid, weak, flexible, pliant, soft

haphazard

adjective - marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance Many golf courses are designed with great care, but the greens on the county golf course seem entirely haphazard. Synonyms: aimless, offhand, random, disorganized, casual, careless, helter-skelter, desultory, arbitrary, slapdash, indiscriminate Antonyms: careful, deliberate, planned, methodical, specific, systematic, painstaking, definite, particular

tempered

adjective - moderated in effect The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered after she had worked many years in the criminal justice system. Synonyms: mitigate, ease, alleviate, assuage, lessen, soften, soothe, dilute, restrain Antonyms: incite, increase, intensify, worsen, enlarge, worry, aggravate, irritate, magnify, upset, extend, raise, strengthen, trouble, agitate, provoke

superfluous

adjective - more than is needed, desired, or required Everything in this closet is superfluous and can be given to charity. Synonyms: excessive, expendable, gratuitous, redundant, useless, unneeded Antonyms: useful, reasonable

saturnine

adjective - morose or gloomy Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine; that's why in very northerly territories people are encouraged to sit under an extremely powerful lamp, lest they become morose.

inviolate

adjective - must be kept sacred While the literary critic subjected most of the classics to the harshest reviews, he regarded Cervantes as inviolate, and had nothing but praise for him. Synonyms: good, decent, honest, clean, fresh Antonyms: evil, unsuitable, unreal, dishonest, fraudulent, untrustworthy, unvirtuous, FALSE

cryptic

adjective - mysterious or vague, usually intentionally Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she only answered cryptically when he would ask her questions about it. Synonyms: enigmatic, ambiguous, veiled, equivocal, strange, arcane, mysterious, incomprehensible, vague Antonyms: known, obvious, clear, plain, definite, certain, sure, common, normal

parochial

adjective - narrowly restricted in scope or outlook Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too parochial; After all, she quipped on her blog, he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food." Synonyms: insular, petty, sectarian Antonyms: broad-minded

endemic

adjective - native; originating where it is found Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.

obstreperous

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

immutable

adjective - not able to be changed Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land, so there is no use arguing about paying them. Synonyms: immovable, inflexible, sacrosanct, enduring

unviable

adjective - not able to work, survive, or succeed (also spelled inviable). The plan was obviously unviable considering that it lead to complete environmental destruction in the river valley.

impervious

adjective - not admitting of passage or capable of being affected I am not impervious to your insults; they cause me great pain. Synonyms: impenetrable, resistant, invulnerable, inaccessible, immune Antonyms: susceptible, moved, affected

untrammeled

adjective - not confined or limited The whole notion of living untrammeled inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Synonyms: independent, clear, loose, able, easy, unrestricted, open, unfettered Antonyms: unclear, ambiguous, vague, restricted, blocked, closed, definite, strict

placid

adjective - not easily irritated Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game. Synonyms: serene, easygoing, quiet, even-tempered, gentle, peaceful Antonyms: agitated, excited, clamorous, noisy, disturbed, troubled, loud, violent, wild, turbulent

unflappable

adjective - not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure The house shook and the ground quaked, but my dad was unflappable and comforted the family. Synonyms: composed, self-possessed, nonchalant Antonyms: nervous

unseemly

adjective - not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband. Synonyms: untoward, tawdry, indecent, inappropriate Antonyms: suitable, proper

languid

adjective - not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying around the house. Synonyms: lazy, languorous, unhurried, leisurely, laid-back, lackadaisical, sluggish, lethargic Antonyms: energetic, lively, hurried, active, hard-working

uncompromising

adjective - not making concessions The relationship between Bart and Hilda ultimately failed because they were both so uncompromising, never wanting to change their opinions. Synonyms: steadfast, rigid, resolute, inflexible, determined, obstinate Antonyms: pliable, irresolute, willing, flexible, pliant, soft, yielding, weak

anomalous

adjective - not normal According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous--average temps should return to average, they believe. Synonyms: atypical, unnatural, incongruous, abnormal, peculiar, divergent Antonyms: standard, usual, normal, ordinary

ersatz

adjective - not real or genuine; phony The car dealer's ersatz laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.

frivolous

adjective - not serious in content or attitude or behavior Compared to Juliet's passionate concern for human rights, Jake's non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous. Synonyms: petty, impractical, senseless, idiotic, foolish, pointless Antonyms: sensible, intelligent, wise

frugal

adjective - not spending much money (but spending wisely) Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned. Synonyms: prudent, meticulous, thrifty, canny, careful, stingy Antonyms: incautious, wasteful, careless, spendthrift

disingenuous

adjective - not straightforward; giving a false appearance of frankness Many adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are disingenuous. Synonyms: dishonest, unfair, deceitful Antonyms: honest, truthful, frank, trustworthy, just, fair, open

imprudent

adjective - not wise Hitler, like Napoleon, made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had. Synonyms: foolhardy, ill-considered, thoughtless, irresponsible, careless, unwise, ill-advised Antonyms: careful, cautious, kind, mindful, prudent, wise, sensible, thoughtful, attentive, responsible

fortuitous

adjective - occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause While the real objects are vastly different sizes in space, the sun and the moon seem to have the same fortuitous size in the sky. Synonyms: unforeseen, random, odd, fortunate

catholic

adjective - of broad scope; universal Jonah's friends said that Jonah's taste in music was eclectic; Jonah was quick to point out that not only was his taste eclectic but it was also catholic: he enjoyed music from countries as far-flung as Mali and Mongolia.

puerile

adjective - of or characteristic of a child; displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim regarded this as puerile, totally unworthy of a woman with a Ph.D. Synonyms: callow, infantile Antonyms: mature

cardinal

adjective - of primary importance; fundamental Most cultures consider gambling a cardinal sin and thus have outlawed its practice. Synonyms: overriding

magisterial

adjective - offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power Though she was only a third grade teacher, Ms. Martinet was magisterial in dealing with her class, lording over them like a queen. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

portentous

adjective - ominously prophetic When the captain and more than half the officers were sick on the very first night of the voyage, many of the passengers felt this was portentous, but the rest of the voyage continued without any problems. Synonyms: haunting, apocalyptic, intriguing, ominous

checkered

adjective - one that is marked by disreputable happenings One by one, the presidential candidates dropped out of the race, their respective checkered pasts-- from embezzlement to infidelity--sabotaging their campaigns.

aboveboard

adjective - open and honest The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered about the city, was hardly aboveboard -- some concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and get away with it. Synonyms: trustworthy, truthful

leery

adjective - openly distrustful and unwilling to confide Without checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am leery of hiring the candidate. Synonyms: distrustful, skeptical, cautious Antonyms: believing, heedless, incautious, rash, certain, careless, thoughtless, uncareful, clear, definite, secure, sure

indigenous

adjective - originating in a certain area The plants and animals indigenous to Australia are notably different from those indigenous to the U.S-- one look at a duckbill platypus and you know you're not dealing with an opossum. Synonyms: primitive, homegrown, domestic, endemic

fastidious

adjective - overly concerned with details; fussy Whitney is fastidious about her shoes, arranging them on a shelf in a specific order, each pair evenly spaced. Synonyms: choosy, discriminating, squeamish, exacting, finicky, fussy Antonyms: uncritical, undemanding, unfussy

maudlin

adjective - overly emotional and sad Just as those who were alive during the 70's are mortified that they once cavorted about in bellbottoms, many who lived during the 80's are now aghast at the maudlin pop songs they used to enjoy--really, just what exactly is a total eclipse of the heart? Synonyms: weepy, sentimental, romantic, mushy, mawkish Antonyms: unemotional, pragmatic, unromantic

specious

adjective - plausible but false He made a career out of specious arguments and fictional lab results, but lost his job and reputation when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times. Synonyms: incorrect, untrue, inaccurate, spurious, plausible, erroneous, deceptive Antonyms: honest, real, valid, truthful, correct, right, TRUE, accurate, genuine

spurious

adjective - plausible but false When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones. Synonyms: specious, bogus, phony Antonyms: real, valid, TRUE, genuine

profuse

adjective - plentiful; pouring out in abundance During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwayne was sweating so profusely that he stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the remaining six miles wearing nothing more than skimpy shorts.

destitute

adjective - poor enough to need help from others Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life. Synonyms: poor, strapped, poverty-stricken, penniless, needy, exhausted, insolvent, impoverished, indigent, bankrupt Antonyms: wealthy, solvent, affluent, rich

indigent

adjective - poor; having very little In the so-called Third World, many are indigent and only a privileged few have the resources to enjoy material luxuries. Synonyms: needy, penniless, impoverished, destitute Antonyms: wealthy, affluent, rich

contingent

adjective - possible but not certain to occur Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players getting injured. Synonyms: unforeseen

ascetic

adjective - practicing self-denial His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty. Synonyms: austere

austere

adjective - practicing self-denial His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called austere. Synonyms: stringent, somber, forbidding, rigid, exacting, sober, formal Antonyms: flexible, excited

propitious

adjective - presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success The child's heartbeat is still weak, but I am seeing many propitious signs and I think that she may be healing. Synonyms: auspicious, advantageous, opportune Antonyms: inauspicious, inopportune, unlucky

factious

adjective - produced by, or characterized by internal dissension The controversial bill proved factious, as dissension even within parties resulted

futile

adjective - producing no result or effect; unproductive of success I thought I could repair the car myself, but after two days of work with no success, I have to admit that my efforts were futile. Synonyms: fruitless, worthless, impractical, ineffective, vain, insufficient, hollow, ineffectual, useless, unsuccessful, unproductive Antonyms: fruitful, productive, profitable, successful, useful, valuable, worthwhile, helpful, effective

efficacious

adjective - producing the intended result Since Maggie's cough syrup, which had expired five years back, was no longer efficacious, she coughed through the night.

choleric

adjective - prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came across as choleric and unapproachable--very rarely did students come to his office hours.

irascible

adjective - quickly aroused to anger If Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he becames highly irascible, even growling at his own shadow. Synonyms: grouchy, cantankerous, testy, cranky, feisty, uptight, surly, passionate Antonyms: pleasant, happy, cool

tractable

adjective - readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded) Compared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students are somewhat more tractable.

protean

adjective - readily taking on different roles; versatile Peter Sellers was truly a protean actor--in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist. Synonyms: multifaceted

adamant

adjective - refusing to change one's mind Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus--even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place. Synonyms: uncompromising, stubborn, resolute, determined, intransigent, insistent, rigid Antonyms: willing, irresolute, lenient, flexible, yielding, weak

sartorial

adjective - related to fashion or clothes Monte was astute at navigating the world of finance; sartorially, however, he was found wanting--he typically would attempt to complement his beige tie with a gray suit and white pants. Synonyms: vestiary

pastoral

adjective - relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense Those who imagine America's countryside as a pastoral region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see. Synonyms: bucolic, rural, idyllic, agrarian Antonyms: city, metropolitan, suburban, urban

mundane

adjective - relating to the ordinary world Though we think of the pope as someone always dealing in holy matters, he is also concerned with mundane events, such as deciding when to set his alarm each morning. Synonyms: prosaic, normal, humdrum, banal Antonyms: abnormal, unusual, uncommon

self-effacing

adjective - reluctant to draw attention to yourself The most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are self-effacing, directing attention and praise to their students and workers. Synonyms: reticent, coy, humble, unobtrusive, discreet, unassuming, unpretentious Antonyms: brave, pretentious, flaunting, forward

banal

adjective - repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from bordeom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends. Synonyms: mundane, hackneyed, vapid, stupid, dumb, corny, trite, bland Antonyms: intelligent, new, original, uncommon, sharp, smart

exacting

adjective - requiring and demanding accuracy Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist. Synonyms: precise, onerous, stringent, harsh, imperious, strict, painstaking, rigorous Antonyms: inaccurate, inexact, tolerant, lenient, careless, loose, easy, flexible, mild, soft, easy-going, yielding

arcane

adjective - requiring secret or mysterious knowledge Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals that those hoping to the join the fraterntiy must learn. Synonyms: esoteric, impenetrable

obstinate

adjective - resistant to guidance or discipline; stubbornly persistent The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past. Synonyms: tenacious, steadfast, unyielding, inflexible, intransigent, recalcitrant, dogmatic, willful, adamant, headstrong Antonyms: willing, obedient, submissive, surrendering, yielding, flexible, pliant, soft, amenable

restive

adjective - restless The crowd grew restive as the comedian's opening jokes fell flat. Synonyms: restless, uneasy, tense, unruly, recalcitrant, agitated, jittery Antonyms: laid-back, obedient, easy-going

resurgent

adjective - rising again as to new life and vigor The team sank to fourth place in June, but is now resurgent and about to win the division. Synonyms: revived, renascent

paradoxical

adjective - seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true That light could be both a particle and a wave seems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true. Synonyms: perplexing, sophisticated, complicated, convoluted, intricate, disturbing, obscure Antonyms: easy, simple, consonant, harmonious, friendly, kind, agreeing, agreeable, consistent, clear, untroublesome, straightforward, trustworthy, trusty, undoubted, unquestionable, incontrovertible, definite, certain, sure, indubious, straight, nice, calm, mild

superfluous

adjective - serving no useful purpose How can we hope to stay open if we don't eliminate all superfluous spending, like catered meetings and free acupucture Tuesday? Synonyms: excessive, expendable, gratuitous, redundant, useless, unneeded Antonyms: useful, reasonable

amorphous

adjective - shapeless His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books. Synonyms: vague, nebulous Antonyms: definite

sullen

adjective - showing a brooding ill humor Herbert took board games too seriously, often appearing sullen after losing. Synonyms: dour, morose, hostile, churlish, petulant, somber, gloomy, ugly, glum, surly, grumpy Antonyms: cheerful, friendly, kind, pleasant, joyful, bright, happy, agreeable, gentle, nice

obliging

adjective - showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others Even after all his success, I found him to be accommodating and obliging, sharing with me his secret tips on how to gain wealth and make friends.

complaisant

adjective - showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others On her first day at the job, Annie was complaisant, fulfilling every request of her new employee and anticipating future requests.

