GRE Personalized 3

Transitory

(adj.) lasting a very short time If we lived forever and life was not __________, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?

Reverent

(adj.) Feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe And while typically you speak in a ________ voice in respect for the dead, tonight, feel free to speak up and ask questions.

Orotund

(adj.) Full, rich, and clear (of the voice or speaking); pompous, bombastic (in speech or writing)

Quiescent

(adj.) quiet; still; inactive

Sacrosanct

(adj.) Holy, something that should not be criticized

Desideratum

(n.) something desired as a necessity The ___________ of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling.

Impending

(adj.) close in time; about to occur The _________ doom of our world has been a discussed and debated for 2000 years—maybe even longer.

Scabrous

(adj.) Indecent, Shocking, Scandals

Didactic

(adj.) Intended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson (especially excessively) Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is a ________ novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.

Encomiastic

(Adj) formally expressing praise, =eulogistic, panegyric

Pastiche

(N.) Pieces of literature or music imitating other works. Note: Certain medlies can be _______s of old songs.

Insolent

(adj.) showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect Lilian could not help herself from being ________, commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too much toe.

Flippant

(adj.) showing inappropriate levity Although Sam was trying to honor Mark's sense of humor, many found it quite ________ that he wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark's funeral.

Itinerant

(n. / adj.) traveling from place to place. =peripatetic Doctors used to be _________, traveling between patients' homes.

Sleuth

(n.) a detective

Crony

(n.) a very close confidant

Stricture

(n.) negative criticism; something that conSTRICTs

Maunder

(v.) wander aimlessly Max liked to _______ down by the seaside and pick up whatever sea shells he would stumble upon. (v.) speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly After drinking two espressos each, the animated couple would _______ loudly, annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop.

Bolster

(v.): support and strengthen The case for the suspect's innocence was __________ considerably by the fact that neither fingerprints nor DNA were found at the scene.

Bastardize

Corruption

Patrician

a person of noble birth; an aristocrat

Torrid

(adj) very hot, parching, burning; Forecasters say high pressure causing the heat wave is nearly stationary, so ______ conditions will continue into next week. (adj.) passionate He is still recuperating from his breakup after a ______ love affair.

Racy

(adj). Marked by richness and fullness of flavor All you need to know is that this is a delicious, ____ and fruity wine. (adj.) suggestive of sexual impropriety Amid a ____ conversation with the woman, Weiner sent a photo of his crotch as he lay next to the couple's 4-year-old son.

Stalwart

(adj. / n.) loyal, reliable, and hardworking, or such a human Despite all the criticism directed at the President during this scandal, Lisa has remained his ________ supporter.

Spurious

(adj.) (Plausible, but)not genuine, not true, not valid. =specious. When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the ________ claims from the authentic ones Hank, dressed up as a cowboy for Halloween, brandished a set of silver SPURs that were clearly ________.

Unruly

(adj.) (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 a(n) ______ and chaotic scene—unless it's nap time.

Ignominious

(adj.) (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame Since the politician preached ethics and morality, his texting of revealing photographs was ___________, bringing shame on both himself and his party.

Dysphoric

(adj.) An unpleasant mood, such as sadness, anxiety, or irritability.

Ersatz

(adj.) Artificial, synthetic; being an inferior substitute. The root derives from the German ersatzbrot. The car dealer's ______ laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.

Complicit

(adj.) 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 _________ in the corruption.

Meretricious

(adj.) Attractive in a vulgar or flashy way, tawdry; deceptive. 見せかけだけの豪華さ

Decorous

(adj.) Behaving with propriety and good taste; polite Sally's parties are ________ affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation.

Treacherous

(adj.) Betraying trust, not faithful or trustworthy Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his ___________ actions than for eliminating a criminal and murder. (adj.) not dependable; dangerous or deceptive The bridge built from twine and vine is __________ to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here.

Plucky

(adj.) Brave spirited Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia because of his short stature, but he is a ______ player, surprising everyone with his boundless energy and fierce determination.

Winsome

(adj.) Charming, engaging, esp. in a sweet and innocent way. THINK: People of this nature WINS peoples' hearts. She was _______ by nature, and many people were drawn to this free and playful spirit.

Querulous

(adj.) Complaining in a petulant or whining manner. Constantly complaining. Origin: Latin "queror" = "to complain" Related: Quarrel, Quarrelsome A _________ quartet of conservatives took to the Senate floor Wednesday to condemn President Obama for his latest atrocity against the American way of life.

Prosaic

(adj.) Dull, ordinary. =Pedestrian, quotidian 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 ______ mosaic.

Tractable

(adj.) Easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded Compared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students are somewhat more ________.

Amenable

(adj.) Easily persuaded Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally ________ and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping.

Conspicuous

(adj.) Easily seen or noticed In a county that is more than 85 percent white, the Hmong minority are ___________.

Rudimentary

(adj.) Elementary, relating to the basic; undeveloped, primitive 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 ___________ stages.

Garrulous

(adj.) Excessively talkative. Origin: Latin "garrire" - "chattering or prattling" USAGE ALERT: don't confuse with gregarious John had to pretend he was asleep the whole flight from Amsterdam to Seoul because the _________ woman next to her wouldn't shut up about how she was excited for her gastronomic adventures in Korea.

Prodigious

(adj.) Extraordinarily large, impressive, etc. 並外れた、桁違いの Relativity is only one part of Einstein's __________ legacy.

Intrepid

(adj.) Fearless, especially in dealing with something new or unknown Had it not been for the ________ pioneers of Louis and Clark, incorporation of California may have had been delayed for nearly half a century.

Magnanimous

(adj.) Generous. Origin: Latin "magnus" + "animus" = "great" + "soul" He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complementary and in victory he was ___________.

Resurgent

(adj.) Having a revival, renewing, rising or surging again; reinvigorated. =recrudescent After a period of very conservative political control, _________ liberal beliefs could lead to a progressive president being elected.

Inimical

(adj.) Hostile, unfriendly. ORIGIN Latin: "inimicus" - "enemy". USAGE ALERT: Do not confuse with "inimitable" The strategy was condemned as crude, cynical and ________ to the rule of law.

Restive

(adj.) Impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlled On Saturday, the United Nations mission in Kinshasa released a statement expressing concern over reports of renewed fighting in the _______ region.

Arcane

(adj.) Known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret; esoteric. Origin Latin: "arcānus" - "secret, closed" The Monster Hunter series is famously beginner-unfriendly, with _____ menus that are only slightly more forgiving than the complex controls and deliberate, weighty combat system.

Wanting

(adj.) Lacking She did not think her vocabulary was _______, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn't know

Trite

(adj.) Lacking freshness and originality, lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliche. 使い古された The Biblical tale of Cain and Abel is a universally accepted and somewhat _____ shorthand for describing sibling rivalry.

Ephemeral

(adj.) Lasting only a short time, fleeting. ORIGIN Greek: was originally a medical term with the specific meaning "lasting only one day," as a fever or sickness. ("Hemera" means "day" in Greek) Lessons learnt from the financial crisis will be _________ unless they are incorporated into changed institutional frameworks. As memories fade, the vulnerabilities of financial sectors, capital flows and exchange rates are forgotten. At least until the next crisis.

Demure

(adj.) Modest and reserved in manner or behavior. Far from ______, gentle spirits, the twins often wrestle in the yard, after digging for worms, of course.

Implacable

(adj.) Not able to be appeased, calmed, or satisfied; lit. incapable of being placated

Meek

(adj.) Not courageous or strong; Humble

Ignoble

(adj.) Not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low quality While schadenfreude may be one of the more _______ emotions, there is no denying its delights.

Opaque

(adj.) Not translucent; not allowing light, heat, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid The meaning of the professor's new research was ______ to most people, so no one asked any questions.

Sporadic

(adj.) Occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations

Sanguine

(adj.) Optimistic With the prospect of having to learn 3,000 words during the course of the summer, Paul was anything but ________.

Incongruous

(adj.) Out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious

Obsequious

(adj.) Overly submissive and eager to please. People of this characteristic are bootlickers, teachers' pets In some eyes, Japanese diplomacy is overtly __________ and kow-towing, giving it the name dogeza gaikou.

Fleeting

(adj.) Passing quickly, transitory

Puckish

(adj.) Playful in a mischievous way. Ex.: Your ________ friend might play practical jokes on you, but they're more silly than mean spirited.

Ostentatious

(adj.) Pretentious, boastful showiness Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ___________ for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood.

Contentious

(adj.) Quarrelsome, stirring controversy. Note: Abortion, the Death Penalty, Gun Control, and Gay Marriage are all issues of this character. Since old grandpa Harry became very ___________ during the summer when only reruns were on T.V., the grandkids learned to hide from him at every opportunity.

Rustic

(adj.) Relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive, made of rough wood (adj); rural or uncultured person (noun)

Impertinent

(adj.) Rude and disrespectful. If someone's rude without being openly nasty, like a kid in the back row of class quietly heckling his teacher, you can call him ___________.

Discrete

(adj.) Separate, distinct, detached, existing as individual parts. USAGE ALERT: don't confuse with "discreet" The African continent has nine ________ rainy seasons, which rarely all fail in the same year.

Obstinate

(adj.) Stubborn USAGE ALERT: Don't confuse with abstinent. The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained _________, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.

Refractory

(adj.) Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manage Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the __________ Kindergartners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.

Commensurate

(adj.) The same in size, extent, etc. equivalent; proportional. =coterminous. ～とほぼ同程度の His personal book collection is so large that it is ____________ with that of a small town library.

Intrusive

(adj.) Thrusting inward "-an intrusive arm of the sea"

Tortuous

(adj.) Twisting, winding, complex; devious, not straightforward Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so ________, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked.

Unequivocal

(adj.) Unambiguous, clear, absolute; having only one possible meaning The newly elected congressman from Montana issued a public and __________ apology Wednesday to the reporter whom he body-slammed on election eve.

Ambivalent

(adj.) Uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once Sam was ___________ about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.

Prolific

(adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse Schubert was the most ________ composer, producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age of 31.

Derisive

(adj.) abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule I was surprised by her _______ tone; usually, she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.

Desultory

(adj.) aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

Unflappable

(adj.) always knows what to do in any situation; cannot be made nervous or anxious The house shook and the ground quaked, but my dad was ___________ and comforted the family.

Hoary

(adj.) ancient Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are _____ men with long white beards.

Overweening

(adj.) arrogant; presumptuous Mark was so convinced of his basketball skills that in his ___________ 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.

Evasive

(adj.) avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger or commitment His responses were clearly _______; he obviously did not want to take on any responsibility or any new work. (adj.) deliberately vague or ambiguous Every time I call the bank, I receive the same _______ answers about our mortgage and never get a clear response.

Sclerotic

(adj.) becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt

Chivalrous

(adj.) being attentive to women like an ideal knight Marco's __________ ways, like opening doors and pulling out chairs, was much appreciated by his date.

Discreet

(adj.) careful to protect one's speech or actions in order to avoid offense or gain an advantage The professor thought that he was ________, 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.

Slapdash

(adj.) carelessly and hastily put together The office building had been constructed in a _______ manner, so it did not surprise officials when, during a small earthquake, a large crack emerged on the façade of the building.

Nettlesome

(adj.) causing irritation or annoyance Maria found her coworkers cell phone __________, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message.

Stultifying

(adj.) causing to lose enthusiasm and initiative, Boring, but in an extremely bad way

Chary

(adj.) cautious, suspiciously reluctant to do something Having received three speeding tickets in the last two months, Jack was _____ of driving at all above the speed limit, even on a straight stretch of highway that looked empty for miles ahead.