urbane

adjective - showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience Because of his service as an intelligence officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham became the inspiration for the urbane and sophistcate spy James Bond. Synonyms: cosmopolitan, suave, cultured, sophisticated, elegant, well-bred Antonyms: unsophisticated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined

solicitous

adjective - showing hovering attentiveness Our neighbors are constantly knocking on our door to make sure we are ok, and I don't know how to ask them to stop being so solicitous about our health. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: zealous, attentive, mindful, loving Antonyms: heedless, inattentive

flippant

adjective - showing inappropriate levity Although Sam was trying to honor Mark's sense of humor, many found it quite flippant that he wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark's funeral. Synonyms: glib, disrespectful, rude, offhand, playful, cocky Antonyms: mannerly, respectful, nice

phlegmatic

adjective - showing little emotion Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn't have the energy or inclination to care about anything.

diffident

adjective - showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive. Synonyms: sheepish, demure, meek, self-effacing, bashful, unassuming, timid, self-conscious Antonyms: extroverted, brave, confident, aggressive, bold

deferential

adjective - showing respect If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be deferential. Synonyms: reverential, civil, submissive, polite, obedient Antonyms: impolite, disobedient, uncivil, unmannerly, rude, unrefined

lachrymose

adjective - showing sorrow Lachrymose and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair.

empathetic

adjective - showing understanding and ready comprehension of other peoples' states and emotions Most discrimination and hatred is based on a lack of empathetic awareness of people that have the same aspitations and fears. Synonyms: sympathetic, sensitive Antonyms: merciless, unfeeling, indifferent

telling

adjective - significant and revealing of another factor Her unbecoming dress was very telling when it came to her sense of fashion. Synonyms: satisfying, striking, trenchant, powerful, forceful, devastating, convincing Antonyms: impotent, ineffective, weak

obtuse

adjective - slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernment Jackson was the most obtuse member of the team: the manager's subtle ironies were always lost on him.

mellifluous

adjective - smooth and sweet-sounding Chelsea's grandmother thought Franz Schubert's music to be the most mellifluous ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her grandmother's chagrin, would blast Rihanna on the home stereo speakers.

philistine

adjective - smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusive about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

prodigious

adjective - so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe After the relatively small homerun totals in the dead ball era, Babe Ruth's homerun totals were truly prodigious: every year, he set a new all-time record. Synonyms: fantastic, tremendous, inordinate, immense, monumental, mammoth Antonyms: tiny, insignificant, unimportant, miniature, teeny, little, small, usual, unexceptional, common, conventional, ordinary, plain, normal, expected, regular

colossal

adjective - so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe Few appreciate the colossal scale of the sun: if hollow, it could contain a million Earths. Synonyms: huge, enormous, monstrous, immense, mammoth Antonyms: miniature, teeny, tiny, little, minute, small, miniscule

archaic

adjective - so old as to appear to belong to a different period Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say, she didn't have many friends. Synonyms: primitive, ancient, old-fashioned Antonyms: current, modern, in vogue, up-to-date, new, present, contemporary

negligible

adjective - so small as to be meaningless; insignificant The GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if you cram the night before it is, at best, likely to only have a negligible impact on your score. Synonyms: slight, imperceptible, slim, inconsequential Antonyms: useful, worthwhile, big, important, significant

aphoristic

adjective - something that is a concise and instructive of a general truth or principle Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic, but he just states the obvious.

profligate

adjective - spending money recklessly or wastefully Most lottery winners go from being conservative, frugal types to outright profligates who blow millions on fast cars, lavish homes, and giant yachts. Synonyms: promiscuous

thrifty

adjective - spending money wisely He was economical, spending his money thriftily and on items considered essential. Synonyms: frugal, prudent, stingy Antonyms: wasteful, generous

eminent

adjective - standing above others in quality or position Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic. Synonyms: renowned, preeminent, outstanding, famed, illustrious, distinguished, well-known, high-ranking, noted, prominent Antonyms: unimportant, unknown, unremarkable, inconspicuous, insignificant, obscure, inferior, ordinary, common

egregious

adjective - standing out in negative way; shockingly bad The dictator's abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders asked that he be tried in an international court for genocide. Synonyms: grievous, scandalous, deplorable, flagrant, heinous, nefarious Antonyms: concealed, hidden, good, mild

surreptitious

adjective - stealty, taking pains not to be caught or detected Since his mom was a light sleeper, Timmy had to tiptoe surreptitiously through the entire house, careful to not make the floors creak, until he at last was able to enjoy his plunder: a box of chocolate chip cookies. Synonyms: covert, furtive, hush-hush, unauthorized, clandestine Antonyms: aboveboard, honest, forthright, truthful, open, public

intermittent

adjective - stopping and starting at irregular intervals The intermittent thunder continued and the night was punctuated by cracks of lightning--a surreal sleepless night. Synonyms: fitful, infrequent, recurrent, occasional, periodic Antonyms: frequent, usual, permanent, constant, regular

besotted

adjective - strongly affectionate towards Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo.

tenacious

adjective - stubbornly unyielding Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present. Synonyms: stubborn, dogged, steadfast, tough, resolute, forceful, persistent, strong-willed, unswerving, determined, stout Antonyms: irresolute, unreliable, kind, yielding, weak, afraid

robust

adjective - sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor. Synonyms: booming, vigorous, prosperous, sturdy, hefty, powerful, potent, hearty, tough Antonyms: impotent, lethargic, unstable, wobbly, incapable, ineffective, fragile, weak, small

macabre

adjective - suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of the macabre; his stories vividly describe the moment leading up to--and often those moments after--a grisly death. Synonyms: spooky, ghastly, ghoulish, grisly, morbid, gruesome Antonyms: pleasant, pleasing, pretty, cheerful, happy

uncanny

adjective - suggesting the operation of supernatural influences; surpassing the ordinary or normal Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect with animals: feral cats will readily approach him, and sometimes even wild birds will land on his finger. Synonyms: exceptional, singular, remarkable, incredible, spooky, fantastic, eerie, astounding, magical Antonyms: usual, unremarkable, commonplace, customary, boring, common, conventional, expected, normal, ordinary, regular, bad, poor, natural, familiar, dull

appurtenant

adjective - supply added support In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths. Synonyms: additional Antonyms: inappropriate, irrelevant, unsuitable, inopportune, incorrect, unskilled, evil, unreal, improper, unfitting, misbehaving, unrelated, incompatible, inapplicable, insignificant, trivial, unimportant, unacceptable

tawdry

adjective - tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy Carol expected to find New York City magical, the way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was surprised how often tawdry displays took the place of genuine elegance. Synonyms: tacky, sleazy, vulgar Antonyms: nice

treacherous

adjective - tending to betray Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murder. Synonyms: tricky, unreliable, slippery Antonyms: honest, reliable, uncomplicated, protected, stable, friendly, easy, certain, safe, secure, definite, strong, sure, straightforward

evanescent

adjective - tending to vanish like vapor The storm flashed into existence above us and lasted only a short time--an evanescent turbulence of wind and cloud.

fell

adjective - terribly evil For fans of the Harry Potter series, the fell Lord Voldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for seven lengthy installments, has finally been vanquished by the forces of good--unless, that is, JK Rowling decides to come out of retirement. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: shoot, tumble, drop, flatten, slash, raze Antonyms: raise

base

adjective - the lowest, class were without any moral principles She was not so base as to begrudge the beggar the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate. Synonyms: paltry Antonyms: destroy, leave, move, end

extant

adjective - the opposite of extinct Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now. Synonyms: surviving

jaundice

adjective - to be biased against due to envy or prejudice Shelly was jaundiced towards Olivia; though the two had once been best friends, Olivia had become class president, prom queen, and, to make matters worse, the girlfriend of the one boy Shelly liked.

commensurate

adjective - to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount The convicted felon's life sentence was commensurate to the heinousness of his crime. Synonyms: compatible, comparable, sufficient, consistent Antonyms: incompatible, unsuitable

qualify

adjective - to be legally competent or capable If James had made more than $50,000 last year, then he wouldn't have qualified for the low-income scholarship. Synonyms: enable, score, certify, train, entitle, pass, ready, meet Antonyms: deny, fail, lose

ingenuous

adjective - to be naAve and innocent Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate.

remiss

adjective - to be negligent in ones duty Remiss in his duty to keep the school functioning efficiently, the principle was relieved of his position after only three months.

histrionic

adjective - to be overly theatrical Though she received a B- on the test, she had such a histrionic outburst that one would have thought that she'd been handed a death sentence.

contrite

adjective - to be remorseful Though he stole his little sister's licorice stick with malevolent glee, Chucky soon became contrite when his sister wouldn't stop crying. Synonyms: apologetic, repentant, humble

errant

adjective - to be wandering; not sticking to a circumscribed path Unlike his peers, who spent their hours studying in the library, Matthew preferred errant walks through the university campus. Synonyms: stray, wayward, aberrant, unorthodox, erratic Antonyms: normal

vituperate

adjective - to criticize harshly; to berate Jason had dealt with disciplinarians before, but nothing prepared him for the first week of boot camp, as drill sergeants vituperated him for petty oversights such as forgetting to double knot the laces on his boots.

blinkered

adjective - to have a limited outlook or understanding In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.

vindictive

adjective - to have a very strong desire for revenge Though the other girl had only lightly poked fun of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was so vindictive that she waited for an entire semester to get the perfect revenge. Synonyms: vengeful, resentful, ruthless, malicious, spiteful Antonyms: forgiving, compassionate, considerate, kind, merciful, gentle, giving, nice, sympathetic, thoughtful

pellucid

adjective - transparently clear; easily understandable The professor had a remarkable ability make even the most difficult concepts seem pellucid.

peripatetic

adjective - traveling by foot Jim always preferred a peripatetic approach to discovering a city: he felt that he could see so many more details while walking. Synonyms: nomadic, roving, itinerant Antonyms: settled

itinerant

adjective - traveling from place to place to work Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients' homes. Synonyms: peripatetic, nomadic, wandering, roving Antonyms: settled

picayune

adjective - trifling or petty (a person) English teachers are notorious for being picayune; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules.

harried

adjective - troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances With a team of new hires to train, Martha was constantly harried with little questions and could not focus on her projects.

veracious

adjective - truthful While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious, history has shown that such a hope is naive.

veritable

adjective - truthfully, without a doubt Frank is a veritable life-saver -- last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR.

disparate

adjective - two things are fundamentally different With the advent of machines capable of looking inside the brain, fields as disparate as religion and biology have been brought together by scientists trying to understand what happens in the brain when people have a religious experience. Synonyms: contrasting, dissimilar, distinct, diverse, various, discordant, divergent Antonyms: alike, similar, like, agreeing, same, uniform

dispassionate

adjective - unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice A good scientist should be dispassionate, focusing purely on what the evidence says, without personal attachment. Synonyms: disinterested, abstract, unbiased, candid, sober, detached, unemotional Antonyms: biased, interested, prejudiced

disinterested

adjective - unbiased; neutral The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist only of disinterested members. Synonyms: impartial, dispassionate, unbiased, neutral, aloof, indifferent, unselfish Antonyms: biased, subjective, partial, prejudiced, feeling, involved, concerned

irresolute

adjective - uncertain how to act or proceed He stood irresolute at the split in the trail, not sure which route would lead back to the camp.

unforthcoming

adjective - uncooperative, not willing to give up information The teacher demanded to know who broke the window while he was out of the room, but the students understandably were unforthcoming. Antonyms: extroverted, unreserved, communicative, talkative, confident, outgoing, unshy

provisional

adjective - under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon Until the corporate office hands down a definitive decision on use of the extra offices, we will share their use in a provisional arrangement. Synonyms: conditional, interim, temporary

untoward

adjective - unfavorable; inconvenient Some professors find teaching untoward as having to prepare for lectures and conduct office hours prevents them from focusing on their research. Synonyms: unmanageable, adverse, perverse, unfortunate, disturbing Antonyms: fortunate, lucky, happy, fitting, seemly, suitable, appropriate, proper

desiccated

adjective - uninteresting, lacking vitality Few novelists over 80 are able to produce anything more than desiccated works--boring shadows of former books. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

incessant

adjective - uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing I don't mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down. Synonyms: unrelenting, round-the-clock, ceaseless, constant, unceasing, continuous Antonyms: merciful, completed, infrequent, occasional, inconstant, interrupted, discontinuous, halting, intermittent, temporary, transient, bounded, sympathetic, ceasing, ending, finished, irregular, stopping, terminable, terminating

erratic

adjective - unpredictable; strange and unconventional It came as no surprise to pundits that the President's attempt at re-election floundered; even during his term, support for his policies was erratic, with an approval rating jumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent. Synonyms: whimsical, unusual, volatile, uncertain, irregular, wayward, mercurial, arbitrary, abnormal, capricious, unstable, inconsistent Antonyms: sensible, standard, usual, stable, steadfast, unchanging, reasonable, common, normal, regular, calm, steady

unconscionable

adjective - unreasonable; unscrupulous; excessive The lawyer's demands were so unconscionable that rather than pay an exorbitant sum or submit himself to any other inconveniences, the defendant decided to find a new lawyer. Synonyms: wanton, excessive, unjust, unreasonable, unfair, outrageous, uncivilized Antonyms: moral, kind, unprejudiced, sensible, honest, civilized, cultured, nice, reasonable, fair, just, good, refined, sophisticated

spartan

adjective - unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; practicing great self- denial After losing everything in a fire, Tim decided to live in spartan conditions, sleeping on the floor and owning as little furniture as a possible.

intransigent

adjective - unwilling to change one's beliefs or course of action Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence. Synonyms: resolute, inflexible Antonyms: willing, submissive, flexible, yielding, pliant, soft

inclement

adjective - used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.

besotted

adjective - very drunk Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much.

unstinting

adjective - very generous Helen is unstinting with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend. Synonyms: philanthropic, unselfish, magnanimous, unsparing Antonyms: stingy, uncharitable

munificent

adjective - very generous Uncle Charley was known for his munificence, giving all seven of his nephews lavish Christmas presents each year.

splenetic

adjective - very irritable Ever since the car accident, Frank has been unable to walk without a cane, and so he has become splenetic and unpleasant to be around. Synonyms: rancorous, testy, belligerent, petulant, caustic, bitter Antonyms: pleasant, kind, happy, helping, nice, mild, cheerful, pleased, peaceful, calm, cool, polite, joyful, encouraging, pleasing, wonderful, pretty, comforting, bright, light, sunny, gentle, good, content, lovable, friendly, sympathetic, thoughtful, good-natured, laid-back, patient, easy-going, collected, stable, easy, certain, firm, strong, sure, insensitive, safe

dilatory

adjective - wasting time Lawyers use dilatory tactics so that it takes years before the case is actually decided.

ponderous

adjective - weighed-down; moving slowly Laden with 20 kilograms of college text books, the freshman moved ponderously across the campus. Synonyms: bulky, clumsy, weighty, awkward, unwieldy Antonyms: adroit, clever, dexterous, graceful, small, thin, easy, handy, convenient, exciting

cohesive

adjective - well integrated, forming a united whole A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on topic at all times, never losing sight of the main argument. Synonyms: united, close-knit Antonyms: separated, divided, detached, loose

savvy

adjective - well-informed or perceptive With his savvy business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year. Antonyms: ignorance, inability, ineptness, stupidity

illustrious

adjective - widely known and esteemed; having or conferring glory Einstein was possibly the most illustrious scientist in recent history. Synonyms: noble, renowned, splendid, remarkable, outstanding, exalted, famed Antonyms: unimportant, unknown, insignificant, usual, unremarkable, poor, humble, ordinary, regular, bad, inferior

quixotic

adjective - wildly idealistic; impractical For every thousand startups with quixotic plans to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable. Synonyms: impractical, romantic, impulsive, dreamy Antonyms: sensible, pragmatic, unromantic, cautious, wise, practical, realistic, thoughtful

audacious

adjective - willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food. Synonyms: foolhardy, bold, resolute, adventurous, courageous, risky Antonyms: careful, cautious, cowardly, meek, timid, afraid, fearful, shy, weak

blatant

adjective - without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers. Synonyms: outright, overt, flagrant, conspicuous, unabashed, glaring, shameless Antonyms: concealed, hidden, moral, secret

conspicuous

adjective - without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious American basketball players are always conspicuous when they go abroad--not only are they American, but some are over seven feet tall. Synonyms: discernible, noticeable, evident Antonyms: indistinct, invisible, obscured, hidden, uncertain, unclear, vague, unnoticeable, obscure, inconspicuous, unimportant, unremarkable, concealed, ordinary

wanton

adjective - without check or limitation; showing no moral restraints to one's anger, desire, or appetites Due to wanton behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return. Synonyms: outrageous, promiscuous, lewd, shameless Antonyms: moral, good, decent, needed, rational, reasonable, sensible, thrifty, economical

impeccable

adjective - without fault or error He was impeccably dressed in the latest fashion without a single crease or stain. Synonyms: precise, unblemished, exquisite, immaculate Antonyms: imperfect, flawed

unscrupulous

adjective - without scruples or principles In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself. Synonyms: selfish, petty, underhanded, deceitful, ruthless, illegal, shady, dishonest, crooked, corrupt, venal, unethical Antonyms: kind, honest, frank, trustworthy, truthful, ethical, lawful, moral, aboveboard, honorable, principled, fair, open, upright, good, right, decent

insidious

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

instead

adverb - As an alternative or substitute: Even as a baby she did not gurgle or babble in her cot and instead remained silent.

ostensibly

adverb - As appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; apparently: The report was ostensibly to be a reply to a questionnaire sent by the League. Synonyms: supposedly, officially, evidently

coyly

adverb - In a way that shows reluctance to give details about something regarded as sensitive : Most dances were left coyly undated in the program handout. Synonyms: self-effacing, timid, bashful, skittish, evasive

autonomously

adverb - In an autonomous or self-governing manner. Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously. Synonyms: individually, separately, freely Antonyms: together

rife

adverb - In an unchecked or widespread manner: Speculation has run rife on all sorts of mad theories about who will get up in each state. Synonyms: prevalent, alive, plentiful, popular, abundant, rampant, replete Antonyms: scarce, limited, uncommon

nonetheless

adverb - In spite of that; nevertheless: It reminds me of another frighteningly different culture which nonetheless fascinates us.

eventually

adverb - In the end, especially after a long delay, dispute, or series of problems: This led to him eventually asking Stephen if he would join him and few other comedians. Synonyms: someday, ultimately, sooner or later, finally Antonyms: never

likewise

adverb - In the same way; also: Both of them believe that everyone should have a dream and likewise, everyone should work towards making it happen.

peripheral

noun - (Of a device) able to be attached to and used with a computer, though not an integral part of it: These connectors can be plugged into devices such as computers and peripheral devices such that the respective components can be interconnected. Synonyms: incidental, tangential

earl

noun - A British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess . Attendants of an earl, viscount or baron wore six rows of curls on state wigs and five on house wigs. Antonyms: commoner

synopsis

noun - A brief summary or general survey of something: If you scroll to the airport, it gives you just a brief synopsis of delays, the departures and weather conditions. Synonyms: recap, rundown

graveyard

noun - A burial ground , especially one beside a church: He was buried beside my mother in the graveyard beside the church in the little town near our ranch. Synonyms: cemetery, burial ground

sheath

noun - A close-fitting cover for the blade of a knife or sword . Drawing the sword free of the sheath she inspected the blade. Synonyms: coat

edifice

noun - A complex system of beliefs: Among the core fantasies on which the entire edifice rests is the belief that something called True Love exists. Synonyms: skyscraper, monument

shortcoming

noun - A fault or failure to meet a certain standard, typically in a person's character, a plan, or a system: Their youth and beauty also made up for any shortcomings in this area on the part of the wife. Synonyms: flaw, lack, weakness, lapse Antonyms: perfection, enough, extra, plenty, strong point, advantage, strength, benefit

ennui

noun - A feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement : The physical environment itself is a crucial factor in the creation of unhappiness, ennui, anger, alienation and despair. Synonyms: tedium, melancholy, apathy, weariness, sadness, languor Antonyms: happiness, joy, cheer

trope

noun - A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression: The scrolls and the codex of the two novels are maps for the reader in linking the tropes, metaphors, and themes of each novel in a non-linear coherence.

whetstone

noun - A fine-grained stone used for sharpening cutting tools . Larger whetstones for sharpening iron tools were an important part of everyday equipment and were widely traded, especially since varying degrees of coarseness were required to produce a finely honed edge.

strain

noun - A force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme or damaging degree: The structure of the ligamenta flava enables them to be stretched to high strains without damage. Synonyms: tension, stress, anxiety, bruise, pressure, burden Antonyms: relaxation, calmness, aid, relief, health, ease, peace, help, mend, fix

leap

noun - A forceful jump or quick movement: In a quick leap, he had jumped from the veranda and had sped off into the field after me. Synonyms: upswing, upsurge, surge Antonyms: permit, descend, lower, decline, allow

backwater

noun - A part of a river not reached by the current , where the water is stagnant : They inhabit swift streams, the backwaters of large rivers, brackish lagoons, and potholes. Antonyms: permit, sanction, validate, enforce, institute, legalize, ratify, uphold, allow, support, approve, keep, enact, establish, aid, assist, facilitate, further, excite, grow, increase, enlarge, prolong, lengthen, advance, encourage, forward, help, push, agitate, extend, raise, strengthen, expand, develop

acolyte

noun - A person assisting a priest in a religious service or procession . There were scores of acolytes and priests, preparing to begin the ritual. Synonyms: follower

official

noun - A person holding public office or having official duties, especially as a representative of an organization or government department: Mostly obviously they now can use the right to be represented by a union official in disciplinaries. Synonyms: precise, authoritative, definite, fitting, valid, proper, formal, conclusive Antonyms: inexact, indefinite, incorrect, unsuitable, unacceptable, imprecise, improper, employee

damper

noun - A person or thing that has a subduing or inhibiting effect: Both groups have demanded that he should receive a fair trial, helping to put the dampers on the muted triumphalism that greeted his capture and imprisonment.

dystopian

noun - A person who advocates or describes an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad: Yet, this technological naivety finally does not matter, for the dystopians' purpose is moral and political.

idler

noun - A person who avoids work or spends time in an aimless or lazy way . They who never go to the Holy Land in their walks, as they pretend, are indeed mere idlers and vagabonds; but they who do go there are saunterers in the good sense, such as I mean.

detractor

noun - A person who disparages someone or something: Of course, detractors and critics emerged instantaneously out of the woodwork. Synonyms: critic

arrangement

noun - A plan or preparation for a future event: This year the scramble in Claremorris will be on the first Saturday in July and John has already made preliminary arrangements for the event. Synonyms: adjustment, deal, package, schedule, agreement Antonyms: disagreement, disorganization, disorder

peasant

noun - A poor smallholder or agricultural labourer of low social status (chiefly in historical use or with reference to subsistence farming in poorer countries): As a result, poor peasants might find themselves paying their dues to a wealthy peasant, and never see the lord at all. Synonyms: laborer

bastion

noun - A projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions . A large area was enclosed by a defensive wall with bastions and monumental gates, and the natural sheltered harbour was extended and deepened. Synonyms: stronghold, mainstay, citadel, fortress

aim

noun - A purpose or intention; a desired outcome : My hopes and desires and aims were to win this tournament. Synonyms: desire, direction, target, wish, aspiration Antonyms: dislike, hate, hatred, ignore, neglect

apposition

noun - A relationship between two or more words or phrases in which the two units are grammatically parallel and have the same referent (e.g. my friend Sue ; the first US president, George Washington ) . Long sentences with subclauses loosely strung together and lots of words in apposition likewise suggest that meaning can be continually modified rather than structured into discrete differential units. Synonyms: stability, uniformity, coherence, steadiness, cohesion, unity, harmony, fitness Antonyms: discord, fighting, disagreement

aside

noun - A remark or passage in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but is supposed to be unheard by the other characters in the play: The revenger also usually had a very close relationship with the audience through soliloquies and asides. Synonyms: down, alone, away, separately, out

hack

noun - A rough cut, blow, or stroke: Jeff has a slightly open stance and takes a wicked hack at pitches he likes. Synonyms: drudge

chore

noun - A routine task, especially a household one: Girls as young as four and five are expected to help with household chores and to care for their younger siblings. Synonyms: duty, assignment, workout, errand

sophomore

noun - A second-year university or high-school student: Why are most of the victims physically weak such as university freshmen or sophomores or female students? Synonyms: inexperienced

bit

noun - A set of actions or ideas associated with a specific group or activity: I'm not sure about the getting married bit, but the idea of them going off somewhere holds a certain appeal. Synonyms: sample, slice, trace, item, fragment, chunk, shard, dose, snippet, sliver Antonyms: whole, entirety, lot

shift

noun - A slight change in position, direction, or tendency: Change can be no more than a slight shift in direction - although, as when a tanker ship charts a new course, this may have dramatic long-term consequences. Synonyms: deviation, conversion, about-face, move, alteration, variation, transfer, transformation Antonyms: sameness, idleness, stagnation, remain, stay, hold, keep, fix, continue

hummingbird

noun - A small nectar -feeding tropical American bird that is able to hover and fly backwards , and typically has colourful iridescent plumage . Without the ability to hover, hummingbirds would not be able to obtain nectar from flowers.

sentry

noun - A soldier stationed to keep guard or to control access to a place: A lone sentry now stands guard, posted by the Northern Alliance. Synonyms: sentinel

turmoil

noun - A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty: His party piece is inner turmoil, and he does brooding intensity better than just about anyone. Synonyms: anxiety, riot, confusion, violence, strife, unrest, disturbance, tumult, turbulence, trouble Antonyms: calmness, composure, contentment, happiness, tranquility, calm, peace, order

overnight

noun - A stop or stay lasting one night: He loved to stay overnights on the weekends, whenever it was possible. Antonyms: enduring, lasting, long-lived, permanent, lengthy, remain, dissuade, stay, halt, stop, discourage, permanent

penchant

noun - A strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something: History in Edinburgh has a peculiar penchant for throwing together people, politics and passion. Synonyms: proclivity, taste, weakness, propensity, affinity, affection Antonyms: disinclination, dislike, hate, hatred, antipathy

blow

noun - A strong wind: The wind started out as just a gentle breeze, but soon evolved into a strong blow. Synonyms: hurricane Antonyms: good luck, miracle, success, boon, advantage, satisfaction, happiness, blessing, good fortune, wonder, boost, comfort, retard, hoard, save

whim

noun - A sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained: Apparently on a whim, Wonka suddenly decides to reopen his doors to five children. Synonyms: impulse, vagary, inclination

halt

noun - A suspension of movement or activity, typically a temporary one: While the inauguration of the mall was scheduled for 10.23 a.m., the crowd gathered an hour before bringing traffic movement to a halt. Synonyms: interruption, pause, standstill, letup, freeze Antonyms: continuation, permit, commence, aid, further, stimulate, urge, assist, open, allow, continue, go, begin, start, encourage, let go, initiate, advance, help, keep on, support, promote

stopgap

noun - A temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying a need : That's the thing about 'interim' constitutions: They're stopgaps and place-holders until the real thing can be thrashed out.

earnest

noun - A thing intended or regarded as a sign or promise of what is to come: It is but a trifle that Sauron fancies, and an earnest of your good will. Synonyms: diligent, impassioned, sincere, fervent, urgent, purposeful Antonyms: indifferent, apathetic, insincere, dispassionate, cool, unexcited, unenthusiastic, cold, frigid

eyesore

noun - A thing that is very ugly , especially a building: At a time when Ireland is so wealthy, the excuses for building those eyesores are gone. Synonyms: blight

misconception

noun - A view or opinion that is incorrect because based on faulty thinking or understanding : A lot of the original points of view were based on misconceptions about the other side's point of view. Synonyms: delusion, misunderstanding, misinterpretation Antonyms: reality, certainty, fact, surety, truth

backyard

noun - A yard at the back of a house or other building . The youngsters raided the backyards of houses, appropriating the 'besoms' or brooms usually kept there, and these they subsequently used as torches on Guy Fawkes Day, or rather, night. Synonyms: lawn, yard

notion

noun - An impulse or desire, especially one of a whimsical kind: Eagleton says that opinion, appetite or inclinations are notions of individual desire that become a person's subjectivity. Synonyms: impression, concept, conception, knowledge, sentiment, perception, image, understanding, thought, assumption, suggestion Antonyms: reality, being, concrete

snapshot

noun - An informal photograph taken quickly, typically with a small handheld camera: If you just want a standard, entry level digital camera for family snapshots and auction photos, then a point and shoot digital camera is a budget conscious choice.