Provincial

(adj.) characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated. =parochial Individuals or groups of people who are considered narrow-minded are often labeled __________, even if they're from the city.

Belligerent

(adj.) characteristic of one eager to fight Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his ___________ tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue.

Bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral

Diligent

(adj.) characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks Michael was a ________ gardener, never leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly watering each plant.

Scrupulous

(adj.) characterized by extreme care and great effort; having a sense of right and wrong; principled When we hold our iPhone aloft to take a selfie - always from above, never from below - we are not so __________.

Industrious

(adj.) characterized by hard work and perseverance Pete was an ___________ student, completing every assignment thoroughly and on time.

Jocular

(adj.) characterized by jokes and good humor My uncle was always in a _______ mood at family gatherings, messing up people's hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.

Ethereal

(adj.) characterized by lightness and insubstantiality Because she dances with an ________ style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly. Each makes it possible for a performer to be ________; each gives the illusion of floating.

Precocious

(adj.) characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude) Though only seven years old, she was a __________ chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age.

Impetuous

(adj.) characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation Herbert is rarely _________, but on the spur of the moment, he spent thousands of dollars on a motorcycle today.

Gossamer

(adj.) characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy The _________ wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged.

Puerile

(adj.) childish, immature, or silly Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim regarded this as _______, totally unworthy of a woman with a Ph.D.

Limpid

(adj.) clarity in terms of expression Her ______ prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all.

Maladroit

(adj.) clumsy; not skillful; awkward As a child she was quite _________, but as an adult, she has become an adept dancer.

Nonchalant

(adj.) coming across as cooly uninterested The twenty-somethings at the coffee shop always irked Sheldon, especially the way in which they acted ____________ towards everything, not even caring when Sheldon once spilled his mocha on them.

Analogous

(adj.) comparable, similar

Arrant

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

Consummate

(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree; Tyler was the __________ musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time. (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection The restoration of the ancient church was only ___________ after twenty years of labor.

Replete

(adj.) completely stocked or furnished with something Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall, the local supermarket shelves were _______ with goods, so quick was the disaster relief response.

Ambient

(adj.) completely surrounding, encompassing. Describes a pervasive quality of the surrounding environment. 必ずしも静けさとは関係ない。 Even as a kid, Miller liked to fulminate against immigration and decry the _______ leftism of coastal California.

Involved

(adj.) complicated, and difficult to comprehend The physics lecture became so ________ that the undergraduate's eyes glazed over.

Superficial

(adj.) concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious; shallow

Pithy

(adj.) concise and full of meaning I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its _____ and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.

Complacent

(adj.) contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions After the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became __________ and didn't even make it to the playoffs the next year. He had become complacent after years of success.

Illicit

(adj.) contrary to or forbidden by law Though Al Capone was engaged in many ________ activities, he was finally arrested for income tax evasion, a relatively minor offense.

Untoward

(adj.) contrary to your interests or welfare.= inconvenient, adverse. Think: what you do when you move TOWARD something: you get closer to it. Suppose you're moving toward a goal. But when you add the prefix un- you reverse that, and you're no longer on the path to that goal — you're ________. Some professors find teaching ________ as having to prepare for lectures and conduct office hours prevents them from focusing on their research. (adj.) not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society. =improper McMaster, who told reporters in a news conference Tuesday that Trump didn't do anything ________.

Craven

(adj.) cowardly Though the man could have at least alerted the police, he crouched ______ly in the corner as the old woman was mugged. (n.) a coward

Unprepossessing

(adj.) creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression. This is a rather indirect way of calling someone unattractive, or at best OK-looking. World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the _______________ little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl.

Specious

(adj.) deceptively attractive. 見かけ倒しの Almost every image on TV is ________ and not to be trusted. (adj.) seemingly plausible but fallacious. もっともらしい。=spurious. He made a career out of ________ arguments and fictional lab results, but lost his job and reputation when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times.

Poignant

(adj.) deeply affecting, touching After the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the play's most ________ moment, the two grief stricken families agree to end their feud once and for all. (adj.) keen or sharp in taste or smell

Inimitable

(adj.) 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 __________.

Iconoclastic

(adj.) defying tradition or convention

Arduous

(adj.) demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance In order to deal with the _______ cross-country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time.

Stringent

(adj.) demanding strict attention to rules and procedures Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his _________ homework policy, but many students would later thank him for demanding so much from them.

Bellicose

(adj.) demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight. Known for their _________ ways, the Spartans were once the most feared people from Peloponnese to Persia.

Shrewd

(adj.) describes a person or thing that is smart or clever in a practical way. =astute, sharp, canny.

Scintillating

(adj.) describes someone who is brilliant and lively Richard Feynman was renowned for his ______________ lectures—the arcana of quantum physics was made lucid as he wrote animatedly on the chalkboard.

Convivial

(adj.) describing a lively atmosphere The wedding reception was _________; friends who hadn't seen each other for ages drank and ate together before heading to the dance floor.

Implausible

(adj.) describing a statement that is not believable The teacher found it ___________ that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.

Pyrrhic

(adj.) 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 _______ victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population, making it difficult for him to implement his planned policies.

Concomitant

(adj.) describing an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another. =simultaneous __________ with his desire for nature was a desire for the culture and energy of a big city.

Whimsical

(adj.) determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason Adults look to kids and envy their _________ nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation.

Derivative

(adj.) developed or obtained from another source; something that borrows heavily from smth. that came before it.

Aberrant

(adj.) deviating from what is normal or expected When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his ________ behavior.

vacuous

(adj.) 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

(adj.) 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(n) __________ backpack stuffed with books--these days we need only an e-reader.

Cumbrous

(adj.) difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight. =cumbersome, ponderous.

Abstruse

(adj.) difficult to understand; incomprehensible Physics textbooks can seem so ________ to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics

Disaffected

(adj.) discontented as toward authority Each one is specific, but there is a striking common thread that runs through the mass murders perpetrated by ____________, nihilistic and suicidal youths.

Crestfallen

(adj.) discouraged, dejected, downcast, down in the dumps I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment's thought; I was ____________.

Sardonic

(adj.) 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 ________ and cutting.

Unscrupulous

(adj.) dishonest; not guided or controlled by moral principles. 道徳心に欠けている In the courtroom, the lawyer was ____________, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself.

Wayward

(adj.) disobedient, willful; unpredictable, capricious

Contumacious

(adj.) disobedient; resisting authority The ____________ mob shouted defiantly at the police.

Perfunctory

(adj.) done without care; in a routine fashion. Hasty and without detail to attention. =cursory. Note: The way people say "How are you?" "I'm fine" is ______.

Dishabille

(adj.) dressed in an unkempt or careless manner

Vapid

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

Jejune

(adj.) dull; lacking flavor Although many top chefs have secured culinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being ______ and unfilling. (adj.) immature; childish Her boss further cemented his reputation for being ______ after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn't refilled.

Moribund

(adj.) dying, on the way out Whether you like it or not, jazz as a genre is ________ at best, possibly already dead.

Pugnacious

(adj.) eager to fight or argue; verbally combative The comedian told one flat joke after another, and when the audience started booing, he ____________ spat back at them, "Hey, you think this is easy - why don't you buffoons give it a shot?"

Facile

(adj.) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt Many news shows provide ______ explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times.

Venial

(adj.) easily excused or forgiven; pardonable His traffic violations ran the gamut from the ______ 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

(adj.) easily handled or managed; willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed Barnyard animals are considerably more ______ than the wild animals.

Peevish

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

Petulant

(adj.) easily irritated or annoyed When Ed first met Ruth, he didn't realize she was so ________, 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.

Ornate

(adj.) elaborately decorated; showily splendid The ______ Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city.

Cadaverous

(adj.) emaciated; gaunt Some actors take challenging roles in which they have to lose so much weight that they appear __________.

Nascent

(adj.) emerging; coming into existence. POSITIVE

Edifying

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

Fallacious

(adj.) erroneous, mostly likely based on a mistaken belief. THINK: Use to describe an idea that is probably based on a fallacy. The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is __________, based on one false report.

Prudish

(adj.) exaggeratedly proper While you're either expected to wear a suit or some other ethnic formal wear to a MUN conference, no one expects delegates to be so _______ as to show up in some exotic uniform just for the event.

Recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding, 理解不能。 =Obscure. Photography's slow shift from _________ magic to quotidian banality changed painting for ever.

Superfluous

(adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess My walker even sent short videos of the walk and marked wherever Max relieved himself — a __________ but strangely satisfying feature.

Hagiographic

(adj.) excessively flattering toward someone's life or work Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were ____________, until, that is, his affairs made headlines.

Presumptuous

(adj.) excessively forward Many felt that Barney was ____________ in moving into the large office before the management even made any official announcement of his promotion.

Rapacious

(adj.) excessively greedy; taking by force

Mawkish

(adj.) excessively sentimental, to the extent that it is sickening. Origin: Middle English "Mawke" = "Maggot". Think: Really lame, mushy Valentine's Day Cards. The film was incredibly _______, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illnesses by the end of the movie.

Maudlin

(adj.) excessively sentimental. Think: Mary Magdalene. Just as those who were alive during the 70's are mortified that they once cavorted about in bell-bottoms, many who lived during the 80's are now aghast at the _______ pop songs they used to enjoy—really, just what exactly is a total eclipse of the heart?

Dictatorial

(adj.) expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler The coach was ___________ in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach.

Vicarious

(adj.) experienced secondhand The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's dream, as he or she can—through hundreds of intimate "tweets"—__________ live the life of a famous person.

Tentative

(adj.) experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant Republicans managed to fail twice in a single week on health care, marking another _________ win for activists fighting to keep Obamacare alive, until the Republicans double back on their efforts to defeat it.

Derogative

(adj.) expressed as worthless or in negative terms Never before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so _________ and filthy.

Approbatory

(adj.) expressing praise or approval, =favoritive, appluading Although it might not be her best work, Hunter's new novel has received generally ___________ reviews.

Elegiac

(adj.) expressing sorrow. =dolorous Few can listen to the ______ opening bars of the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge to cry.

Snide

(adj.) expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way. Note: "I can't believe people get paid to write that screenplay" is a remark of this character. The chairman interpreted Taylor's question about promotions as a _____ remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company's process.

Inflammable

(adj.) extremely controversial, incendiary It only takes one person to leave an ___________ comment on an Internet thread for that thread to blow up into pages upon pages of reader indignation.

Parsimonious

(adj.) extremely frugal; miserly Despite the inflow of cash and capital assets, Lawrence kept a ____________ grip on his kingdom.

Munificent

(adj.) extremely generous, lavish. Origin: Latin "munus" - "gift, service" → "unificus" - "generous, bountiful" Ex.: The _________billionaire was willing to fund space trips for his employees, asking, "Would you be willing to go to the MOON IF I SENT you?"

Pernicious

(adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal. Origin: Latin "pernicies" - "death, or ruin" Ex.: The myth that video games are a __________ influence on children has been thoroughly debunked.

Pollyannaish

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

Excruciating

(adj.) extremely painful After the boulder rolled a couple of feet, pinning my friend's arm, he experienced ___________ pain.

Virulent

(adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

Equitable

(adj.) fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience The ________ 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.

Eminent

(adj.) famous, outstanding, distinguished; projecting. Usage Alert: Don't confuse with Imminent Shakespeare is an _______ author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic.