wrack

noun - Any of a number of coarse brown seaweeds which grow on the shoreline , frequently each kind forming a distinct band in relation to high- and low-water marks. Many have air bladders for buoyancy . Saw wrack is the main seaweed used, taken fresh from the shore, washed in seawater and stored briefly. Synonyms: decimate, torment

regard

noun - Attention to or concern for something: They're determined to impose this agreement on the Australian people without regard for very legitimate concerns. Synonyms: view Antonyms: disregard, disdain, indifference, dislike, hatred, disrespect, ignorance, negligence, dishonor, neglect, opposition, ignore, miss, disbelieve, condemn, despise, scorn, forget

worthy

noun - Characterized by good intent but lacking in humour or imagination: All of which contributes to making Sylvia a film which, while certainly worthy in intent, won't have very many people seeking to find out more about the poet. Synonyms: noble, satisfying, worthwhile, admirable, reliable, excellent, desirable, valuable, honest, trustworthy, deserving, decent, laudable Antonyms: valueless, worthless, hateful, unworthy, deceptive, unreliable, untrustworthy, evil, dishonest, fraudulent, bad, poor, FALSE

sedition

noun - Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch . These varied from the trials and subsequent execution of radicals for treason, to trials for sedition and seditious libel. Synonyms: insurrection, insubordination, mutiny, treason Antonyms: obedience

delight

noun - Great pleasure: He took great delight there to go to the bookbinders' shops and lie gaping on maps. Synonyms: satisfaction, joy, glee, contentment, pleasure Antonyms: discontent, dissatisfaction, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, anger, disappoint, dissuade, frustrate, annoy, offend, bring down, dishearten, tire, displease, refuse, disgust, upset, disturb, depress, discourage, repel, repulse, bore, disenchant

manacle

noun - One of two metal bands joined by a chain, for fastening a person's hands or ankles : Massive manacles made of dull metal bound its wrists and ankles to the wall.

ignominy

noun - Public shame or disgrace : It can be fully present in failure, disgrace and ignominy.

prowess

noun - Skill or expertise in a particular activity or field: And his fame has nothing whatsoever to do with his prowess on the football field or in the political arena. Synonyms: dexterity, talent, readiness, mastery, accomplishment Antonyms: inability, incapacity, lack, failure, cowardice, weakness, fear, meekness, timidity

nothingness

noun - The absence or cessation of life or existence: Of course, there are also those who do not subscribe to any religious faith and who may believe that death leads to nothingness, oblivion.

reception

noun - The action of admitting someone to a place, group, or institution or the process of being admitted: For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion. Synonyms: reaction, gathering, welcome, greeting, receiving Antonyms: goodbye, question

purchase

noun - The action of buying something: However renovation work would use up all the council's funds and that upset 13 councillors from across the political spectrum who wanted to block the purchase. Synonyms: investment, acquisition, asset Antonyms: forfeit, lose, spend, throw away, fail, have

depiction

noun - The action of depicting something, especially in a work of art : But uniformity is lacking even between animal depictions within the same painting group. Synonyms: picture, sketch, likeness

finding

noun - The action of finding someone or something: Information discovered as the result of an inquiry or investigation : Soldiers who reached an isolated village in Aurora province reported finding about 100 dead. Synonyms: decision, recommendation, data

concealment

noun - The action of hiding something or preventing it from being known: From the clerk of the kitchen I required the buttery accounts without varnish or concealment.

departure

noun - The action of leaving, especially to start a journey: Their approach may have triggered the thief's hasty departure, said Wade. Synonyms: retirement, flight, evacuation, escape, removal, exit, separation, withdrawal, exodus, passage, takeoff, retreat Antonyms: coming, stay, entrance, arrival

subsistence

noun - The action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself, especially at a minimal level: How can you have free trade, and bring the cost of goods down, by giving people wages, which are below the level of subsistence, and maintain that population? Synonyms: sustenance, ration, livelihood

dispersal

noun - The action or process of distributing or spreading things or people over a wide area: We would also like to increase our understanding of population processes, such as dispersal and seedling recruitment. Synonyms: dispersion, diffusion Antonyms: collection

fabrication

noun - The action or process of manufacturing or inventing something: They can also be made directly into structural shapes during fabrication. Synonyms: falsehood, myth, fiction, forgery, untruth, deceit Antonyms: truth, non-fiction

rambling

noun - The activity of walking in the countryside for pleasure : After much leisurely rambling, we made tracks for Provincetown, a charming seaside town. Synonyms: disjointed, circuitous, long-winded, incoherent Antonyms: coherent

taxonomy

noun - The branch of science concerned with classification, especially of organisms; systematics . The question remains, however, whether expertise in taxonomy and biological systematics will be available for the long term.

wholesale

noun - The business of selling of goods in large quantities and at low prices, typically to be sold on by retailers at a profit : The Nictus group includes property, carpet wholesale, carpet retail, motor industry and short term insurance companies. Synonyms: sweeping, extensive, indiscriminate, large-scale Antonyms: narrow

wit

noun - The capacity for inventive thought and quick understanding; keen intelligence: However, their quick wits and intelligence often brings them through, and they may make a fortune from nothing. Synonyms: fun, joke, satire

rainfall

noun - The fall of rain: The officials said that if the plum rains bring disappointing rainfalls in the south, leaving farmland fallow in the summer would be the only way to prevent drought conditions. Synonyms: shower, moisture Antonyms: dryness

contempt

noun - The feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration : Most Britons greeted this fraud with the scorn and contempt it deserves. Synonyms: distaste, mockery, derision, condescension, antipathy, ridicule, malice Antonyms: flattery, praise, friendliness, liking, obedience, like, love, loving, respect, approval, esteem, honor, regard, sympathy

utmost

noun - The greatest or most extreme extent or amount: The crew does the utmost to provide for the basic needs for the refugees. Synonyms: sheer, all-out, ultimate, unconditional, absolute Antonyms: conditional, limited

lead

noun - The initiative in an action; an example for others to follow: Well done to Wandsworth Council for taking the lead in this initiative. Synonyms: advantage, point, top, start, edge, margin Antonyms: disadvantage, interior, center, surrender, ignore, dissuade, yield, neglect, fail, mismanage, discourage, refuse, shun, subtract, stop, take, take away

infusion

noun - The introduction of a new element or quality into something: The infusion of supernatural elements into human societies is itself a natural phenomenon that has a naturalistic origin and history.

midst

noun - The middle part or point: To be plopped in the river's midst, in a canoe, on a spectacular day, is tranquilizing.

loyalty

noun - The quality of being loyal: Despite their ongoing loyalty to the museum, both are well aware of its limitations. Synonyms: faith, fidelity, fealty, patriotism, honesty, support, allegiance, obedience, reliability, sincerity, adherence Antonyms: disloyalty, treachery, dishonesty, disgrace, dishonor, lying

furniture

noun - The small accessories or fittings that are required for a particular task or function: They use cheap materials and actually destroy a lot of decent furniture and fittings in the process - if something is considered unfashionable it gets taken out or painted over. Synonyms: goods, sofa, appliance, bed, couch, equipment, bookcase, desk

underbelly

noun - The soft underside or abdomen of an animal . Color is variable and can range from jet black dorsally with a lighter underbelly to a uniform light gray. Synonyms: floor, bed, seat, belly, basement, underside, ground Antonyms: ceiling

consciousness

noun - The state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings: He was taken to hospital by ambulance but never regained consciousness and died a week later. Synonyms: apprehension, sensibility, alertness, awareness Antonyms: ignorance

corpulence

noun - The state of being fat ; obesity : The surreal corpulence of the boy is a distraction, and when we watch him steal the only pieces of meat from his uncomprehending blind stepsister's rice bowl we are reminded not of Chaplin but of Fellini.

alert

noun - The state of being watchful for possible danger: The main north-south highway was reopened on Thursday but motorists were urged to remain on alert against possible dangers caused by the continuing heavy rains. Synonyms: watchful, wise, wary, observant, active, bright, perceptive, wired, vigilant Antonyms: inattentive, negligent, foolish, ignorant, stupid, unintelligent, incautious, indiscreet, indifferent, unaware, unobservant, lazy, careless, thoughtless, dull, conceal, hide

outcome

noun - The way a thing turns out; a consequence: The cleverness of the report lies in showing how the same trends might result in different outcomes. Synonyms: reaction, result, issue, event, conclusion Antonyms: source, cause

noon

noun - Twelve o'clock in the day; midday : A typical day would have schools programmes from ten to twelve noon and again from two to three in the afternoon.

hindsight

noun - Understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed: Playing through Iron Storm was like looking back in hindsight on a historical event.

simulacrum

noun - a bad imitation The early days of computer graphics made real people into a simulacrum that now seems comical.

idiosyncrasy

noun - a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and owning a pet aardvark. Synonyms: eccentricity, peculiarity, mannerism Antonyms: usualness, normality

foible

noun - a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual When their new roommate sat staring at an oak tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a harmless foible. Synonyms: quirk, idiosyncrasy, failing, peculiarity, eccentricity Antonyms: advantage, strong point, usualness, strength, normality

constituent

noun - a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes The mayor's constituents are no longer happy with her performance and plan to vote for another candidate in the upcoming election.

ploy

noun - a clever plan to turn a situation to one's advantage Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14 different people lying for him in different situations, so that it could appear that he was meeting Mary completely by chance at the wedding reception. Synonyms: maneuver, tactic, stratagem, ruse

egotist

noun - a conceited and self-centered person An egotist, Natasha had few friends because of her inability to talk about anything except her dream of becoming the next American Idol.

imbroglio

noun - a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget. Synonyms: entanglement, squabble, brouhaha, quandary, spat

hodgepodge

noun - a confusing mixture or jumble Those in attendance represented a hodgepodge of the city's denizens: chimney sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to elbow with stockbrokers. Synonyms: patchwork, jumble, mishmash

despot

noun - a cruel and oppressive dictator The Emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute despot. Synonyms: oppressor, autocrat

melancholy

noun - a deep, long-lasting sadness Hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy: he doesn't have a truly cheerful scene throughout the entire play. Synonyms: pensive, somber, gloomy, wistful, trite, mournful, sorrowful, grim Antonyms: cheerful, joyful, happy, bright, sunny, happiness, joy, excitement, cheer, confidence

canard

noun - a deliberately misleading fabrication The public will always be fooled by the media's canards. Synonyms: hoax

boon

noun - a desirable state Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry. Synonyms: windfall, blessing, godsend Antonyms: bad luck, bad fortune

anathema

noun - a detested person; the source of somebody's hate Hundreds of years ago, Galileo was anathema to the church; today the church is anathema to some on the left side of the political spectrum. Synonyms: bane, pariah

aberration

noun - a deviation from what is normal or expected Aberrations in climate have become the norm: rarely a week goes by without some meteorological phenomenon making headlines. Synonyms: peculiarity, quirk Antonyms: usualness, normality, perfection

conundrum

noun - a difficult problem Computers have helped solve some of the mathematical conundrums which have puzzled man for many centuries. Synonyms: riddle, mystery, enigma

malady

noun - a disease or sickness The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks. Synonyms: illness, syndrome, Cancer, sickness, disability, virus, infection Antonyms: health, relief, good health, strength, comfort

umbrage

noun - a feeling of anger caused by being offended Since he was so in love with her, he took umbrage at her comments, even though she had only meant to gently tease him.

presentiment

noun - a feeling of evil to come On the night that Lincoln would be fatally shot, his wife had a presentiment about going to Ford's Theater, but Lincoln persuaded her that everything would be fine.

solicitude

noun - a feeling of excessive concern I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my solicitude. Synonyms: uneasiness, disquiet

euphoria

noun - a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation The euphoria of winning her first gold medal in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense joy. Synonyms: jubilation, joy, glee, elation, exhilaration Antonyms: sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, discouragement, depression

charlatan

noun - a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes You may call him a motivational speaker, but I call him a charlatan--he doesn't have any idea what he's really talking about. Synonyms: con artist

juggernaut

noun - a force that cannot be stopped Napoleon was considered a juggernaut until he decided to invade Russia in winter; after which, his once indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine. Synonyms: barrage, cavalcade

panegyric

noun - a formal expression of praise Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast, but Andrew launched into a full panegyric, enumerating a complete list of Dave's achievements and admirable qualities.

contingent

noun - a gathering of persons representative of some larger group A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered around the castle to defend it. Synonyms: unforeseen

curmudgeon

noun - a grouchy, surly person Since Uncle Mike was the family curmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that she would become less grouchy.

misanthrope

noun - a hater of mankind Hamilton had been deceived so many times in his life that he hid behind the gruff exterior of a misanthrope, lambasting perfect strangers for no apparent reason.

myriad

noun - a large indefinite number There are a myriad of internet sites hawking pills that claim to boost energy for hours on end. Synonyms: infinite, endless, multiple, countless Antonyms: bounded, calculable, measurable, countable, limited

sanction

noun - a legal penalty for a forbidden action International sanctions have been placed on certain shipping lanes that were thought to be involved in human trafficking. Synonyms: approval Antonyms: deny, revoke, refuse, reject, invalidate, disallow, disapprove, protest, disagree, oppose

dissolution

noun - a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasure Many Roman emporers were known for their dissolution, indulging in unspeakable desires of the flesh. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: divorce, partition, disintegration Antonyms: beginning

harangue

noun - a long pompous speech; a tirade Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy's father's interminable harangues against the government. Synonyms: tirade, jeremiad, spiel, discourse, oration

gambit

noun - a manuveur or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage Randy played a gambit, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn't get a raise.

summit

noun - a meeting of high-level leaders Since climate change policy has been mired in congressional fighting, this summit should help set the goals for president's next term.

miser

noun - a person who doesn't like to spend money (because they are greedy) Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.

apostate

noun - a person who has abandoned a religious faith or cause An apostate of the Republican Party, Sheldon has yet to become affiliated with any party and dubs himself an independent.

arriviste

noun - a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climber The city center was aflutter with arrivistes who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.

parvenu

noun - a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher class The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats.

heretic

noun - a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion) Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.

sybarite

noun - a person who indulges in luxury Despite the fact that he'd maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a sybarite at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.

dupe

noun - a person who is easily tricked or swindled The charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch of dupes, but the crowd was quickly on to him and decried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them. Synonyms: patsy, sitting duck Antonyms: aid, assist, protect, help, support, be honest

proponent

noun - a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents. Synonyms: enthusiast, exponent, patron, partisan, advocate Antonyms: detractor, enemy, opponent, antagonist, opposition

advocate

noun - a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.A Synonyms: promoter, proponent, backer, lawyer, defender Antonyms: opponent, dissuade, refuse, reject, disapprove, hinder, block, conceal, hide, condemn, deny, discourage, oppose, hurt

jingoist

noun - a person who thinks that their country should be at war In the days leading up to war, a nation typically breaks up into the two opposing camps: doves, who do their best to avoid war, and jingoists, who are only too eager to wave national flags from their vehicles and vehemently denounce those who do not do th

sycophant

noun - a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage The CEO was unaware of the damaging consequences of his choices, largely because he surrounded himself with sycophants who would never dare criticize him. Synonyms: groupie, lackey

indigent

noun - a poor or needy person The indigents, huddled under the overpass, tried to start a small bonfire in the hope of staying warm. Synonyms: needy, penniless, impoverished, destitute Antonyms: wealthy, affluent, rich

corollary

noun - a practical consequence that follows naturally A corollary of Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the east coast of the U.S., is a push to build higher sea walls to protect against future hurricanes. Synonyms: upshot, analogy

atavism

noun - a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback Much of the modern art movement was an atavism to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.

stipend

noun - a regular allowance (of money) He was hoping for a monthly allowance loan from the government, but after no such stipend was forthcoming he realized he would have to seek other means of paying for his college tuition. Synonyms: salary, wage, fee

simulacrum

noun - a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture) The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a simulacrum of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai.

reprisal

noun - a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime The Old Testament doctrine of an eye for an eye is not the kind of retaliation practiced in war; rather, an arm, a leg, and both ears are the reprisal for the smallest scratch. Synonyms: retribution, vengeance, retaliation Antonyms: forgiveness, pardon

perquisite

noun - a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right) Even as the dishwasher at the French restaurant, Josh quickly learned that he had the perquisite of being able to eat terrific food for half the price diners would pay. Synonyms: perk

aesthetic

noun - a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement. The artist operated according to a peculiar aesthetic, not considering any photograph to be worth publishing unless it contained a marine mammal. Synonyms: artistic, creative

aphorism

noun - a short instructive saying about a general truth Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms, sometimes encapsulating a complex philosophical thought in a mere sentence. Synonyms: proverb, adage, dictum

maxim

noun - a short saying expressing a general truth Johnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single maxim but then requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means. Synonyms: aphorism, dictum, adage, theorem, proverb, motto, axiom

apothegm

noun - a short, pithy instructive saying Winston Churchill is famous for many apothegms, but this might be his most famous: It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.

smattering

noun - a slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something I know only a smattering of German, but Helen is able to read German newspapers and converse with natives. Synonyms: modicum, smidgen

inkling

noun - a slight suggestion or vague understanding Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but she doesn't have an inkling about how East Asian languages are structured. Synonyms: indication, hunch

pittance

noun - a small amount (of money) Vinny's uncle beamed smugly about how he'd offered his nephew fifty dollars for his Harvard tuition; even twice the amount would have been a mere pittance.

gaffe

noun - a socially awkward or tactless act In a famous gaffe, Vice President Quayle attempted to correct the spelling of a grade school student, only to find that the child was correct. Synonyms: indiscretion, impropriety, blooper

solecism

noun - a socially awkward or tactless act Mother Anna was always on guard against any solecism from her children and scolded them immediately if any of them talked out of place in public. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

tumult

noun - a state of chaos, noise and confusion Riots broke out just in front of our apartment building, and the tumult continued late into the night. Synonyms: turmoil, maelstrom, upheaval, riot, agitation, commotion, pandemonium, strife, excitement, unrest, disturbance Antonyms: calm, calmness, quiet, silence, stillness, tranquility, harmony, order, peace, agreement

enmity

noun - a state of deep-seated ill-will Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real enmity toward Sarah. Synonyms: antagonism, acrimony, hostility, bitterness, rancor, malice, ill will Antonyms: rapport, friendliness, friendship, liking, sympathy, kindness, sweetness, love, respect, like, approval

prognostication

noun - a statement made about the future When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable prognostication. Synonyms: prophecy

martinet

noun - a strict disciplinarian The job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until she found out that her boss was a total martinet; after each project the boss would come by to scrutinize--and inevitably criticize--every little detail of the work Rebecca had done.

recapitulation

noun - a summary (think of recap) Every point of the professors lesson was so clear that the students felt his concluding recapitulation was not necessary.

quisling

noun - a traitor History looks unfavorably upon quislings; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero--he who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.

banality

noun - a trite or obvious remark Herbert regarded the minister's remark as a mere banality until Sharon pointed out profound implications to the seemingly obvious words. Synonyms: platitude

collusion

noun - agreement on a secret plot Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's assassin, was in collusion with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman. Synonyms: deceit, scam, conspiracy, graft, complicity

apathy

noun - an absence of emotion or enthusiasm Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout on election day. Synonyms: lethargy, indifference

constituent

noun - an abstract part of something The constituents of the metal alloy are nickle, copper, and tin.

travesty

noun - an absurd presentation of something; a mockery What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty of the form. Synonyms: exaggeration, farce, mockery, perversion, satire

cornucopia

noun - an abundant supply of something good The International Food Expo was a cornucopia of culinary delights: gourmet foods from every continent were under one roof. Antonyms: lack, need, want, debt

screed

noun - an abusive rant (often tedious) Joey had difficulty hanging out with his former best friend Perry, who, during his entire cup of coffee, enumerated all of the government's deficiencies--only to break ranks and launch into some screed against big business. Synonyms: precept, tenet Antonyms: compliment, praise, disorganization

perfidy

noun - an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust The lowest circles in Dante's Inferno were for those who had practiced perfidy, and among these, the very lowest was for those, such as Judas, who had been treacherous to one of their benefactors.

enormity

noun - an act of extreme wickedness The enormity of Pol Pot's regime is hard to capture in words--within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: horror, depravity Antonyms: smallness, insignificance, littleness, tininess, unimportance

redress

noun - an act of making something right Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in a row, and was only able to redress his oversight by surprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti. Synonyms: retribution, reparation, remedy, reprisal, amends, atonement, indemnity, restitution Antonyms: penalty, sympathy, destroy, harm, injure, worsen, break, hurt

junta

noun - an aggressive takeover by a group (usually military) As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than the current leadership Synonyms: faction, government

row

noun - an angry dispute The Prime Minister looked very foolish after his row with the foreign dignitary was caught on video and posted on youtube. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: tier, line, succession Antonyms: agreement, peace

tirade

noun - an angry speech In terms of political change, a tirade oftentimes does little more than make the person speaking red in the face. Synonyms: ranting, invective, denunciation, diatribe, harangue Antonyms: compliment, praise

presumption

noun - an assumption that is taken for granted When Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the presumption that his rebellious son had taken the car, calling his son's phone and yelling at him; only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had simply gone out to get her nails d Synonyms: likelihood, assumption, suspicion, premise, supposition Antonyms: reality, knowledge, fact

accolade

noun - an award or praise granted as a special honor Jean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of accolades, and as such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964. Synonyms: distinction, kudos

cataclysm

noun - an event resulting in great loss and misfortune The introduction of smallpox was a cataclysm for Native Americans, killing off more than half of their population. Synonyms: upheaval, catastrophe, deluge, calamity, debacle, convulsion Antonyms: good luck, happiness, miracle, boon, blessing, good fortune, wonder

precedent

noun - an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time The principal explained that even though one student had done modelling work outside of school, the outfits that student wore in those photographs in no way established a precedent for what could be worn at school dances. Synonyms: criterion

surfeit

noun - an excessive amount of something There was no such thing as a surfeit of shopping for Nancy--she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time. Synonyms: profusion, glut, plethora Antonyms: lack, need, want

glut

noun - an excessive supply The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first. Synonyms: oversupply, saturation, surplus

dispensation

noun - an exemption from a rule or obligation Since her father is a billionaire, she is given dispensation from many of the school's policies. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: disbursement Antonyms: responsibility

paragon

noun - an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept Some say that Athens was the paragon of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote. Synonyms: epitome, exemplar, apotheosis

virago

noun - an ill-tempered or violent woman Poor Billy was the victim of the virago's invective--she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about how he is the scum of the earth for speaking loudly on his cellphone in public.

intimation

noun - an indirect suggestion At first the hostess tried intimation, praising the benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continued eating with his hands, the hostess told him to use a fork at dinner.

powwow

noun - an informal meeting or discussion Before the team takes the field, the coach always calls for a powwow so that he can make sure all the players are mentally in the right place. Synonyms: confab, parley

antipathy

noun - an intense feeling of dislike or aversion Maria had an antipathy for tour groups, often bolting to the other side of the museum as soon as she saw a chaperone leading a group of wide-eyed tourists. Synonyms: distaste, antagonism, enmity, hostility, rancor, ill will, animus Antonyms: friendship, good will, friendliness, liking, like, love, loving, sympathy, kindness

pariah

noun - an outcast The once eminent scientist, upon being found guilty of faking his data, has become a pariah in the research community. Synonyms: vagabond, persona non grata, leper, outsider

semblance

noun - an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading While the banker maintained a semblance of respectability in public, those who knew him well were familiar with his many crimes. Synonyms: pretense, veneer Antonyms: reality

reservation

noun - an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly I was initially excited by the idea of a trip to Washington, D.C. but now that I have read about the high crime statistics there, I have some reservations. Synonyms: restriction, skepticism, doubt

litany

noun - any long and tedious account of something Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and did not give a litany of reasons to keep funding the program, but instead, appealed to the basic human decency of all present. Synonyms: recitation, repetition, catalogue

empiricism

noun - any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge Empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.

presumption

noun - audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to The new neighbor quickly gained a reptuation for her presumption; she had invited herself to several of the neighbors homes, often stopping over at inopportune times and asking for a drink. Synonyms: likelihood, assumption, suspicion, premise, supposition Antonyms: reality, knowledge, fact

effrontery

noun - audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to The skateboarders acted with effrontery, skating through the church grounds and spray-painting signs warning trespassers.

credence

noun - belief in something He placed no credence in psychics, claiming that they offered no special powers beyond the ability to make people part with their money.

acrimony

noun - bitterness and ill will The acrimonious dispute between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: the health of the current administration was imperiled. Synonyms: animosity, ill will, belligerence, bitterness, rancor Antonyms: good will, love

jingoism

noun - fanatical patriotism North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cult of personality. Synonyms: fanaticism

chauvinism

noun - fanatical patriotism; belief that one's group/cause is superior to all other groups/causes Vegetarians argue that man is chauvinistic in his belief that animals do not consciously feel the pain we humans do. Synonyms: fanaticism

apprehension

noun - fearful expectation Test day can be one of pure apprehension, as many students worry about their test scores. Synonyms: foreboding, alarm, disquiet, mistrust Antonyms: calmness, calm, confidence, peace, belief, certainty, faith, trust

temerity

noun - fearless daring No child has the temerity to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted.

gall

noun - feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will In an act of gall, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers and professional contacts. Synonyms: chutzpah Antonyms: aid, soothe, calm, comfort, delight, make happy, please

aplomb

noun - great coolness and composure under strain Nancy acted with aplomb during dangerous situations--she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a cat. Synonyms: nonchalance, tact, equanimity

discord

noun - lack of agreement or harmony Despite all their talented players, the team was filled with discord--some players refused to talk to others--and lost most of their games. Synonyms: tumult, dissonance, disharmony Antonyms: accord, agreement, concord, harmony

calumny

noun - making of a false statement meant to injure a persons reputation With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the mud already waist- high.

paragon

noun - model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for basketball players. Synonyms: epitome, exemplar, apotheosis

recrimination

noun - mutual accusations The two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate recriminations of the other's guilt Synonyms: complaint, denunciation, allegation, indictment Antonyms: commendation, praise, approval

ascetic

noun - one who practices great self-denial Historically, ascetics like Ghandi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint. Synonyms: austere

aesthete

noun - one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.

spendthrift

noun - one who spends money extravagantly Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a spendthrift whose excesses eventually caught up to her.

hauteur

noun - overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors As soon as she won the lottery, Alice begin displaying a hauteur to her friends, calling them dirty-clothed peasants behind their backs. Synonyms: condescension, self-importance Antonyms: humility

hubris

noun - overbearing pride or presumption Bill Clinton was criticized for his hubris, since he believed he could get away with anything once in the White House. Synonyms: pretension, audacity, chutzpah, vanity Antonyms: humility, modesty

decorum

noun - propriety in manners and conduct You will obey the rules of decorum for this courtroom or spend the night in a jail cell, said the judge to the prosecutor. Synonyms: dignity, gentility, demeanor, civility, correctness, propriety, decency, orderliness Antonyms: wrong, impropriety, unsuitableness, rudeness, immorality

gumption

noun - resourcefulness and determination Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of gumption in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work. Synonyms: shrewdness, resourcefulness, acumen, savvy, cleverness Antonyms: ignorance, stupidity

moment

noun - significant and important value Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no great moment in Hampton's writing career, and within a few years the public quickly forgot his foray into theater arts. Synonyms: point, flash, juncture, time, date, occasion, bit, minute Antonyms: whole

tyro

noun - someone new to a field or activity All great writers, athletes, and artists were tyros at one time--unknown, clumsy, and unskilled with much to learn.