Persnickety

(adj.) fastidious; fussy

Propitious

(adj.) favorable, auspicious. 好機の A(n) __________ time for taking a big test is when you've studied hard and had a good night's sleep.

Indignant

(adj.) feeling anger over a perceived injustice When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced the driver to brake and elicited an _________ shout of "Hey, punk, watch where you're going!"

Truculent

(adj.) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh Standing in line for six hours, she became progressively _________, yelling at DMV employees and elbowing other people waiting in line.

Glib

(adj.) fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual. A hiring manager might think you're being ____, or slick and insincere, if you say you've led a successful multinational corporation when you were actually in charge of flipping burgers for a fast-food restaurant chain.

Impartial

(adj.) free from undue bias or preconceived opinions The judge was not _______ since he had been bribed by the witness's family.

Guileless

(adj.) free of deceit At first I thought my niece was _________, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop.

Unimpeachable

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

Gratuitous

(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted; Unnecessary. Your spontaneous confession of disliking physical contact with men seems __________, but who cares?

Amiable

(adj.) friendly Amy's name was very apt: she was so ______ that she was twice voted class president.

Mettlesome

(adj.) full of courage and fortitude For its raid on the Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for many Americans, the embodiment of ______.

Jubilant

(adj.) full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success My hard work paid off, and I was ________ to receive a perfect score on the GRE.

Jovial

(adj.) full of or showing high-spirited merriment The political candidate and his supporters were ______ once it was clear that she had won.

Disparate

(adj.) fundamentally different; entirely unlike. =diverging With the advent of machines capable of looking inside the brain, fields as _________ as religion and biology have been brought together by scientists trying to understand what happens in the brain when people have a religious experience.

Cavalier

(adj.) given to haughty disregard of others; snobby, looking down upon other people. =blasé Percy dismissed the issue with a ________ wave of his hand.

Demonstrative

(adj.) 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 _______________, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word.

Patent

(adj.) glaringly obvious Since the book had been through no fewer than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to see such a(n) ______ spelling mistake remaining, right in the middle of the front cover!

Exorbitant

(adj.) greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation Shelley made one __________ purchase after another, buying new clothes and taking vacations even though she earned a limited salary.

Ravenous

(adj.) greedy; very hungry; eager for satisfaction 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 surprising that he has a ________ appetite.

Inveterate

(adj.) habitual He is an __________ smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit.

Taciturn

(adj.) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little. This is often considered a negative trait, as it suggests someone uncommunicative and too quiet. =untalkative, 口数が少ない He's the optimistic motormouth who will not shut up about his family back home, while Mike is the more tortured, ________ type.

Banal

(adj.) hackneyed, trite, commonplace; Filled with cliches.

Fortuitous

(adj.) happening by chance or accident. HINT: If it's something happening by chance, then it's probably good FORTUNE. While the real objects are vastly different sizes in space, the sun and the moon seem to have the same __________ size in the sky.

Inadvertent

(adj.) happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally Although Prohibition was rooted in noble ideals, the ___________ and costly consequences of making alcohol illegal in the U.S. led its the repeal.

Forthcoming

(adj.) happening in the near future, Coming Soon; ready; willing to help The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the __________ details of the bill. (adj.) at ease in talking to others As a husband, Larry was not __________: if Jill didn't demand to know details, Larry would never share them with her.

Averse

(adj.) having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling. USAGE ALERT: Do not mistake with ADVERSE. You have to do something about that ______ attitude towards exercise if you want to start losing weight.

Bleak

(adj.) having a depressing or gloomy outlook Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to create _____ literature and lugubrious music — compare England's band Radiohead to any band from Southern California.

Voracious

(adj.) having a huge appetite, greedy, ravenous; excessively eager Steven was a _________ reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day.

Piquant

(adj.) having an agreeably pungent taste The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turned the bland tomato soup into a _______ meal.

Malodorous

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

Sagacious

(adj.) having good judgement and acute insight Steve Jobs is surely one of the most _________ CEOs, making Apple the most recognizable and valuable companies in the world.

Cognizant

(adj.) having knowledge or being aware of Say what you will about the House GOP, but they're _________ by now of their own shortcomings as a cohesive governing body.

Incisive

(adj.) having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions. THINK: A doctor would not be able to make proper surgical INCISIons were he not ________. The lawyer had an ________ mind, able in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate the essential laws at play.

Imperious

(adj.) having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy Children are _________ with each other before they learn that earning someone's respect is better than demanding.

Contrapuntal

(adj.) having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together

Convoluted

(adj.) highly complex or intricate Instead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a __________ solution requiring fifteen steps.

Vaunted

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

Percipient

(adj.) highly perceptive Even the most __________ editor will make an occasional error when proofreading.

Eccentric

(adj.) highly unconventional or usual (usually describes a person) Mozart was well-known for his ____________, often speaking words backward to confuse those around him.

Brobdingnagian

(adj.) huge, big

Facetious

(adj.) humorous, not meant seriously. Origin: French "facétie" - "joke" _________ behavior will not be tolerated during sex education class; it's time for all of you to treat these matters like mature adults.

Ribald

(adj.) humorously vulgar The speaker was famous for his ______ humor, but the high school principal asked him to keep the talk G-rated when he spoke to the student body.

Halcyon

(adj.) idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquility; marked by peace and prosperity The first decade after WWI was a _______ period in America with new-found wealth and rapidly improving technology.

Benighted

(adj.) ignorant; unenlightened Far from being a _________ period, The Medieval Ages produced some great works of theological speculation.

Morose

(adj.) 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 ________.

Phantasmagorical

(adj.) illusive; unreal Those suffering from malaria fall into a feverish sleep, their world a whirligig of _______________; if they recover, they are unsure of what actually took place and what was simply a product of their febrile imaginations.

Sophomoric

(adj.) immature and overconfident; conceited

Impregnable

(adj.) immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with As a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were ___________ fortresses.

Unassailable

(adj.) immune to attack; without flaws Professor Williams is so self-assured as to seem arrogant, presenting each and every opinion as an ____________ fact.

Evenhanded

(adj.) impartial; fair to all sides Teachers often have trouble being __________ to all of their varied students.

Incorrigible

(adj.) impervious to correction by punishment. 矯正不可能。=unreformable Tom Sawyer seems like an ____________ youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match his fierce individual spirit.

Irrefutable

(adj.) impossible to deny or disprove The existence of life on earth is __________; the existence of intelligent life on earth is still hotly debated.

Imponderable

(adj.) impossible to estimate or figure out According to many lawmakers, the huge variety of factors affecting society make devising an efficient healthcare system an ____________ task.

Impudent

(adj.) improperly forward or bold. USAGE ALERT: Do not confuse with imprudent. In an ________ move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge

Capricious

(adj.) impulsive and UNPREDICTABLE; determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason Nearly every month our __________ 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.

Embryonic

(adj.) 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 _________ stages.

Inchoate

(adj.) in an early stage; imperfectly formed. 未熟で初期段階 NEGATIVE ________ ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.

Dilapidated

(adj.) in deplorable condition The main house has been restored but the gazebo is still ___________ and unusable.

Subversive

(adj.) 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."

Titular

(adj.) in title only; nominal

Infelicitous

(adj.) inappropriate During the executive meeting, the marketing director continued to make ____________ comments about the CEO's gambling habit.

Irrevocable

(adj.) incapable of being retracted or revoked Once you enter your plea to the court, it is ___________ so think carefully about what you will say.

Insatiable

(adj.) incapable of being satisfied

Trenchant

(adj.) incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut Jill presented a rather superficial treatment of sales in Asia, but her _________ analysis of sales in Europe inspired a number of insights into how to proceed in that market.

Surly

(adj.) inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace Every morning, Bhavin was a(n) _____ unhappy person, but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing, and a joy to be around.

Blasé

(adj.) indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures; apathetic. (=cavalier)

Ingenuous

(adj.) innocent, simple; frank, sincere Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an _________ girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate

Redoubtable

(adj.) inspiring fear or awe. THINK: If you meet some one of this nature, you would DOUBT if your could even compare to that person. 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 ___________.

Insidious

(adj.) intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous; working in a subtle but destructive way Plaque is _________: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems.

Insufferable

(adj.) intolerable, difficult to endure Chester always tried to find some area in which he excelled above others; unsurprisingly, his co-workers found him ____________ and chose to exclude him from daily luncheons out.

Byzantine

(adj.) intricate and complex Getting a driver's license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so _________ that many have found themselves at the mercy of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Officious

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

Inviolable

(adj.) never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored Too many the grass at Wimbledon is __________ and only greater tennis players are able to enjoy a game there.

Obstreperous

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

Impervious

(adj.) not admitting of passage or capable of being affected I am not __________ to your insults; they cause me great pain.

Untenable

(adj.) not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintain With the combination of Kepler's brilliant theories and Galileo's telescopic observations, the old geocentric theory became _________ to most of the educated people in Europe.

Benign

(adj.) not causing harm, of gentle disposition, beneficial The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be ______ and should not cause you any trouble. (adj.) kind I remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled, ______, and calm.

Untrammeled

(adj.) not confined or limited The whole notion of living ___________ inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Unmarred

(adj.) not damaged or spoiled, =unblemished, undamaged One of the perks of HBO is that unlike other TV stations, one can watch full episodes ________ by commercial breaks, because its business model does not rely on advertisement.

Placid

(adj.) not easily irritated Doug is normally ______, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game.

Stolid

(adj.) not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive. ポーカーフェイスな感じ Elephants may appear ______ to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.

Inscrutable

(adj.) not easily understood; unfathomable. Think cats, as opposed to dogs. The island is beautiful but oblique, sublime yet functionally ___________.

Artful

(adj.) not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness. NOT straightforward. "I do think the White House is ______ in throwing up smokescreens to protect itself from the bad things it's doing," Weaver said. (adj.) marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft President Obama has been politically ______ in his approach to legal pot, providing states such as California with a road map on how to legalize.

Oblique

(adj.) not straightforward or direct. Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom's past, but at times he would _________ suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed.

Inexorable

(adj.) not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty. =Implacable. 緩和することができない。 If technology becomes an __________ job killer across the economy, then policies like a guaranteed minimum wage begin to look more appealing.

Imprudent

(adj.) not wise Hitler, like Napoleon, made the _________ move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had.

Catholic

(adj.) 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 _______: he enjoyed music from countries as far-flung as Mali and Mongolia.

Cardinal

(adj.) of primary importance; fundamental Most cultures consider gambling a _______ sin and thus have outlawed its practice.

Apocryphal

(adj.) of questionable authority or authenticity. Originally, this term referred to religious writings that were not included in the Torah or the New Testament of the Bible because the divinity of the texts was not certain. As with so many famous quotations, the Cherry Tree story is almost certainly __________: It did not appear anywhere until after Washington's death.

Epigrammatic

(adj.) of the nature or in the style of an epigram; concise, clever, and amusing Wilde's "I can resist anything except temptation" is ____________.

Noisome

(adj.) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious Each August, when the winds moved in a south easterly direction, the garbage dump would spread _______ vapors through the small town.

Invidious

(adj.) offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and 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 _________ display.

Magisterial

(adj.) offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power, =autocratic, bossy Though she was only a third grade teacher, Ms. Martinet was ___________ in dealing with her class, lording over them like a queen.

Autocratic

(adj.) offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power The manager was finally fired for his __________ leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive. (adj.) characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty The last true __________ 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.