malingerer

noun - someone shirking their duty by pretending to be sick or incapacitated At one time, our country was full of hardworking respectful people, but now it seems that everyone is a malingerer with little inclination to work.

firebrand

noun - someone who deliberately creates trouble Freddie is a firebrand: every time he walks into the office, he winds up at the center of heated argument.

pundit

noun - someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field Steven Pinker's credentials are unquestioned as a pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology. Synonyms: scholar, expert, professor, intellectual, philosopher Antonyms: ignoramus

profligate

noun - someone who spends money recklessly or wastefully Most lottery winners go from being conservative, frugal types to outright profligates who blow millions on fast cars, lavish homes, and giant yachts. Synonyms: promiscuous

desideratum

noun - something desired as a necessity The desideratum of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling. Synonyms: desire, direction, target, wish, aspiration Antonyms: dislike, hate, hatred, extra, auxiliary, trivia

chimera

noun - something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve Many believe that a world free of war is a chimera--a dream that ignores humanity's violent tendancies.

palimpsest

noun - something that has been changed numerous times but on which traces of former iterations can still be seen The downtown was a palimpsest of the city's checkered past: a new Starbucks had opened up next to an abandoned, shuttered building, and a freshly asphalted road was inches away from a pothole large enough to swallow a small dog. Synonyms: text, document

anomaly

noun - something that is not normal, standard, or expected After finding an anomaly in the data, she knew that she would have to conduct her experimen t again. Synonyms: deviation, abnormality, oddity, aberration Antonyms: sameness, regularity, conformity, normality, standard

constraint

noun - something that limits or restricts He found pop music a constraint on his ability to learn and preferred to listen to classical musical while studying. Synonyms: restraint, pressure Antonyms: liberation, freedom, encouragement

anodyne

noun - something that soothes or relieves pain Muzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an anodyne, but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated.

catalyst

noun - something that speeds up an event Rosa Park's refusal to give up her bus seat acted as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, setting into motion historic changes for African-Americans. Synonyms: impetus, motivation, incentive, stimulant Antonyms: hindrance, block

exemplar

noun - something to be imitated Lena's homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work. Synonyms: epitome, paragon

tribulation

noun - something, especially an event, that causes difficulty and suffering As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians have fled their country hoping to escape the tribulations of a civil war tearing their country to pieces. Synonyms: heartache, misfortune, grief, misery, woe, adversity Antonyms: delight, happiness, joy, good luck

quandary

noun - state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn't call Elaine, she will blame him for everything, but if he does call her, the evidence of where he currently is could cost him his job. Synonyms: predicament, dilemma, embarrassment, puzzle, uncertainty, impasse Antonyms: good fortune, solution

chagrin

noun - strong feelings of embarrassment Much to the the timid writer's chagrin, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage. Synonyms: dismay, embarrassment, irritation, disquiet, annoyance Antonyms: happiness, confidence, comfort, aid, soothe, calm, delight, assist, make happy, please, satisfy, help

credulity

noun - tendency to believe readily Virginia's wide-eyed credulity as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn't really exist. Synonyms: confidence, belief, conviction, acceptance, loyalty, truth, hope Antonyms: disbelief, disloyalty

resignation

noun - the acceptance of something unpleasant that can't be avoided Since Jack could not think of a convincing reason why he had to miss the seminar, he attended it with a sense of resignation. Synonyms: termination, surrender, retirement, departure Antonyms: stay

verisimilitude

noun - the appearance of truth All bad novels are bad for numerous reasons; all good novels are good for their verisimilitude of reality, placing the readers in a world that resembles the one they know. Synonyms: plausibility, realism

check

noun - the condition of being held back or limited When government abuses are not kept in check, that government is likely to become autocratic. Synonyms: checkup, audit, review Antonyms: ignore, disprove, invalidate, forget, neglect, aid, assist, let go, allow, help, continue, encourage

venality

noun - the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption Even some of the most sacrosanct sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.

malapropism

noun - the confusion of a word with another word that sounds similar Whenever I looked glum, my mother would offer to share "an amusing antidote" with me--an endearing malapropism of anecdote" that never failed to cheer me up. Synonyms: inhumanity, atrocity, brutality, cruelty, barbarity Antonyms: kindness, niceness

contrition

noun - the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from doing something bad Those who show contrition during their prison terms--especially when under review by a parole board-- often get shortened sentences. Synonyms: penance, penitence, humiliation, sorrow Antonyms: happiness

denouement

noun - the final resolution of the many strands of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events At the denouement of the movie, all questions were answered, and the true identity of the robber was revealed. Synonyms: culmination, climax, finale Antonyms: beginning, opening, start

pinnacle

noun - the highest point At its pinnacle, the Roman Empire extended across most of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat not paralleled to the rise of the British Empire in the 18th and 19th century. Synonyms: apex, culmination, peak, height Antonyms: nadir, bottom

acme

noun - the highest point of achievement The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme of comfort, offering reclining seats and ample legroom.

zenith

noun - the highest point; culmination At the zenith of his artistic career, Elvis was outselling any other artist on the charts.

serendipity

noun - the instance in which an accidental, fortunate discovery is made The invention of the 3M Post It Note was serendipitous, because the scientist who had come up with the idea was looking for a strong adhesive; the weak adhesive he came up with was perfect for holding a piece of paper in place but made it very easy for so Synonyms: happenstance, fluke

pith

noun - the most essential part of something When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the pith of what the speaker is trying to convey. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

eponym

noun - the name derived from a person (real or imaginary); the person for whom something is named Alexandria, Egypt is an eponym because it is named after Alexander the Great. Synonyms: term, brand, style, label, flag, signature, sign, nickname

summit

noun - the peak or highest point After hiking for two days, the climbers finally reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

heyday

noun - the pinnacle or top of a time period or career During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegging had become such a lucrative business that many who had been opposed to the 18th Amendment began to fear it would be repealed.

ingenuity

noun - the power of creative imagination Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together. Synonyms: dexterity, talent, ability, intelligence, gumption, brilliance Antonyms: clumsiness, inability, incapacity, weakness, ignorance, ineptness, stupidity

prescience

noun - the power to foresee the future Baxter's warnings about investing in technology stocks seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly. Synonyms: foreknowledge

profusion

noun - the property of being extremely abundant When Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a profusion of reporters and journalists descended on the town. Synonyms: outpouring, glut

dispatch

noun - the property of being prompt and efficient She finished her thesis with dispatch, amazing her advisors who couldn't believe she hadn't written 60 scholarly pages so quickly. Antonyms: hold, keep

candidness

noun - the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her candidness about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.

exiguity

noun - the quality of being meager After two months at sea, the exiguity of the ship's supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food. Synonyms: loss, shortfall, inadequacy, reduction, dearth, paucity, absence, poverty, scarcity, shortage Antonyms: success, enough, plenty, sufficiency, abundance, affluence, excess, profit, surplus, ease

volubility

noun - the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously The professor's volubility knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point from one St. Patrick's Day to the next. Synonyms: vigor, poise, expressiveness, wit, passion, fervor, fluency

variance

noun - the quality of varying The cynic quipped, There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate. Synonyms: deviation, fluctuation, divergence, discrepancy, difference of opinion Antonyms: sameness, agreement, harmony

rapprochement

noun - the reestablishing of cordial relations Although Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a rapprochement, each one's bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely. Synonyms: détente, reconciliation, friendship

primacy

noun - the state of being first in importance The primacy of Apple Computers is not guaranteed, as seen in the recent lawsuits and weak growth. Synonyms: domination

ascendancy

noun - the state that exists when one person or group has power over another The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear--they have a decade of championships behind them. Synonyms: predominance, dominance

mendacity

noun - the tendency to be untruthful I can forgive her for her mendacity but only because she is a child and is seeing what she can get away with. Synonyms: deceit, prevarication, deception Antonyms: frankness, honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, openness, truth

gall

noun - the trait of being rude and impertinent Even though Carly was only recently hired, she had the gall to question her boss's judgment in front of the office. Synonyms: chutzpah Antonyms: aid, soothe, calm, comfort, delight, make happy, please

indifference

noun - the trait of seeming not to care In an effort to fight indifference, the president of the college introduced a new, stricter grading system. Synonyms: negligence, disdain, carelessness, inattention, apathy, lack, nonchalance, alienation, disinterest, disregard Antonyms: esteem, respect, attention

diminutive

noun - to indicate smallness He prefers to be called a diminutive of his name: Bill instead of John William. Synonyms: miniature

capitulate

noun - to surrender (usually under agreed conditions) Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against his nimble friend, basically capitulated when he played the last two points with his eyes closed. Synonyms: cede, defer, concede, bow, relent Antonyms: defend, fight, win, conquer

inanity

noun - total lack of meaning or ideas Bill's poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the inanity.

surge

verb - (Of a crowd or a natural force) move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward : The crowds surged forward immediately and smashed the sign. Synonyms: deluge, flow, swell, rise Antonyms: decrease, decline, decrease, lessen, descend, decline

inhabit

verb - (Of a person, animal, or group) live in or occupy (a place or environment): The hunting of animals by the Baka posed no threat to the sustainability of the natural species inhabiting the area. Synonyms: locate, occupy, reside, populate, possess Antonyms: lose, miss

billow

verb - (Of fabric) fill with air and swell outwards: She was sure, though, running at break neck speed, fabric billowing behind her, that something on the outside was now trying to break through.

pool

verb - (Of liquid) form a pool on the ground or another surface: A police spokesman said its communication unit had been affected by the power cut and drivers were warned to use side lights on the M65 as water pooled on the surface. Synonyms: tank, swimming pool, lake, bath

shallow

verb - (Of the sea, a lake, or a river) become less deep over time or in a particular place: A much larger area at the north end of the lake is approximately 24 m deep, shallowing to the south. Synonyms: flat, trivial, empty, hollow Antonyms: raised, full, full

overturn

verb - Abolish , invalidate , or reverse (a previous system, decision, situation, etc.): She said she had taken on her chairmanship in December 2003, determined to overturn a previous board decision not to renew Mr Ramsay's contract. Synonyms: invalidate, annul, capsize, reverse, void, nullify, topple Antonyms: permit, validate, sanction, approve, keep, allow, pass

dispute

verb - Argue about (something): Not a weekend has gone by where some, or all, of the teams are not discussing or disputing these regulations. Synonyms: row, squabble, discord, wrangle, brawl, discussion, disagreement, misunderstanding, friction, controversy, feud Antonyms: concurrence, quiet, accord, calm, agreement, peace, harmony, concord, give in, concede, corroborate, prove, give up, agree, allow, approve

engage

verb - Arrange to employ or hire (someone): Although we were totally different, we seemed to hit it off and I made arrangements to engage him full-time on my return to England. Synonyms: employ, enlist Antonyms: shun, ignore, release, let go, free, bore, disenchant, disinterest

demand

verb - Ask authoritatively or brusquely: The scorer walked up to him in a tea break and brusquely demanded to know his name. Synonyms: claim, requirement, use, sale, trade, application, call, interest, insistence, need, appeal, order Antonyms: deny, disclaim, reply, answer, have

reckon

verb - Be of the opinion: Even if you manage to find a bargain, seasoned gemstone collectors reckon that you may need to hold the stones for as long as ten years to get a decent return. Synonyms: calculate, surmise

flank

verb - Be on each or on one side of: It is well lit by two large windows and has as its focal point a marble fireplace flanked by built-in shelving units.

bog

verb - Be or become stuck in mud or wet ground: He showed signs of ability at Ascot 11 days ago, but got bogged down in the heavy ground. Synonyms: marshland

repose

verb - Be situated or kept in a particular place: Its baptismal font (in which many of my ancestors' noggins were wetted) now reposes in a side-chapel of the nearby Johanneskirche. Synonyms: inactivity, stillness

emerge

verb - Become apparent or prominent: The picture emerging yesterday was confused at best. Synonyms: materialize, loom, develop, appear, show, rise, surface, turn up, come up Antonyms: decrease, lessen, disappear, hide, abandon, drop, fall, go, leave

plug

verb - Block or fill in (a hole or cavity ): Thousands of local authority workers could face cuts to their pension benefits as all 15 councils in Yorkshire and the Humber try to find a way to plug the gaping black hole in their schemes. Antonyms: open

finesse

verb - Bring about or deal with (something) by using great delicacy and skill: It takes a measure of artistic fortitude to lovingly depict the ordinary, and ample skill to finesse it into quietly seductive works of art. Synonyms: guile, acumen, subtlety, tact, sophistication, quickness, savvy, skill, competence Antonyms: ignorance, inability, ineptness, incapability

subjugate

verb - Bring under domination or control, especially by conquest : It was designed to instil in young noblemen the qualities required to conquer new lands and subjugate their people on behalf of the king and the church. Synonyms: enslave, conquer

heal

verb - Cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again: But when I was bitten, while picking some herbs to heal a sick friend, they made me one of their Elders. Synonyms: repair, soothe, reconcile, restore, regenerate, rebuild, rejuvenate, revive, rehabilitate, settle, treat, alleviate Antonyms: damage, destroy, injure, ruin, worry, unsettle, harm, ignore, weaken, break, hurt, upset, kill, neglect

humble

verb - Cause (someone) to feel less important or proud : Experiencing his mercy should humble us, fill us with gratitude, and move us to be merciful toward those around us. Synonyms: timid, sheepish, respectful, tentative, simple, self-effacing, soft-spoken, polite, quiet, gentle, modest, shy Antonyms: brave, extroverted, discourteous, unmannerly, complicated, intricate, impolite, uncivil, extraordinary, bold, unashamed, complex, rude, unrefined, loud, troubled, presumptuous, release, surrender, build up, compliment, praise, honor, comfort, delight, enlighten, explain, lose, yield, encourage, boost, help, make happy, please, clarify, clear up, order