Antiquated

(adj.) old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in time Aunt Betty had __________ notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss.

Portentous

(adj.) 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 __________ but the rest of the voyage continued without any problems.

Checkered

(adj.) one that is marked by disreputable happenings One by one, the presidential candidates dropped out of the race, their respective _________ pasts— from embezzlement to infidelity—sabotaging their campaigns.

Equivocal

(adj.) open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous, 曖昧. Hint: You're being ambiguous if you give "equal voice" to two opposing views/thoughts. As it is, Tokyo has hitherto expressed only the vaguest and most _________ support for the Obama administration's efforts to punish Russia.

Ebullient

(adj.) overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling Can you blame him for his _________ mood? He just graduated from medical school.

Discursive

(adj.) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling. Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is __________, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale. (adj.)proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition; logical.USAGE ALERT: opposite meanings.

Penurious

(adj.) penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous, 超どケチ Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is _________, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical. (adj.) lacking money; poor Truly _________, Mary had nothing more than a jar full of pennies.

Sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination. =diligent, assiduous An avid numismatist, Harold __________ amassed a collection of coins from over 100 countries—an endeavor that took over fifteen years, and to five continents.

Carping

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

Histrionic

(adj.) pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic. Think: It sounds a bit like hysterical Though she received a B- on the test, she had such a __________ outburst that one would have thought that she'd been handed a death sentence.

Debonair

(adj.) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance. Synonym: Refined James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and ________ manner.

Copious

(adj.) plentiful, bountiful. =Profuse In midsummer, there are _______ Popsicle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.

Profuse

(adj.) plentiful; pouring out in abundance During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwayne was sweating so _________ that he stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the remaining six miles wearing nothing more than skimpy shorts.

Destitute

(adj.) poor enough to need help from others Jean Valjean, is at first _________, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life. (adj.) completely wanting or lacking (usually "destitute of") Now that the mine is closed, the town is _________ of any economic activity.

Indigent

(adj.) poor; having very little In the so-called Third World, many are ________ and only a privileged few have the resources to enjoy material luxuries. (n.) a poor or needy person The _________, huddled under the overpass, tried to start a small bonfire in the hope of staying warm.

Puissant

(adj.) powerful Over the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a(n) ________ advisor to the community.

Austere

(adj.) practicing self-denial. =ascetic His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called _______. (adj.) undecorated, severely simple Late Soviet architecture, although remaining largely _______, moved into experimental territory that employed previously unused shapes and structures. (adj.) harsh in manner of temperament. =Spartan The principal of my elementary school was a cold, _______ woman; I could never understand why she chose to work with children.

Laudable

(adj.) praiseworthy His conduct is worthy of praise―praiseworthy―to be commended―commendable―________.

Factious

(adj.) produced by, or characterized by internal dissension The controversial bill proved ________, as dissension even within parties resulted

Efficacious

(adj.) producing the intended result Since Maggie's cough syrup, which had expired five years back, was no longer ___________, she coughed through the night.

Salient

(adj.) prominent; of notable significance, =noticeable, conspicuous After 9/11, displays of strong patriotism were very _______ what with American flags flying every where all over the country.

Choleric

(adj.) prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came across as ________ and unapproachable—very rarely did students come to his office hours.

Supercilious

(adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority. =haughty, imperious, disadianful Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted ______________ 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 South America.

Politic

(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient. ある物事を解決するのに役立つが、必ずしも道徳的ではない策を表す. =prudent The POLITICian's on-air apology on Friday was more _______ than persuasive.

Grandiloquent

(adj.) puffed up with vanity The dictator was known for his _____________ speeches, puffing his chest out and using big, important-sounding words.

Pristine

(adj.) pure; completely clean and uncontaminated The glacial lake was ________ and we filled our canteens to drink deeply. Drill sergeants are known for demanding ________ cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often make new recruits clean and clean and clean until they meet the expected high standards.

Bumptious

(adj.) pushy; conceited; noisily self-assertive.

Pastoral

(adj.) relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense Those who imagine America's countryside as a ________ region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see.

Germane

(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting. =pertinent It's hard to think of a topic more _______ to a couple's compatibility than how you spend your money vs. how you spend your time.

Self-effacing

(adj.) reluctant to draw attention to yourself The most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are _____________, directing attention and praise to their students and workers.

Telltale

(adj.) revealing The many ________ signs of chronic smoking include yellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough.

Atavistic

(adj.) reverting to or suggesting the characteristics of a remote ancestor or primitive type

Boorish

(adj.) rude; insensitive behavior and/or appearance Bukowski was known for being a _______ drunk and alienating close friends and family.

Disheveled

(adj.) rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder Video released last weekend showed images of a __________ and dust-covered girl who appeared to match the police's description.

Derelict

(adj.) run-down, abandoned; ALSO neglectful of duty The teacher was ________ in her duties because she hadn't graded a single student paper in three weeks. At one time the waterfront factories were busy and productive, but now they stand ________ and will be torn down.

Despondent

(adj.) sad, without hope, discouraged

Erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic. 博識 Before the Internet, the library was typically where you would find _______ readers.

Contemptuous

(adj.) scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitude Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa looked ______________ at anyone wearing dated clothing.

Furtive

(adj.) secretive While at work, George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as _______ as possible about their romantic relationship.

Staid

(adj.) serious and dignified; quiet or subdued in character or conduct. Origin: "Stay". Think: conservative law firms, boring parties with important guests Frank came from a _____ environment, so he was shocked that his college roommate sold narcotics.

Admonitory

(adj.) serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective. The teacher gave the child a(n) __________ lecture after he was caught throwing paper planes around in the classroom.

Amorphous

(adj.) shapeless; lacking a distinct shape or organizing theme Protecting immigrants is shaping up to be a priority of the religious left, a(n) _________ collection of people and groups reflecting many faiths and ethnicities. His study plan for the GRE was at best _________; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.

Myopic

(adj.) shortsighted The company ultimately went out of business because the ______ managers couldn't predict the changes in their industry.

Sullen

(adj.) showing a brooding ill humor. Synonym: Saturnine Herbert took board games too seriously, often appearing ______ after losing.

Obliging

(adj.) showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others Even after all his success, I found him to be accommodating and ________, sharing with me his "secret tips" on how to gain wealth and make friends.

Complaisant

(adj.) showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others On her first day at the job, Annie was ___________, fulfilling every request of her new employee and anticipating future requests.

Urbane

(adj.) 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 ______ and sophisticate spy James Bond.

Solicitous

(adj.) showing hovering attentiveness. おせっかい 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 __________ about our health.

Phlegmatic

(adj.) showing little emotion Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply _________: he doesn't have the energy or inclination to care about anything.

Deferential

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

Canny

(adj.) showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others. =shrewd NOTE: Uncanny is not the opposite of this word. Sneaker companies are among the ________ of manufacturers, anticipating the needs, wants and desires of their consumers.

Dolorous

(adj.) showing sorrow. =elegiac Chopin's ballads are filled with sharp changes in moods--a _______ melody can give way to a lighthearted tempo.

Empathetic

(adj.) showing understanding and ready comprehension of other peoples' states and emotions Most discrimination and hatred is based on a lack of __________ awareness of people that have the same aspirations and fears.

Astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Diffident

(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved The error cost him a two-shot penalty, his _________ response in the face of disappointment earned him admiration and criticism in equal measure.

Telling

(adj.) significant and revealing of another factor Her unbecoming dress was very _______ when it came to her sense of fashion.

Obtuse

(adj.) slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernment Jackson was the most ______ member of the team: the manager's subtle ironies were always lost on him.

Wily

(adj.) sly, shrewd, cunning

Mellifluous

(adj.) smooth and sweet-sounding Chelsea's grandmother thought Franz Schubert's music to be the most ___________ ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her grandmother's chagrin, would blast Rihanna on the home stereo speakers.

Archaic

(adj.) so old as to appear to belong to a different period Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in _______ English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say, she didn't have many friends.

Negligible

(adj.) 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 ___________ impact on your score.

Muted

(adj.) softened, subdued Helen preferred _____ earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.

Aphoristic

(adj.) something that is concise; terse and witty like a maxim. Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being __________, but he just states the obvious.

Soporific

(adj.) something that tends to cause sleep and to dull awareness or alertness

Lugubrious

(adj.) sorrowful; mournful; dismal At the funeral, __________ songs filled the small church.

Abstemious

(adj.) sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

Surreptitious

(adj.) stealty, taking pains not to be caught or detected Since his mom was a light sleeper, Timmy had to tiptoe _______________ 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.

Cohesive

(adj.) sticking or holding together; unified; well integrated A well-written, ________ essay will keep on topic at all times, never losing sight of the main argument.

Extant

(adj.) still in existence; opposite of extinct Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be ______ generations from now

Inclement

(adj.) stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action After a week of _________ weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun. (adj.) used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was _________ to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.

Uncanny

(adj.) strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation Reggie has an _______ ability to connect with animals: feral cats will readily approach him, and sometimes even wild birds will land on his finger.

Macabre

(adj.) suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of the _______; his stories vividly describe the moment leading up to—and often those moments after—a grisly death.

Martial

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

Appurtenant

(adj.) supply added support In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are ___________, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.

Conducive

(adj.) supportive; encouraging; helping to bring about Studying in a quiet room is _________ to learning; studying in a noisy environment makes learning more difficult.

Turgid

(adj.) swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive in language The amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years--by the time he was 60, his novels were so ______ that even his diehard fans refused to read them.

Gauche

(adj.) tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude. ぎこちない。HINT: This word means "left" in French. People who aren't used to using their left-hand for things will be _______ in their actions.

Synoptic

(adj.) taking a general view of the whole subject

Tawdry

(adj.) 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 ______ displays took the place of genuine elegance.

Lachrymose

(adj.) tearful; sad __________ and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair.

Dilatory

(adj.) tending to DELAY or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone. Changing a jpg file to a Word file and pretending the file broke is a ________ tactic to earn more time to finish an assignment.

Evanescent

(adj.) tending to vanish like vapor The storm flashed into existence above us and lasted only a short time—a(n) __________ turbulence of wind and cloud.

Fell

(adj.) terribly evil For fans of the Harry Potter series, the ____ 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.

Base

(adj.) the lowest, class were without any moral principles She was not so ____ as to begrudge the beggar the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate.

Baleful

(adj.) threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a(n) _______ omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character.

Timorous

(adj.) 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 ________ and quiet for the first 10 minutes.

Jaundice

(adj.) to be biased against due to envy or prejudice Shelly was _________ 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.

Arch

(adj.) to be deliberately teasing; naughtily or annoyingly playful The baroness was ____, making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.

Flush

(adj.) to be in abundance The exam's passage is _____ with difficult words, words that you may have learned only yesterday.

Sententious

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

Contrite

(adj.) to be remorseful Though he stole his little sister's licorice stick with malevolent glee, Chucky soon became _______ when his sister wouldn't stop crying.

Retiring

(adj.) 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 _________, and preferred the solitude of his garret.

Errant

(adj.) to be wandering; not sticking to a circumscribed path Unlike his peers, who spent their hours studying in the library, Matthew preferred ______ walks through the university campus.

Vituperate

(adj.) 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 ___________ him for petty oversights such as forgetting to double knot the laces on his boots.

Beholden

(adj.) to feel you have a duty to someone because they have done something for you (owe them) The more that China views Trump family businesses as ________ to Chinese interests, the more assertive the country may be at the international bargaining table.

Blinkered

(adj.) to have a limited outlook or understanding In gambling, the addict is easily _________ by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.

Vindictive

(adj.) 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 __________ that she waited for an entire semester to get the perfect revenge.

Intimate

(adj.) to suggest something subtly. =suggest, imply At first Manfred's teachers ________ed 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.

Indecorous

(adj.) unseemly; inappropriate (of behavior) Eating with elbows on the table is considered __________ in refined circles.

Precipitous

(adj.) very steep. There is a ___________ decline in the status and stature of the United States around the world.

Thoroughgoing

(adj.) very thorough; complete As a _____________ bibliophile, one who had turned his house into a veritable library, he shocked his friends when he bought a Kindle.

Rambling

(adj.) walking with no particular direction in mind; unfocused speech

Perfidious

(adj.) willing to betray one's trust

Forthright

(adv.) frank, direct, straightforward I did not expect the insurance agent to give us any straight answers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how __________ he was.

Brusquely

(adv.) in a blunt, direct manner Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would _________ ask his subordinates anything he wanted, even coffee.

Amuck

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

Askance

(adv.) with a look of suspicion or disapproval The old couple looked ________ on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, "They've got rings through their noses and purple hair!"

Assiduously

(adv.) with care and persistence The top college football program recruits new talent ___________, only choosing those who were the top in their county.

Saturnalia

(n.) A celebration marked by unrestrained revelry and, often, promiscuity and excessive drinking.

Skein

(n.) A complex tangle European imperialists in Africa built a _____ of borders, most of which fell into disrepair in the decades after their colonies achieved independence.

Oenophile

(n.) A connoisseur or lover of wine

Entropy

(n.) A measure of disorder or randomness.

Foil

(n.) A person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast

Sycophant

(n.) A person who flatters; a yes-man The CEO was unaware of the damaging consequences of his choices, largely because he surrounded himself with _________ who would never dare criticize him.

Bromide

(n.) A platitude or trite saying. Stale remarks. Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky stranger offered Martha the following _______: "Looks like it's raining."

Malaise

(n.) A sense of unease; depression

Peccadillo

(n.) A small sin or fault. Forgetting to say thank you once in a while can be passed as a __________.

Recapitulation

(n.) A summary. This is what people are referring to when they say "recap". 世界史の「カピチュレーション」とは殆ど関係ない。 Every point of the professors lesson was so clear that the students felt his concluding ______________ was not necessary.

Embellishment

(n.) A superfluous ornament. 無駄な装飾品 Many people recycled their best tunics, ones with patterns like bird-and-vine lattice motifs or more artistic _____________, as their burial shrouds.

Tempest

(n.) A violent commotion or disturbance

Gordian Knot

(n.) An extremely complex problem.

Sword of Damocles

(n.) Any imminent danger

Iconoclast

(n.) Attacker of cherished beliefs or institutions. =heterodox. ORIGIN Greek: "eikon"+"klastes" - "image+breaker"=People who destroyed religious sculptures Bloomberg had a piece trying to find a small group of heroic ___________ who predicted the euro crisis, unlike the vast majority of people who blindly believed in the integrity of the EU.

Curmudgeon

(n.) Bad-tempered, difficult person; grouch Since Uncle Mike was the family __________, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that she would become less grouchy.

Probity

(n.) Being morally and ethically above reproach, having integrity The ideal politician would have the _______ to lead, but reality gravely falls short of the ideal of morally upright leaders.

Travesty

(n.) Exaggerated, debased, or grotesque imitation What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced _________ of the form.

Muckraking

(n.) Exposure of scandals (esp. of public figures)

Insolence

(n.) Extreme disrespect that is deliberately insulting or rude

Truancy

(n.) Failure to attend school, without permission

Coda

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

Panache

(n.) Flair, style, swagger; a flamboyant or grand way of acting Jim, with his typical _______, came to the wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and a long cape covered in sequins.

Largess

(n.) Generosity, the giving of money or gifts (esp. with the implication that the giver is a bit superior to the recipient) Uncle Frank was known for his _______, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.

Sophists

(n.) Greek teachers of philosophy, reasoning, and public speaking

Harangue

(n.) Long, intense verbal attack, esp. when delivered publicly 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 _________s against the government.

Temperance

(n.) Moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol Welles wasn't known for his __________--he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.

Misanthrope

(n.) One who hates mankind Hamilton had been deceived so many times in his life that he hid behind the gruff exterior of a ___________, lambasting perfect strangers for no apparent reason.

Predilection

(n.) Preference, tendency or favorability towards Monte had a ____________ for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera.

Censure

(n.) Strong disapproval or official reprimand, (v.) to issue such disapproval or reprimand

Abeyance

(n.) Temporary suspension, inactivity. The implementation of the agreement between S. Korea and Japan will be held in ________ while the new Moon administration decides upon its Japan policy.

Blandishment

(n.) That which is intended to coax or persuade, such as flattery; an allurement

Discernment

(n.) The ability to judge well

Trope

(n.) The generic name for a figure of speech such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor. Also, a conventional idea often seen in life.

Wherewithal

(n.) The necessary means (especially financial means)

Hodgepodge

(n.) a confusing mixture or jumble. A mishmash Those in attendance represented a __________ of the city's denizens: chimney sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to elbow with stockbrokers.

Despot

(n.) a cruel and oppressive dictator The emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute ______.

Malediction

(n.) a curse; a wish of evil upon another. Origin: Latin "mal" + "dict" = "bad speak"

Canard

(n.) a deliberately misleading fabrication The public will always be fooled by the media's _______.

Anathema

(n.) a detested person; the source of somebody's hate Hundreds of years ago, Galileo was ________ to the church; today the church is anathema to some on the left side of the political spectrum.

Aberration

(n.) a deviation from what is normal or expected And historical data suggests that the wholly independent nuclear-family household may be the __________ — that patterns of close familial support are the more natural arrangement.

Rhombus

(n.) a parallelogram with all congruent sides

Savvy

(n.) a perceptive understanding Although a great CEO, he did not have the political _____ to win the election. (v.) get the meaning of something The student _______ the meaning of astrophysics with little effort. (adj.) well-informed or perceptive With his _____ business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year.

Raconteur

(n.) a person skilled in telling anecdotes Jude is entertaining, but he is no _________: beyond the handful of amusing stories he has memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous story-telling ability.

Chauvinist

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

Misogynist

(n.) a person who dislikes women in particular Many have accused Hemingway of being a quiet _________, but recently unearthed letters argue against this belief.

Miser

(n.) a person who doesn't like to spend money (because they are greedy) Monte was no _____, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.

Apostate

(n.) a person who has abandoned a religious faith or cause An ________ of the Republican Party, Sheldon has yet to become affiliated with any party and dubs himself an independent.

Arriviste

(n.) a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climber The city center was aflutter with __________ who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.

Perquisite

(n.) 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 __________ of being able to eat terrific food for half the price diners would pay.

Maxim

(n.) a short saying expressing a general truth Johnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single _____ but then requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means.

Paean

(n.) a song of praise, joy, or triumph. THINK;"Xi Jinping's Road of Growth" and it's flowery language was a typical example of this. The newly released book is a _____ to moms everywhere and their herculean behind-the-scenes efforts to bring their children's dreams to fruition.

Tumult

(n.) a state of chaos, noise and confusion Riots broke out just in front of our apartment building, and the ______ continued late into the night.

Enmity

(n.) a state of deep-seated ill-will Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real______ toward Sarah.

Culpability

(n.) a state of guilt or responsibility. 問題を犯した責任 Trump continued to raise doubts about Russian ___________ in the 2016 election-related hacks on the eve of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Flux

(n.) 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 ____.

Prognostication

(n.) a statement made about the future, =prediction, forecast When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable _______________.

Martinet

(n.) a strict disciplinarian The job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until she found out that her boss was a total ________; after each project the boss would come by to scrutinize—and inevitably criticize—every little detail of the work Rebecca had done.

Broadside

(n.) a strong verbal attack Political __________ are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.

Diatribe

(n.) a strong verbal attack against a person or institution Steve's mom launched into a ________ 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.

Polemic

(n.) a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something. The professor launched into a _______, claiming that Freudian theory was a pack of lies that absolutely destroyed European literary theory.

Epiphany

(n.) a sudden revelation or moment of insight Gary one day had an ________ that he was a people person; he prompty quit his factory job and began working as a salesman.

Quisling

(n.) a traitor History looks unfavorably upon ________; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero—he who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.

Mountebank

(n.) a trickster or swindler; a charlatan

Banality

(n.) a trite or obvious remark Herbert regarded the minister's remark as a mere _________ until Sharon pointed out profound implications to the seemingly obvious words.

Conflagration

(n.) a very intense and uncontrolled fire In the summer months, ______________ are not uncommon in the southwest, due to the heat and lack of rain.

Audacity

(n.) aggressive boldness in social situations. 大胆さ。Origin: Latin "audacitas" - "boldness" When Dove launched in 1997, it was an anomaly; a soap that claimed to moisturize, with the ________ to charge four times the average price.

Collusion

(n.) agreement on a secret plot Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's assassin, was in _________ with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman.

Cornucopia

(n.) an abundant supply of something good The International Food Expo was a __________ of culinary delights: gourmet foods from every continent were under one roof.

Screed

(n.) 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 ______ against big business.

Enormity

(n.) an act of extreme wickedness. 極悪非道な様 The ________ of Pol Pot's regime is hard to capture in words--within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives.

Bastardization

(n.) an act that debases or corrupts The movie World War Z is a complete _____________ of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title.

Tribulation

(n.) an affliction, trouble, or difficult experience. The ___________s of a coal miner include a dangerous work environment, lung disease from black dust and a cramped, dark work space.

Junta

(n.) an aggressive takeover by a group (usually military) As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a _____ suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than the current leadership

Altercation

(n.) an angry argument

Tirade

(n.) an angry speech In terms of political change, a(n) ______ oftentimes does little more than make the person speaking red in the face.

Presumption

(n.) an assumption that is taken for granted When Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the __________ 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 done. (n.) audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to The new neighbor quickly gained a reptuation for her ___________; she had invited herself to several of the neighbors homes, often stopping over at inopportune times and asking for a drink.

Accolade

(n.) an award or praise granted as a special honor Jean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of ________s, and as such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964.

Cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for material wealth. =greed Some believe people that amassing as much wealth as possible is the meaning to life—yet they often realize that ________ brings anything but happiness.

Alacrity

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

Aficionado

(n.) an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan

Cataclysm

(n.) 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.

Strife

(n.) bitter disagreement; fighting, struggle. The conflict between Abe's government and the student group SEALDS developed into a major _____ with the large demonstrations held in front of the parliament.

Acrimony

(n.) bitterness and ill will The ___________ dispute between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: the health of the current administration was imperiled.

Gall

(n.) bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; CF. gall bladder In an act of ____, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers and professional contacts. (v.) to irritate

Impasse

(n.) blocked path; dilemma with no solution Two people at an _______ in a negotiation might hit upon a new solution if one suggests something crazy, for example.

Prolixity

(n.) boring verbosity I loved my grandfather dearly, but his _________ would put me to sleep, regardless of the topic.

Sangfroid

(n.) calmness or poise in difficult situations The hostage negotiator exhibited a _________ that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat, or the gun at his head.

Treacle

(n.) cloying sentimentality or flattery. Think: Young Romance Movies. Previous UN climate change forums, where dreary jargon often pours _______ over any sense of urgency, have been enlivened by entreaties from Pacific island leaders.