deflect

verb - Cause (something) to change direction; turn aside from a straight course: As Church settles in at the table, she is neither striving to be the centre of attention nor attempting to deflect it. Synonyms: swerve, avert, veer, ricochet, hook, bend, slip, pivot Antonyms: straighten, stay

lend

verb - Contribute or add (a quality) to: The concentration of structures in space lends an urban quality even to small villages. Synonyms: supply, give, extend, grant, provide, contribute, afford Antonyms: conceal, withhold, withstand, decrease, lessen, deny, refuse, subtract, disapprove, take, hold, keep, remove, take away, withdraw

blanket

verb - Cover completely with a thick layer of something: In the film, a town in Maine is blanketed in a thick soup of slow moving fog. Synonyms: sweeping, across-the-board Antonyms: conditional, limited, uncover, release, reveal, free, let go

wrap

verb - Cover or enclose in paper or soft material: The pillars are wrapped in new reflective material which allows light to bounce off the stone and create a natural light in the building. Synonyms: fur, coat, shawl Antonyms: uncover, ignore, disperse, loosen, release, lay bare, let out, reveal, let go, free, loose, untie

trick

verb - Cunningly deceive or outwit: They were sly and quick with words and a smile, cunningly tricking their foes. Synonyms: maneuver, fraud, deception, plot, ploy, ruse, hoax, conspiracy, trap, device, gimmick, distortion, illusion Antonyms: honesty, truth, failure, protect, help, be honest

infer

verb - Deduce or conclude (something) from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements: Rather, Matt is inferring it from all the talk of Social Security's problems starting in 2018. Synonyms: guess, derive, assume, glean, speculate, reckon, deduce, presume Antonyms: abstain, disbelieve, neglect

deceive

verb - Deliberately cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, especially for personal gain : Make a list of who told you what, and determine if anyone has something to gain by deceiving you. Synonyms: fool, trick, victimize, cheat, swindle, dupe, betray, disappoint, entrap, hoodwink, circumvent, falsify, defraud Antonyms: aid, assist, protect, help, support

dub

verb - Dress (an artificial fishing fly ) with strands of fur or wool or with other material: prewaxed thread has dramatically eased the process of dubbing Synonyms: nickname, designate

ascertain

verb - Find (something) out for certain; make sure of: A second objective was to attempt to ascertain the limits to survival in terms of loss of conductivity. Synonyms: find out, confirm, verify, determine, divine Antonyms: disprove, invalidate

compel

verb - Force or oblige (someone) to do something: He could leave for Philadelphia with his new bride as planned, but duty compels him to stay and meet his fate. Synonyms: urge, oblige, necessitate, impel, constrain, exact Antonyms: dissuade

weave

verb - Form (fabric or a fabric item) by interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them: Where privacy is a concern, invest in lighter curtain fabrics such as lightly woven linens or cottons that have a high degree of translucence. Synonyms: braid, careen, compose, construct, create, entwine, fabricate, fold, fuse, incorporate, interwine, introduce, knit, loop, mesh, sew, snake, spin, splice, twist, zigzag Antonyms: break, demolish, destroy, disconnect, divide, ruin, separate, untwist

devote

verb - Give all or most of one's time or resources to (a person or activity): Therefore, devoting substantial staff resources to training, organizing, leading, and sustaining family psychoeducation is seen as a luxury. Synonyms: give, dedicate, give away, allot, apply, donate, assign Antonyms: conceal, refrain, withhold, keep, take

trek

verb - Go on a long arduous journey, typically on foot : Although his ammo had been replenished, the captain would rather have trekked back to the supply area than witness a fellow soldier die. Synonyms: hike, trip, odyssey Antonyms: tiptoe

importune

verb - Harass (someone) persistently for or to do something: But a glimpse of the relationship can be found in the notes of a visitor, August Gottlieb Meissner, who was present when Mozart's friends importuned him to finish the overture to Don Giovanni.

scathe

verb - Harm ; injure : He'd been hit a few times, but for someone of his magnitude, it barely scathed him.

till

verb - Prepare and cultivate (land) for crops: Aggie and her husband Pat were farming people who tilled the land, harvested the crops and raised livestock.

disprove

verb - Prove that (something) is FALSE : In that case, such a hypothesis would then have to withstand the rigors of both scientific method (empirically testing and proving or disproving the hypothesis) and peer review. Synonyms: invalidate, impugn, refute, contradict, belie, confound, discredit, negate, rebut Antonyms: permit, praise, prove, concede, approve, agree

hone

verb - Refine or perfect (something) over a period of time: Aides say mock debates help to hone his arguments and to keep his answers focused. Synonyms: whet

hunt

verb - Search determinedly for someone or something: Private adoption agencies' touts hunted for vulnerable, expectant families who already had one or two daughters. Synonyms: raid, hunting, probe, prosecution, interrogation, quest, race, inquiry, investigation Antonyms: liberate, free, let go, reply, ignore, rush, answer

throw

verb - Send suddenly into a particular state or condition: This is about the fifth time in three years that the place has been thrown into utter confusion. Synonyms: lob, thrust, force, shove, fling, fire, hurl, deliver, drive, send, flip, start, lift, push, pitch, put Antonyms: dissuade, repress, pull, discourage, stop, receive

indicate

verb - Suggest as a desirable or necessary course of action: An appropriate physical examination and necessary medically indicated investigation are clearly essential. Synonyms: reveal, point out, express, pinpoint, show, suggest, signal, hint, mark, prove, imply, argue, announce Antonyms: conceal, hide, suppress, deny, refuse, veto, lose

concede

verb - acknowledge defeat I concede. You win! Synonyms: relinquish, cede, hand over, quit, confess, grant, accept, admit, yield Antonyms: deny, repudiate, refuse, veto, reject, dispute, disallow, disapprove, hold, keep, defend, fight, win

expound

verb - add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit. Synonyms: exemplify, delineate, explain, express, spell out Antonyms: complicate, mystify, obscure, confuse

confound

verb - be confusing or perplexing to Though Harry loved numbers, he found calculus confounding. Synonyms: mystify, perplex, bewilder, discombobulate, rattle, puzzle, astound, baffle, amaze Antonyms: enlighten, explain, explicate, calm, comfort, clear up, clarify, bore, help, expect

vacillate

verb - be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action Some students vacillate between schools when deciding which to attend, while others focus only on one school. Synonyms: waffle, seesaw, waver, fluctuate, dither, oscillate Antonyms: remain, stay

prevail

verb - be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current: During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility prevailed in the office. Synonyms: prove, beat, win, reign, succeed, overcome, triumph, abound Antonyms: surrender, forfeit, lose, fail

languish

verb - become feeble Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts. Synonyms: dwindle, faint, wither, deteriorate, fail, suffer, rot, weaken Antonyms: grow, develop, build

crystallize

verb - cause to take on a definite and clear shape Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha's ideas for the essay crystallize.

transmute

verb - change or alter in form, appearance, or nature One of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would transmute lead into gold. Synonyms: mutate, metamorphose

denigrate

verb - charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations. Synonyms: impugn, disparage, defame, slander, vilify, besmirch Antonyms: praise, compliment, flatter, approve, commend

circumvent

verb - cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores. Synonyms: prevent, thwart, deceive, stymie, avoid, sidestep, evade, bypass, skirt Antonyms: aid, assist, help, encourage, face, meet, take on

vie

verb - compete for something While the other teams in the division actively vie for the championship, this team seems content simply to go through the motions of playing. Synonyms: contend, strive

dissemble

verb - conceal one's true motives, usually through deceit To get close to the senator, the assassin dissembled his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.

subsume

verb - consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.

implicate

verb - convey a meaning; imply By saying that some of the guests were uncomfortable, the manager implicated to the hotel staff that it needed to be more dilligent. Synonyms: entangle, blame, embroil, incriminate, charge, accuse, suggest, affect Antonyms: exclude, exculpate, exonerate, praise

quail

verb - draw back, as with fear or pain Craig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley, he quailed at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

flag

verb - droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness; become less intense After the three crushing defeats in the last three games, the team's enthusiasm began to flag. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: emblem, banner, streamer Antonyms: enhance, improve, increase, grow, strengthen, rise

machinate

verb - engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to machinate.

augment

verb - enlarge or increase; improve Ideally, the restaurant's augmented menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits. Synonyms: develop, strengthen, intensify, enlarge, add to, multiply, reinforce, build up Antonyms: compress, decrease, lessen, weaken, abridge, condense, curtail, undermine, shorten, halt, hurt, discourage, lower, reduce, shrink, contract

hail

verb - enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something Many college superstar athletes are hailed as the next big thing, but then flop at the professional level. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: bombardment, salvo, rain Antonyms: censure, denounce, disapprove, refuse, dissuade, discourage

elude

verb - escape understanding Even a basic understanding of physics can elude most high schools students. Synonyms: dodge, confound, thwart, puzzle, outwit, evade, frustrate, baffle, foil, stall Antonyms: enlighten, explain, aid, assist, abet, face, meet, clarify, clear up, encourage, help, support

differentiate

verb - evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment Animals on Madagascar differentiated from other similar animal species due to many years of isolation on the island. Synonyms: discriminate, separate, extricate, comprehend, understand, discern Antonyms: mistake, misunderstand, misinterpret, remain, stagnate, preserve, leave alone

ostracize

verb - exclude from a community or group Later in his life, Leo Tolstoy was ostracized from the Russian Orthodox Church for his writings that contradicted church doctrine. Synonyms: expel, blackball, blacklist, snub, shun, exclude Antonyms: permit, welcome, include, admit, allow, accept

elaborate

verb - explain in more detail Most high school physics teachers find themselves elaborating the same point over and over again, since many concepts confuse students.

objurgate

verb - express strong disapproval of The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.

renege

verb - fail to fulfill a promise or obligation We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement. Synonyms: default, reverse

dovetail

verb - fit together tightly, as if by means of a interlocking joint Although Darwin's evolution and Mendel's genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they dovetail each other very well. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: harmonize, conform, coincide, jibe, correspond Antonyms: clash, disagree, fight, differ, mismatch

abjure

verb - formally reject or give up (as a belief) While the church believed that Galileo abjured the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.

coalesce

verb - fuse or cause to grow together Over time, the various tribes coalesced into a single common culture with one universal language. Synonyms: consolidate, integrate, fuse, unite Antonyms: divide, separate

entice

verb - get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets. Synonyms: coax, seduce, beguile, cajole, tempt Antonyms: turn off, repel, repulse

savvy

verb - get the meaning of something The student savvies the meaning of astrophysics with little effort. Antonyms: ignorance, inability, ineptness, stupidity

sanction

verb - give authority or permission to The authorities have sanctioned the use of the wilderness reserve for public use; many expect to see hikers an campers enjoying the park in the coming months. Synonyms: approval Antonyms: deny, revoke, refuse, reject, invalidate, disallow, disapprove, protest, disagree, oppose

enthrall

verb - hold spellbound She was so enthralled by the movie that she never heard people screaming, Fire! Fire! in the neighboring theater. Synonyms: bewitch, fascinate, subdue, mesmerize, preoccupy, hypnotize Antonyms: disgust, incite, disenchant, turn off, bore, repel

mitigate

verb - lessen the severity of an offense If it weren't for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job. Synonyms: dull, lessen, ease, relieve, reduce, temper, soothe, alleviate Antonyms: increase, worsen, worry, intensify, extend, raise, strengthen, irritate, trouble, upset, aggravate, agitate, provoke

rarefied

verb - make more subtle or refined Jack's vulgar jokes were not so successful in the rarefied enviroment of college professors. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: exalted, esoteric

ossify

verb - make rigid and set into a conventional pattern Even as a young man, Bob had some bias against poor people, but during his years in social services, his bad opinions ossified into unshiftable views. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

buttress

verb - make stronger or defensible China's economy has been buttressed by a global demand for the electronic parts the country manufactures. Antonyms: weaken

exacerbate

verb - make worse Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold--when she woke up the next day, her sinuses were completely blocked. Synonyms: annoy, aggravate, worsen, heighten, irritate, inflame, provoke Antonyms: aid, soothe, appease, alleviate, improve, delight, calm, make happy, please, help

confound

verb - mistake one thing for another Americans often confound sweet potatoes with yams, and refer to both vegetables by the same name. Synonyms: mystify, perplex, bewilder, discombobulate, rattle, puzzle, astound, baffle, amaze Antonyms: enlighten, explain, explicate, calm, comfort, clear up, clarify, bore, help, expect

conflate

verb - mix together different elements or concepts In her recent book, the author conflates several genres--the detective story, the teen thriller, and the vampire romance--to create a memorable read. Synonyms: meld, fuse, amalgamate, unify Antonyms: divide, part, separate

exalt

verb - praise or glorify The teenagers exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him. Synonyms: glorify, magnify, dignify, laud, extol, revere Antonyms: castigate, condemn, degrade, humiliate, shame, blame, criticize

prevail

verb - prove superior Before the cricket match, Australia was heavily favored, but India prevailed. Synonyms: prove, beat, win, reign, succeed, overcome, triumph, abound Antonyms: surrender, forfeit, lose, fail

refute

verb - prove to be false or incorrect No one could refute his theories or propositions, and that is why he was esteemed by all his colleagues in the philosophy department. Synonyms: repudiate, contradict, expose, counter, quash, oppose, disprove, squelch, rebut Antonyms: concede, aid, assist, approve, agree, help, allow, support

retract

verb - pull inward or towards a center; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure Email is wonderfully efficient, but once something awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no way to retract it. Synonyms: deny, repeal, revoke, reverse, renounce, repudiate, disavow, rule out, renege, back down, take back, withdraw Antonyms: sanction, enforce, permit, acknowledge, admit, agree, allow, approve, go forward

brook

verb - put up with something or somebody unpleasant While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not brook any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention. Antonyms: disapprove

resolve

verb - reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn't have much money in his bank account. Synonyms: boldness, willpower, will, intention, courage Antonyms: cowardice, fear, weakness, unsettle, hesitate, refuse, forget, begin, start, oppose, question

culminate

verb - reach the highest or most decisive point Beethoven's musical genius culminated in the 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work. Synonyms: round off, conclude, end up, climax, cap Antonyms: commence, start, begin, open