Duress

(n.) compulsory force or threat The witness said he signed the contract under ______ and argued that the court should cancel the agreement.

Dissimulation

(n.) concealment of one's thoughts, feelings, or character. 本音を隠すこと Ex.: Mr. Kermiche turns out to have been practicing the art of taqiyya, or _____________, explicitly counseled by the Islamic State to fool the enemy.

Tact

(n.) consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense In a tremendous display of ____, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia's husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia.

Veneer

(n.) 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 ______ of respectability.

Exegesis

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

Duplicity

(n.) deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something else A life of espionage is one of _________: an agent must pretend to be a totally different person than who she or he actually is.

Truculence

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

Turpitude

(n.) depravity, moral corruption During his reign, Caligula indulged in unspeakable sexual practices, so it not surprising that he will forever be remembered for his _________.

Decimation

(n.) destroying or killing a large part of the population The __________ after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is incomprehensible.

Auteur

(n.) director who has a signature within their films, consistent in style. ORIGIN French: word that literally meant "author" What we try to be is _______, writing our own screenplays, setting a point of view about cinema.

Dispatch

(n.) dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle, they caught the king and swiftly ________ him. (v.) the property of being prompt and efficient She finished her thesis with _______, amazing her advisors who couldn't believe she hadn't written 60 scholarly pages so quickly.

Malcontent

(n.) dissatisfied; unhappy person

Braggadocio

(n.) empty boasting; bragging; a boasting person; braggart. Think: Prof. Lockhart in Harry Potter.

Hubris

(n.) excessive pride or self-confidence. A boxer who shouts "I'm the greatest!" even though he's about to get pummeled by a much stronger opponent is displaying a lot of this. 傲慢 Bill Clinton was criticized for his ______, since he believed he could get away with anything once in the White House.

Precocity

(n.) exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age

Torpor

(n.) extreme mental and physical sluggishness. For a few weeks in April, I was overcome with ______ that prevented me from working on anything.

Jingoism

(n.) extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.

Opulence

(n.) extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance Russian oligarchs are famous for their ________, living in fancy homes and dining on expensive caviar.

Chauvinism

(n.) fanatical patriotism; belief that one's group/cause is superior to all other groups/causes Vegetarians argue that man is ____________ in his belief that animals do not consciously feel the pain we humans do.

Timidity

(n.) fear of the unknown or fear of making decisions. Origin: Latin "Timere" - "To Fear"

Apprehension

(n.) fearful expectation Test day can be one of pure ____________, as many students worry about their test scores.

Lucidness

(n.) free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression His statesmanship was of a high order; his oratory ingenuous, generally courteous and conciliatory, and always entertaining, from its _________ and keenness.

Parsimony

(n.) frugality, stinginess

Fecklessness

(n.) general incompetence and ineffectiveness. ________ politicians will invariably look to blame the other side for inaction.

Bombast

(n.) grandiloquent, pompous in speech and manner

Aplomb

(n.) great coolness and composure under strain. Think calm. Nancy acted with ______ during dangerous situations--she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a cat.

Avarice

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

Asperity

(n.) harshness of manner The editor was known for his ________, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.

Misanthropy

(n.) hatred of mankind. LINKAGE: the "-anthrop-" in this word is related to "anthropology" Smartwatches are still uncommon enough that whenever I see somebody wearing one, I fight my inherent ___________ and ask how they like it.

Panacea

(n.) hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; a universal solution. = cure=all. While the company credit card has made most large purchases easier, it is no _______: some smaller basic transactions still must be conducted in cash.

Inequity

(n.) injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards After decades of racial ________, the "separate but equal" doctrine was successfully overturned.

Animosity

(n.) intense hostility The governor's _________ toward his rival was only inflamed when the latter spread false lies regarding the governor's first term.

Perfidy

(n.) intentional breach of faith; treachery The lowest circles in Dante's Inferno were for those who had practiced _______, and among these, the very lowest was for those, such as Judas, who had been treacherous to one of their benefactors.

Malfeasance

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

Paragon

(n.) 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 _______ for basketball players. (n.) an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept Some say that Athens was the _______ of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.

Recrimination

(n.) mutual accusations The two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate ______________ of the other's guilt.

Malefactor

(n.) offender; evildoer; criminal

Augury

(n.) omen; prophecy He interpreted the departures of the birds as a(n) _______ of evil.

Charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack You may call him a "motivational speaker," but I call him a _________--he doesn't have any idea what he's really talking about.

Philistine

(n.) one who lacks culture or taste (adj.) smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values Jane considered Al completely __________, because he talked almost exclusive about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.

Ascetic

(n.) one who leads a life of self-denial and contemplation; absent of luxury. (adj.) Abstinent or austere in lifestyle. Origin: Greek "asketes" = "monk" Historically, _______ like Ghandi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint. (adj.) practicing self-denial His _______ life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty

Aesthete

(n.) one who loves beauty in art or nature A true ________, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.

Spendthrift

(n.) one who spends money extravagantly Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a ___________ whose excesses eventually caught up to her.

Dilletante

(n.) one who studies an art or science for mere amusement. 素人の愛好家.

Dilettante

(n.) one with an amateurish or superficial understanding of a field of knowledge Fred has no formal medical training; while he likes to claim authority on medical issues, he is little more than a(n) __________.

Libertine

(n.) one without moral restraint

Pedestrian

(n.) ordinary or dull. =prosaic, quotidian While Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation, her brother was occupied with far more __________ concerns: how to earn a salary and run a household.

Gadfly

(n.) person who continually annoys others

Decorum

(n.) propriety in manners and conduct

Rebus

(n.) puzzle in which pictures give clues

Temerity

(n.) rashness, boldness No child has the ________ to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted.

Succor

(n.) relief, help in time of distress or want

Gumption

(n.) resourcefulness and determination Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of ________ in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work.

Primogeniture

(n.) right of inheritance belongs exclusively to the eldest son

Machination

(n.) scheming activity for an evil purpose

Diffidence

(n.) shyness; lack of confidence They asked him to be the team leader, but he expressed __________, saying that he didn't think he had enough time to do the job justice, nor did he think he had enough experience.

Moment

(n.) significant and important value Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no great ______ in Hampton's writing career, and within a few years the public quickly forgot his foray into theater arts.

Zealot

(n.) someone passionately devoted to a cause

Malingerer

(n.) 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 __________ with little inclination to work.

Firebrand

(n.) someone who deliberately creates trouble Freddie is a(n) firebrand: every time he walks into the office, he winds up at the center of heated argument.

Maverick

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

Pundit

(n.) someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field Steven Pinker's credentials are unquestioned as a ______; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology.

Contrivance

(n.) something contrived (n.) machine or apparatus The spinning blade of a blender is a ___________ that turns fruits and yogurt into a tasty smoothie. (n.) clever deceitful plan, scheme

Chimera

(n.) something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve Many believe that a world free of war is a ________—a dream that ignores humanity's violent tendancies.

Palimpsest

(n.) something that has been changed numerous times but on which traces of former iterations can still be seen The downtown was a _________ 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.

Malapropism

(n.) 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 ___________ of "anecdote" that never failed to cheer me up.

Denouement

(n.) the final resolution of the many strands of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events At the __________ of the movie, all questions were answered, and the true identity of the robber was revealed.

Apotheosis

(n.) the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax As difficult as it is to imagine, the _________ of Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, is yet to come.

Acme

(n.) the highest point of achievement The new Cessna airplanes will be the ____ of comfort, offering reclining seats and ample legroom.

Serendipity

(n.) the instance in which an accidental, fortunate discovery is made By pure __________, Sarah discovered, at a flea market in Peoria, a matching earring to replace the one that fell down the storm drain back home.

Nadir

(n.) the lowest point For many pop music fans, the rap and alternative-rock dominated 90s were the _____ of musical expression.

Pith

(n.) 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 ____ of what the speaker is trying to convey.

Pusillanimity

(n.) the nature of showing a lack of courage

Heyday

(n.) the period of greatest power, vigor, success, or influence; the prime years During the ______ 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.

Apogee

(n.) the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point, climax The ______ of the Viennese style of music, Mozart's music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century.

Candidness

(n.) the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her __________ about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.

Exiguity

(n.) the quality of being meager. わずかであること。 After two months at sea, the ________ of the ship's supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food.

Naivete

(n.) the quality of being unsophisticated or innocent But I have always believed that deep down the rest of the world envies that American optimism and _______.

Volubility

(n.) the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously The professor's __________ knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point from one St. Patrick's Day to the next.

Altruism

(n.) the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others; the exact opposite of selfishness. 利他主義的 Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by ________.

Rapprochement

(n.) the reestablishing of cordial relations Although Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a(n) _____________, each one's bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely.

Ascendancy

(n.) the state that exists when one person or group has power over another The __________ of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear—they have a decade of championships behind them.

Mendacity

(n.) the tendency to be untruthful. USAGE ALERT: Don't confuse with "audacity". I can forgive her for her _________ but only because she is a child and feels that prevaricating is her only way out of a sticky situation.

Diminutive

(n.) to indicate smallness He prefers to be called a _________ of his name: "Bill" instead of "John William." (adj.) very small When he put on his father's suit and shoes, his appearance was that of a _________ youth.

Capitulate

(n.) to surrender (usually under agreed conditions) Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against his nimble friend, basically __________ when he played the last two points with his eyes closed.

Inanity

(n.) 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 _______.

Veracity

(n.) truthfulness One cannot deny Facebook's culpability in the spread of this "fake news" phenomenon; Facebook's business model relies on people clicking, sharing and engaging with content - photos, memes, opinions, news and gossip - regardless of ________.

Carp at (smth.)

(v. phrase) To find fault

Steel oneself against

(v. phrase) prepare mentally or emotionally for something unpleasant

Rile up

(v. phrase) to upset

Rescind

(v.) Annul, repeal make void The man's driver's license was _______ed after his tenth car accident, which meant he would never be allowed to legally drive again.

Denigrate

(v.) Belittle, attack the reputation of. =besmirch Count Rumford ________ed the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations.

Supplant

(v.) Take the place of, displace, especially through sneaky tactics For many, a cell phone has __________ed a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don't even have a traditional phone anymore.

Begrudge

(v.) To allow reluctantly We never ________ money spent on ourselves. (v.) to envy someone for possessing or enjoying something Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey _________ the happiness of the other children playing outside his window.

Rankle

(v.) To cause continuing anger or irritation. =rile. His constant whistling would ______ her, sometimes causing her to leave in a huff.

Misattribute

(v.) To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship. I made a mistake; I _____________ "Crime and Punishment" to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Eeke

(v.) To live off meager resources, to scrape by Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to ___ out an existence on canned food.

Assuage

(v.) To make something unpleasant less severe, pacify. Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was ________ when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.

Subvert

(v.) To overthrow; To cause the downfall of; To undermine the principles of.

Straiten

(v.) To squeeze together; Bring into difficulties or distress

Lionize

(v.) Treat like a celebrity, assign great social importance to Students in the U.S. learn to _______ Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington because they are the founding fathers of the nation.

Undermine

(v.) Weaken, cause to collapse by diffing away at the foundation (of a building or an argument); injure or attack in a secretive or underhanded way The student __________ed the teacher's authority by questioning the teacher's judgment on numerous occasions.

Enervate

(v.) Weaken, tire, especially in an emotional or mental way Though she was energized during a face-to-face interview, a phone conversation last week found her more __________, reflecting a hard new turn in her story.

Venerate

(v.) Worship, revere, regard with deep respect and awe Mother Teresa was _________ for her work with the poor, and Gandhi was _________ for his efforts for peace.

Finagle

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

Expound

(v.) add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth The CEO refused to _______ on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit.

Tout

(v.) advertize in strongly positive terms; show off At the conference, the CEO ______ the extraordinary success of his company's Research & Development division.

Posit

(v.) assume as fact Initially, Einstein _______ a repulsive force to balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as a blunder.

Assail

(v.) attack in speech or writing In the weekly paper, the editor ________ the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed.

Impute

(v.) attribute (responsibility or fault) to something He _______ his sub-par performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep.

Differentiate

(v.) be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait (sometimes in positive sense) Mozart's long melodic lines ______________ his compositions from other works of late 18th century music. (v.) evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment Animals on Madagascar ______________ from other similar animal species due to many years of isolation on the island.

Impede

(v.) be a hindrance or obstacle to Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was _______.

Flummox

(v.) be a mystery or bewildering to Mary's behavior completely _________ me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be.

Browbeat

(v.) be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner During the interrogation, the suspect was ___________ into signing a false confession.

Exemplify

(v.) be characteristic of Lincoln ___________ the best of not only America, but also the potential greatness that exists within each person. (v.) clarify by giving an example of Please present some case studies that _________ the results that you claim in your paper.

Prevail

(v.) be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current: During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility _________ in the office. (v.) prove superior Before the cricket match, Australia was heavily favored, but India _________.

Importune

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

Flounder

(v.) behave awkwardly; have difficulties Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has deal with taxes, she _________.

Elicit

(v.) call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses) Just smiling--even if you are depressed--can ______ feelings of pleasure and happiness.

Rile

(v.) cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations. =rankle Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes only one intense glare from Sabrina to ____ him.

Disseminate

(v.) cause to become widely known Before the effects of anaesthesia were ____________, patients had to experience the full pain of a surgery.

Crystallize

(v.) cause to take on a definite and clear shape Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha's ideas for the essay ___________.

Excoriate

(v.) censure or criticize severely 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 __________, and then fired.

Transmute

(v.) change or alter in form, appearance, or nature One of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would _________ lead into gold.

Glean

(v.) collect information bit by bit Herb has given us no formal statement about his background, but from various hints, I have _______ that he grew up in difficult circumstances.

Derive

(v.) come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example; reason by deduction; establish by deduction

Vanquish

(v.) come out better in a competition, race, or conflict For years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be _________ by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament.

Proscribe

(v.) command against My doctor _________ that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast.

Vie

(v.) compete for something While the other teams in the division actively ___ for the championship, this team seems content simply to go through the motions of playing.

Dissemble

(v.) conceal one's true motives, usually through deceit To get close to the senator, the assassin __________ his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.

Subsume

(v.) contain or include, (but there's an absorb connotation to the word) Maps of Amsterdam and Florida, Lagos and Dubai, Shanghai and Rio were shown ________ by floodwater.

Proselytize

(v.) convert to another religion, philosophy, or perspective. 改宗を迫る Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast, Jake will ___________, interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn't purchase an iPhone.

Implicate

(v.) convey a meaning; imply By saying that some of the guests were uncomfortable, the manager __________ to the hotel staff that it needed to be more diligent. (v.) to indicate in wrongdoing, usually a crime The crime boss was __________ for a long list of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing the peace.

Lambaste

(v.) criticize severely or angrily. =rebuke, remonstrate, vituperate Showing no patience, the manager utterly _______ed the sales team that lost the big account.

Enumerate

(v.) determine the number or amount of The survey __________ the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers. (v.) specify individually, one by one I sat and listened as she _________ all of the things she did not like about the past three months.

Demean

(v.) disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave At first the soccer players bantered back and forth, but as soon as one of the players became ______ing, calling the other's mother a water buffalo, the ref whipped out a red card.

Perturb

(v.) 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, _______ him.

Deign

(v.) do something that one considers to be below one's dignity The master of the house never _______ to answer questions from the servants.

Quail

(v.) draw back, as with fear or pain Craig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley, he _______ at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin.

Extrapolate

(v.) draw from specific cases for more general cases By _____________ from the data on the past three months, we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website.

Flag

(v.) 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 ____.

Underscore

(v.) emphasize While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he ___________ the importance of carrying enough water.

Machinate

(v.) engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to _________.

Augment

(v.) enlarge or increase; improve Ideally, the restaurant's _________ menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits.

Hail

(v.) enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something Many college superstar athletes are ______ as the next big thing, but then flop at the professional level.

Banish

(v.) expel from a community, residence, or location; drive away The most difficult part of the fast was _________ thoughts of food.

Bemoan

(v.) express discontent or a strong regret While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees ________ the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.

Objurgate

(v.) express strong disapproval of, reprimand. Note: "HOW DARE YOU!!" is an example of this verb. The manager spent an hour ___________ the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.

Renege

(v.) fail to fulfill a promise or obligation We will no longer work with that vendor since it has ______ on nearly every agreement.

Dovetail

(v.) fit together tightly, as if by means of an interlocking joint Although Darwin's evolution and Mendel's genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they ________ each other very well.

Abjure

(v.) formally reject or give up (as a belief) While the church believed that Galileo _______ the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.

Coalesce

(v.) fuse or cause to grow together Over time, the various tribes ________ into a single common culture with one universal language.

Entice

(v.) get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises Harold _______ his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.

Delegate

(v.) give an assignment to (a person) Since the senior manager had to go on many international business trips, she was forced to ________ many of her responsibilities to two lower-level managers.

Besiege

(v.) harass, as with questions or requests; cause to feel distressed or worried After discovering a priceless artifact in her backyard, Jane was ________ by phone calls, emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see the rare piece of history.

Thwart

(v.) 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 _________ my plans.

Stymie

(v.) hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of The engineers found their plans _______ at every turn and were ultimately able to make amlost no progress on the project.

Encumber

(v.) hold back The costume __________ all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely.

Enthrall

(v.) hold spellbound She was so __________ by the movie that she never heard people screaming, "Fire! Fire!" in the neighboring theater.

Slight

(v.) insult to one's dignity; snub. Ex.: "She committed a major faux pas by that _____ in her Emmy acceptance speech; there was no mention of the fellow actors."

Equivocate

(v.) intentionally use vague language, =Prevaricate. Origin Latin: Think "equal"+"voice", as in giving equal voice to two different positions and not deciding on one. After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew, she ___________ when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been.

Misconstrue

(v.) interpret in the wrong way The politician never trusted journalists because he thought that they ___________ his words and misrepresent his positions.

Irk

(v.) irritate or vex My little sister has a way of ______ and annoying me like no other person.

Guffaw

(v.) laugh boisterously Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king ________, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.

Reconcile

(v.) make (one thing) compatible with (another) The feminist question is how much our culture is prepared to _________ women and power.

Incense

(v.) make furious When Herb bought football tickets for a game on the day of their wedding anniversary, Jill was ________.

Disarm

(v.) make less hostile; win over

Compound

(v.) make more intense, stronger, or more marked Her headache was __________ by the construction crew outside, which had six jackhammers going at the same time.

Rarefy

(v.) make more subtle or refined Jack's vulgar jokes were not so successful in the ________ environment of college professors.

Ossify

(v.) 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 ________ into unshiftable views.

Buttress

(v.) make stronger or defensible China's economy has been __________ by a global demand for the electronic parts the country manufactures.

Obscure

(v.) make unclear On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head _______ed much of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock. (adj.) known by only a few. =recondite. Many of the biggest movie stars were once ______ actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.

Conflate

(v.) mix together, different elements or concepts.; COMBINE. 合成、融合. Origin Latin: "conflare" - "blow together". In her recent book, the author _________ several genres--the detective story, the teen thriller, and the vampire romance--to create a memorable read.

Tender

(v.) offer up something formally The government was loath to ______ more money in the fear that it might set off inflation.

Exude

(v.) ooze; display abundantly Their camera work ______ professionalism that eludes most of what you'll find on YouTube: the cuts are clean and well edited.

Appease

(v.) pacify by acceding to the demands of. 宥和 Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to _______ Hitler and in doing so sent a clear message: you can walk all over us.

Devolve

(v.) pass on or delegate to another The company was full of managers known for _________ tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves. (v.) grow worse (usually "_______ into") The dialogue between the two academics ________ into a downright bitter argument.

Exalt

(v.) praise or glorify The teenagers _______ the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.

Undergird

(v.) provide support or a firm basis for Among the biggest market forces ____________ the high-profile opposition to Trump's climate policies is the recent embrace of clean energy.

Retract

(v.) 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 _______ it.

Brook

(v.) put up with something or somebody unpleasant While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not _____ any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.

Resolve

(v.) reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation After much thought, Ted ________ not to travel abroad this summer because he didn't have much money in his bank account.

Degrade

(v.) reduce in worth or character, usually verbally Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy's faults in front of their friends, publicly _________ the poor girl.

Truncate

(v.) reduce the length of something The soccer game was _________ when the monsoon rain began to fall.

Snub

(v.) refuse to acknowledge; reject outright and bluntly Wheeler was completely qualified for the committee, but the board _______ him, choosing an obviously lesser qualified candidate instead.

Balk

(v.) 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 ______, citing reasons why they needed to leave.

Spurn

(v.) reject with contempt She _______ all his flattery and proposals, and so he walked off embarrassed and sad.

Manumit

(v.) release from slavery; set free

Buck

(v.) resist The profits at our firm ______ the general downturn that affected the real estate industry.

Pillory

(v.) ridicule or expose to public scorn After the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to _______ him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations.

Lampoon

(v.) ridicule with satire. 諷刺する Mark Twain understood that __________ a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.

Arrogate

(v.) seize and control without authority Arriving at the small town, the outlaw _________ the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

Palaver

(v.) speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly During the rain delay, many who had come to see the game _________, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster.

Vilify

(v.) spread negative information about Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to ______ Todd.

Dissipate

(v.) squander or spend money frivolously The recent graduates __________ their earnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruises in Mexico. (v.) to disperse or scatter Kathleen's perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment, but once we stepped outside the smell __________ and we could breathe once again.

Emulate

(v.) strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; compete with successfully To really become fluent in a new language, _______ the speech patterns and intonation of people who speak the language.

Squelch

(v.) suppress or crush completely After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to ______ all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.

Hornswoggle

(v.) swindle, cheat or dupe

Preempt

(v.) take the place of or have precedence over A governmental warning about an imminent terrorist attack would _______ ordinary network programming on television.

Conniving

(v.) taking part in immoral and unethical plots The queen was so _________ that, with the help of the prince, she tried to overthrow the king.

Pontificate

(v.) talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner The vice-president would often ___________ about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic.

Bridle

(v.) the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess New curfew laws have _______ people's tendency to go out at night. (v.) anger or take offense The hostess _______ at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.

Deliberate

(v.) 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 __________ over options.

Probing

(v.) thoughtful, uncovering, digging deep. Usage alert: Doesn't always have to concern itself with an actual probe. More often, it's just more about being thoughtful. Boyd's emotional openness to the hidden complexities and contradictions buried within all of us, including himself, set the template for his _______ analysis of Nabokov.

Betray

(v.) to REVEAL or make known something, usually unintentionally With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip _________ his intense emotions.

Acquiesce

(v.) to accept without protest; to agree or submit

Adjudicate

(v.) to act as judge in a matter; to settle through the use of a judge or legal tribunal. The father ________ed when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance.