bristle

verb - react in an offended or angry manner As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artitst's wife bristling at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband's work. Antonyms: be happy

truncate

verb - reduce the length of something The soccer game was truncated when the monsoon rain began to fall. Synonyms: abridge, curtail, abbreviate, cut short Antonyms: enlarge, increase, lengthen, prolong, expand, extend

balk

verb - refuse to comply The students were willing to clean up the broken glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop the entire floor, they balked, citing reasons why they needed to leave. Synonyms: hesitate, refuse, resist, recoil Antonyms: OK, accept, face, meet

repudiate

verb - reject as untrue or unfounded Many in the public believed the rumors of a UFO crash outside town, so the chief of police did everything he could to repudiate the rumors. Synonyms: abandon, recant, revoke, reverse, renounce, dismiss, disavow, break with, spurn, retract, disown, repeal Antonyms: emphasize, enforce, welcome, sanction, keep, approve, allow, accept

arrogate

verb - seize and control without authority Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

grovel

verb - show submission or fear Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank grovels as if she were about to fire. Synonyms: fawn, beseech

palaver

verb - speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly During the rain delay, many who had come to see the game palavered, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

advocate

verb - speak, plead, or argue in favor of While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue. Synonyms: promoter, proponent, backer, lawyer, defender Antonyms: opponent, dissuade, refuse, reject, disapprove, hinder, block, conceal, hide, condemn, deny, discourage, oppose, hurt

enumerate

verb - specify individually, one by one I sat and listened as she enumerated all of the things she did not like about the past three months. Synonyms: recite, calculate, itemize, spell out, specify

squander

verb - spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, or an opportunity Fearing his money would be squandered by his family, he gave all of it to charity when he died. Synonyms: blow, misuse, expend, waste, lavish Antonyms: hoard, save

vilify

verb - spread negative information about Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd. Synonyms: revile, decry, smear, denounce, defame, berate, malign, damn, denigrate, mistreat, assail, disparage, slander Antonyms: compliment, exalt, laud, praise, cherish, approve, commend, favor, glorify, flatter

preempt

verb - take the place of or have precedence over A governmental warning about an imminent terrorist attack would preempt ordinary network programming on television.

supplant

verb - take the place or move into the position of For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don't even have a traditional phone anymore. Synonyms: supersede, succeed, usurp, overthrow, unseat, undermine Antonyms: give in, surrender

conniving

verb - taking part in immoral and unethical plots The queen was so conniving that, with the help of the prince, she tried to overthrow the king. Synonyms: collude, conspire

pontificate

verb - talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

appropriate

verb - to allocate The committe appropriated the funds to its various members. Synonyms: relevant, useful, convenient, applicable, apt, fitting, good, proper, pertinent Antonyms: inappropriate, irrelevant, unsuitable, inopportune, incorrect, unskilled, evil, unreal, improper, unfitting, misbehaving, withhold, hold, keep, waste, retain, give, pay, return

maintain

verb - to assert The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate. Synonyms: preserve, control, protect, finance, uphold, provide, support, manage Antonyms: destroy, release, ignore, discontinue, hurt, abandon, give up, let go, take, neglect, finish, halt, stop, desert, deny, forsake, attack, quit, forget

fete

verb - to celebrate a person After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.

vindicate

verb - to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof Even seven Tour de France wins cannot vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the public--that the athlete used performance enhancing drugs invalidates all those wins. Synonyms: acquit, uphold, prove, substantiate, defend, refute, absolve, corroborate, disprove, exonerate Antonyms: blame, condemn, convict, sentence, disprove, deny, prove, incriminate, charge

execrate

verb - to curse and hiss at Though the new sitcom did decently in the ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying that it was nothing more than an execrable pastiche of tired clichA©'s and canned laughter.

fleece

verb - to deceive Many people have been fleeced by Internet scams and never received their money back. Synonyms: cheat, gouge, overcharge, defraud, swindle

dissipate

verb - to disperse or scatter Kathleen's perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment, but once we stepped outside the smell dissipated and we could breathe once again. Synonyms: deplete Antonyms: garner, collect, gather, assemble, appear

imbibe

verb - to drink or absorb as if drinking Plato imbibed Socrates' teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed, sometimes word for word, to Socrates. Synonyms: assimilate, guzzle, ingest, quaff

expunge

verb - to eliminate completely When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were expunged from my criminal record. Synonyms: wipe out, annul, exterminate, omit, abolish, erase, extinguish, delete, eradicate Antonyms: create, insert, institute, bear, add, establish, put in

immure

verb - to enclose, usually in walls The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are immured in walls upon walls of products.

inundate

verb - to flood or overwhelm The newsroom was inundated with false reports that only made it more difficult for the newscasters to provide an objective account of the bank robbery. Synonyms: deluge, swamp, flood, engulf

indict

verb - to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doing The bankrobber was indicted on several major charges, including possession of a firearm. Synonyms: prosecute, censure, summon, incriminate Antonyms: exonerate, free

belie

verb - to give a false representation to; misrepresent The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband. Synonyms: negate, contradict, repudiate Antonyms: approve

appropriate

verb - to give or take something by force The government appropriated land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live. Synonyms: relevant, useful, convenient, applicable, apt, fitting, good, proper, pertinent Antonyms: inappropriate, irrelevant, unsuitable, inopportune, incorrect, unskilled, evil, unreal, improper, unfitting, misbehaving, withhold, hold, keep, waste, retain, give, pay, return

wax

verb - to gradually increase in size or intensity Her enthusiasm for the diva's new album only waxed with each song; by the end of the album, it was her favorite CD yet.

defray

verb - to help pay the cost of, either in part of full In order for Sean to attend the prestigious college, his generous uncle helped defray the excessive tuition with a monthly donation.

implicate

verb - to indicate in wrongdoing, usually a crime The crime boss was implicated for a long list of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing the peace. Synonyms: entangle, blame, embroil, incriminate, charge, accuse, suggest, affect Antonyms: exclude, exculpate, exonerate, praise

demean

verb - to insult; to cause someone to lose dignity or respect At first the soccer players bantered back and forth, but as soon as one of the players became demeaning, calling the other's mother a water buffalo, the ref whipped out a red card. Synonyms: despise, disparage, debase, degrade, belittle Antonyms: admire, laud, praise, honor, upgrade, approve, elevate, value

cow

verb - to intimidate Do not be cowed by a 3,000-word vocabulary list: turn that list into a deck of flashcards! Synonyms: dishearten, terrorize, subdue, faze, frighten, unnerve, appall, bludgeon Antonyms: hearten, calm, incite, comfort, gladden, embolden, encourage, inspirit, help, please

exasperate

verb - to irritate intensely As a child, I exasperated my mother with strings of never-ending questions. Synonyms: annoy, disturb, embitter, peeve, infuriate, vex, excite, incense, enrage Antonyms: aid, soothe, appease, calm, comfort, pacify, quiet, assist, lull, tranquilize, delight, make happy, please, help, compose

hedge

verb - to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared, the CEO hedged, mentioning something vague about gut instinct. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE Synonyms: shrubbery, fence

consecrate

verb - to make holy or set apart for a high purpose At the church of Notre Dame in France, the new High Altar was consecrated in 1182. Synonyms: bless, sanctify, dedicate Antonyms: condemn, curse, damn, disallow, desecrate

qualify

verb - to make less severe; to limit (a statement) Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding that he didn't like the weather as much as the weather in Los Angeles. Synonyms: enable, score, certify, train, entitle, pass, ready, meet Antonyms: deny, fail, lose

remonstrate

verb - to make objections while pleading The mothers of the kidnapped victims remonstrated to the rogue government to release their children, claiming that the detention violated human rights.

conciliate

verb - to make peace with His opponents believed his gesture to be conciliatory, yet as soon as they put down their weapons, he unsheathed a hidden sword.

consummate

verb - to make perfect and complete in every respect The restoration of the ancient church was only consummated after a twenty years of labor. Synonyms: superlative, gifted, polished, talented, skilled, superb, accomplished Antonyms: poor, inept

mollify

verb - to make someone angry less angry; placate In the morning, Harriat was unable to mollify Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he had his cup of coffee. Synonyms: mitigate, placate, appease, assuage, relieve, lessen, quell, lull, alleviate, pacify Antonyms: incite, increase, intensify, worsen, worry, excite, aggravate, irritate, agitate, upset, provoke

gerrymander

verb - to manipulate voting districts in order to favor a particular political party Years ago, savvy politicians had gerrymandered the city center to ensure their re-election. Synonyms: fix, manipulate, falsify

demur

verb - to object or show reluctance Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps. Synonyms: hesitate, vacillate, waver

disabuse

verb - to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid As a child, I was quickly disabused of the notion that Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor of infinite largess--one night I saw my mother diligently wrapping presents and storing them under our Christmas tree. Synonyms: debunk, disillusion, enlighten

badger

verb - to pester Badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-old loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant musicians. Synonyms: annoy, bully, tease, pester, goad, harass Antonyms: aid, delight, make happy, please, leave alone, help, support

propitiate

verb - to placate or appease The two sons, plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were hardly able to propitiate him -- the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn before or ever planned to.

dog

verb - to pursue relentlessly; to hound Throughout his life, he was dogged by insecurities that inhibited personal growth. Synonyms: puppy

peruse

verb - to read very carefully Instead of perusing important documents, people all too often rush to the bottom of the page and plaster their signatures at the bottom. Synonyms: scan, browse, inspect

castigate

verb - to reprimand harshly Drill sergeants are known to castigate new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down during their first week in training. Synonyms: penalize, criticize, pummel, chastise, excoriate, scold, censure, berate, upbraid, lambaste, rebuke Antonyms: forgive, reward, compliment, laud, praise, exonerate, approve, flatter

chastise

verb - to reprimand harshly Though chastised for his wanton abuse of the pantry, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts. Synonyms: punish, censure, berate, upbraid, castigate, lash Antonyms: praise, compliment, laud

upbraid

verb - to reproach; to scold Bob took a risk walking into the Students Barbershop--in the end he had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut. Synonyms: chastise, chide, berate, admonish, castigate, reprimand Antonyms: compliment, forgive, laud, praise, approve

venerate

verb - to respect deeply The professor, despite his soporific lectures, was venerated amongst his colleagues, publishing more papers yearly than all of his peers combined. Synonyms: idolize, cherish, hallow, exalt, esteem Antonyms: denounce

ferret

verb - to search for something persistently Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton was able to ferret out the word origin of highly obscure words. Antonyms: protect, give, offer, receive, ignore, neglect, overlook, conceal, hide, suppress, pass by, cover, lose, miss

equivocate

verb - to speak vaguely, usually with the intention to mislead or deceive After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew, she equivocated when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been.

start

verb - to suddenly move in a particular direction All alone in the mansion, Henrietta started when she heard a sound. Synonyms: outset, dawn, kickoff, opening Antonyms: ending, conclusion, end, finish, bad luck, misfortune, hide, cease, destroy, ruin, hold, keep, stop, close, conclude

intimate

verb - to suggest something subtly At first Manfred's teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy's precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade. Synonyms: affectionate, warm, cozy, confidential, loving Antonyms: cold, cool, disliking, stupid, enemy, foe, deny

underwrite

verb - to support financially The latest symphony broadcast was made possible with underwriting from the Carnegie Endowment. Synonyms: subsidize, secure, finance, provide, bankroll, sponsor, approve, guarantee Antonyms: disapprove, hurt, take

dupe

verb - to trick or swindle Once again a get-rich-fast Internt scheme had duped Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to a sham operation. Synonyms: patsy, sitting duck Antonyms: aid, assist, protect, help, support, be honest

meander

verb - to wander aimlessly A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited. Synonyms: traipse, ramble, stray, drift, snake, roam Antonyms: stay

admonish

verb - to warn strongly, even to the point of reprimanding Before the concert began, security personel admonished the crowd not to come up on stage during the performance. Synonyms: exhort, enjoin, scold, chide, berate, warn, upbraid, censure, rebuke Antonyms: permit, compliment, praise, laud, allow, flatter

desecrate

verb - to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place After desecrating the pharaoh's tomb, the archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness. Synonyms: defile, pervert, profane, pillage, dishonor, ravage Antonyms: honor, purify, protect

pine

verb - to yearn for Standing forlornly by the window, she pined for her lost love. Synonyms: grieve, crave, hanker, yearn, mourn, ache Antonyms: dislike, hate, be happy

cosseted

verb - treat with excessive indulgence The king and queen cosseted the young prince, giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday.

fawn

verb - try to gain favor by extreme flattery The media fawned over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions.

deter

verb - try to prevent; show opposition to The government's primary job should invlove deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them. Synonyms: hinder, prevent, discourage, avert, prohibit, intimidate, frighten, preclude, stop, daunt Antonyms: aid, assist, facilitate, permit, hearten, calm, comfort, incite, advance, allow, encourage, forward, help, promote, push, let go, inspirit, support

foment

verb - try to stir up public opinion After having his pay cut, Phil spread vicious rumors about his boss, hoping to foment a general feeling of discontent. Synonyms: brew, incite, arouse, abet, whip up Antonyms: deter, discourage

deter

verb - turn away from by persuasion His mother tried to deter him from joing the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen. Synonyms: hinder, prevent, discourage, avert, prohibit, intimidate, frighten, preclude, stop, daunt Antonyms: aid, assist, facilitate, permit, hearten, calm, comfort, incite, advance, allow, encourage, forward, help, promote, push, let go, inspirit, support

nonplussed

verb - unsure how to act or respond Shirley was totally nonplussed when the angry motorist cut her off and then stuck his finger out the window. Synonyms: mystify, dumbfound, bewilder, faze, disconcert, astound, baffle, astonish, daze, fluster Antonyms: enlighten, explain, explicate, calm, comfort, clear up, bore, expect

maunder

verb - wander aimlessly Max liked to maunder down by the seaside and pick up whatever sea shells he would stumble upon.

avert

verb - ward off or prevent The struggling videogame company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to avert bankrupcy. Synonyms: rule out, halt, prevent, forestall, avoid Antonyms: aid, assist, allow, help, support