Espouse

(v.) to adopt or support an idea or cause. LINKAGE: spouse, as in wedding oneself to a certain belief. Not that Trump is Rand Paul, of course, but he does generally _______ a smaller role for government and bureaucracy than does Hillary Clinton.

Placate

(v.) to appease, soothe, pacify. =mollify, assuage I was able to _______ the angry mob of students by promising to bring cookies on Monday.

Quibble

(v.) to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details. It's better to watch figure skating with the sound off, rather than listening to the announcers _______ over a not-fully-rotated knee or the slightly diminished altitude of a jump.

Revile

(v.) to attack with words, call bad names, insult someone with abusive language

Prevaricate

(v.) to avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question, =equivocate To Clinton's liberal critics, Warren is Clinton's opposite: steadfast where Clinton is _____________, authentic where Clinton is calculating.

Behoove

(v.) to be necessary or proper for. ○○にとって義務である Ex.: It would _______ both countries to avoid an international crisis over a robbery that may or may not have happened.

Antedate

(v.) to be older than; to have come before Harry was so ignorant that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs ________ the American Revolution.

Languish

(v.) to become weak, listless, or depressed Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker __________, eating protein bars and nuts.

Recrudesce

(v.) to break out or happen again. 再発 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 __________--he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.

Effect

(v.) to bring about

Hector

(v.) to bully or intimidate The boss's _________ manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs.

Impugn

(v.) to call into question; to attack as false Though many initially tried to ______ Darwin's theory, in scientific circles today, the is idea taken as truth.

Mollify

(v.) to calm or make less severe In the morning, Harriat was unable to _______ Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he had his cup of coffee.

Countermand

(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first, revoke. Think: COUNTER+comMAND By the time the colonel ____________ his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire.

Fete

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

Chortle

(v.) to chuckle with glee. Walking past the bar, I could hear happy, _________ people and the blast of horns from a jazz band.

Vindicate

(v.) to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof. 嫌疑を晴らす Lawyers from the Innocence Project and the American Civil Liberties Union argued for fresh DNA testing that they believed would _________ him. (v.) show to be right by providing justification or proof, =justify. 正当化する Stagnant wages and rising inequality seem to _________ critics of the "neoliberal" approach. (V.) maintain, uphold, or defend The Justice Department will continue its efforts to _________ the rights of those individuals who are affected by bias-motivated crimes.

Corroborate

(v.) to confirm or lend support to (usually an idea or claim) Her claim that frog populations were falling precipitously in Central America was ___________ by locals, who reported that many species of frogs had seemingly vanished overnight.

Belie

(v.) to contradict, to give a false impression The smile on her face ______ the pain she must feel after the death of her husband.

Fleece

(v.) to deceive Many people have been _______ by Internet scams and never received their money back.

Hoodwink

(v.) to deceive or trick someone Someone tried to ________ 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.

Embellish

(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details McCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would _________ them with puns and poetic images.

Mulct

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

Execrate

(v.) to denounce as vile or evil; to curse; to detest Though the new sitcom did decently in the ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying that it was nothing more than an __________ pastiche of tired cliché's and canned laughter.

Enjoin

(v.) to direct or order, to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way The government agency ________ the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years.

Bifurcate

(v.) to divide into two parts. 二分割する。 The U.S. is ___________ into a nation of economic winners and losers, and this distinction is seeping into American culture.

Imbibe

(v.) to drink or absorb as if drinking Plato _______ 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.

Ennoble

(v.) to elevate, to raise in rank : The man was _______ by his true devotion to mankind.

Expunge

(v.) to eliminate completely When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were ________ from my criminal record.

Beg

(v.) to evade or dodge (a question) By assuming that Charlie was headed to college—which he was not—Maggie ______ the question when she asked him to which school he was headed in the Fall.

Censor

(v.) to examine and remove objectionable material Every fall, high school English teachers are inundated by requests to ______ their curriculum by removing The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letter from their reading lists.

Galvanize

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

Sublimate

(v.) to express a desire or feeling by changing it into a form that is socially acceptable

Reproach

(v.) to express criticism towards At first, Sarah was going to yell at the boy, but she didn't want to ________ him for telling the truth about the situation.

Champion

(v.) to fight for a cause Martin Luther King Jr. __________ civil rights fiercely throughout his short life.

Cavil

(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp, criticize petty things; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism

Inundate

(v.) to flood or overwhelm The newsroom was ________ with false reports that only made it more difficult for the newscasters to provide an objective account of the bank robbery.

Stratify

(v.) to form or arrange in layers; to classify or separate into groups according to status

Indict

(v.) to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doing The bank robber was ________ on several major charges, including possession of a firearm.

Abrogate

(v.) to formally repeal, cancel, declare null and void As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers ________ their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance.

Disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking As a child, I was quickly ________ 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.

Appropriate

(v.) to give or take something by force The government _____________ land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live. (v.) to allocate The committee ____________ the funds to its various members.

Wax

(v.) to gradually increase in size or intensity Her enthusiasm for the diva's new album only ______ with each song; by the end of the album, it was her favorite CD yet.

Defray

(v.) to help pay the cost of, either in part of full In order for Sean to attend the prestigious college, his generous uncle helped ______ the excessive tuition with a monthly donation.

Hamstring

(v.) to hobble, hinder, impede The FBI has made so many restriction on the local police that they are absolutely _________, unable to accomplish anything.

Stem

(v.) to hold back or limit the flow or growth of something To ____ the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330 on the Revised GRE.

Hobble

(v.) to hold back the progress of something Bad weather has _______ rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.

Grovel

(v.) to humble oneself in a demeaning way, to act extremely submissive, 卑屈な態度を取る Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank _______ as if she were about to fire.

Apprise

(v.) to inform

Exasperate

(v.) to irritate intensely As a child, I __________ my mother with strings of never-ending questions.

Check

(v.) 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 _________ in the front yard (n.) the condition of being held back or limited When government abuses are not kept in _____, that government is likely to become autocratic.

Circumscribe

(v.) to limit narrowly or restrict, to draw a circle around While U.S. is the biggest ally of Taiwan, its adherance to the One China policy has left the visits of high ranking Taiwanese offcials to the United States _____________.

Hedge

(v.) 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 ______, mentioning something vague about gut instinct.

Inure

(v.) to make accustomed to something unpleasant Three years of Manhattan living has ______ her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse.

Daunt

(v.) to make afraid; to discourage

Err

(v.) to make an error He _____ in thinking that "indigent" and "indignant" were synonyms.

Elucidate

(v.) to make clear, to explain Youtube is great place to learn just about anything--an expert _________ finer points so that even a complete novice can learn.

Consecrate

(v.) to make holy or set apart for a high purpose At the church of Notre Dame in France, the new High Altar was __________ in 1182.

Badger

(v.) to pester ________ by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-old loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant musicians.

Relegate

(v.) to place in a lower position; to assign, refer, turn over; to banish When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic duties, instead of firing him, the boss _________ him to kitchen cleanup.

Inhibit

(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop

Promulgate

(v.) to proclaim, make known The President wanted to __________ the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement.

Contrive

(v.) to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery Despite a low GPA, he _______ed to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation.

Dog

(v.) to pursue relentlessly; to hound Throughout his life, he was ______ by insecurities that inhibited personal growth.

Bristle

(v.) to react in an angry or offended manner As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist's wife _________ at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband's work.

Peruse

(v.) to read very carefully Instead of _________ important documents, people all too often rush to the bottom of the page and plaster their signatures at the bottom.

Attenuate

(v.) to reduce in force or degree; weaken. Ex.: The benefits of exercise will be ________ed by excessive overeating.

Bowdlerize

(v.) to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.) To recieve an R rating, the entire movie was ___________ because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter.

Expurgate

(v.) to remove objectionable material The censor _________ every reference to sex and drugs, converting the rapper's raunchy flow into a series of bleeps.

Chastise

(v.) to reprimand harshly Though _________ for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.

Abscond

(v.) to run off and hide

Dupe

(v.) to trick or swindle Once again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme had _____ Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to a sham operation. (n.) a person who is easily tricked or swindled The charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch of _____, but the crowd was quickly on to him and decried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them.

Exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly Nelson's parents ________ him to study medicine, urging him to choose a respectable profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to become a graffiti artist.

Meander

(v.) to wander about, wind about; (n.) a sharp turn or twist A casual observer might have thought that Peter was __________ through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.

Vacillate

(v.) to waver; to sway indecisively, both in the sense of the actual motion and making choices, =vibrate, hesitate, waver. Trump's __________ between praising Obama for how he's handled the transition, and criticizing him over it on Twitter.

Desecrate

(v.) to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place After ___________ the pharaoh's tomb, the archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness.

Propitiate

(v.) to win over, appease The two sons, plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were hardly able to __________ him - the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn or ever planned to.

Patronize

(v.) treat condescendingly She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she __________ me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her.

Deride

(v.) treat or speak of with contempt The nun _______ the students for trying to sneak insects and worms into the classroom.

Cosset

(v.) treat with excessive indulgence The king and queen ________ the young prince, giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday.

Fawn

(v.) try to gain favor by extreme flattery The media ______ over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions.

Deter

(v.) turn away from by persuasion His mother tried to _____ him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen. (v.) try to prevent; show opposition to The government's primary job should involve _________ paths to war, not finding ways to start them.

Nonplussed

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

Goad

(v.) urge on with unpleasant comments Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, ______ him into signing up for it.

Belabor

(v1.) to work on excessively (v.2) to thrash soundly

Tacit

understood or implied without being stated; implied

Litigious

(adj) willing and likely to pursue a lawsuit

Unpropitious

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

Expansive

(adj.) (of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size After a few sips of cognac, the octogenarian shed his irascible demeanor and became _________, speaking fondly of the "good old days".

Internecine

(adj.) (of conflict) within a group or organization; =internal. The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an ___________ conflict.

Lucid

(adj.) (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable. Usage Alert: Has NOTHING to do with intelligence. ORIGIN Latin: "lucidus" - "light or clear" Though Walters writes about physics and time travel, his writing is always _____, so readers with little scientific training can understand difficult concepts.

Plodding

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

Quotidian

(adj.) Daily; everyday, ordinary. =pedestrian, prosaic Rice is so _________ in Japan that it can easily fade into the background.

Voluble

(adj.) Easily fluent in regards to speech

Symbiotic

(adj.) Mutually beneficial; supporting one another's life

Pejorative

(adj.) Negative and critical; insulting. Ex.: Tree-hugger is a __________ term for an environmentalist.

Reticent

(adj.) Reserved, reluctant to draw attention to one's self German officials were _________ when asked about possible disputes that might overshadow Ms. Merkel's meeting with Mr. Trump.

Adverse

(adj.) Undesired, possibly harmful. USAGE ALERT: Do not mistake with AVERSE. While controlled, social drinking doesn't pose any _______ physical or psychological side effects, heavy drinking certainly does.

Dicey

(adj.) Unpredictable

Laconic

(adj.) Using few words, concise. =taicturn As opposed to saying "_______ is an adjective that describes a style of speaking or writing that uses only a few words, often to express complex thoughts and ideas", it is _______ to just say "______ means brief".

Prodigal

(adj.) Wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish. 放蕩 He is extravagant―wasteful of money―________ of expense. Successful professional athletes who end up forsaking their _______ lives seem to be the exception - most live decadent lives.

Candid

(adj.) a straightforward and honest look at something Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was always ______ and would rarely hold anything back.

Spasmodically

(adj.) at irregular intervals; intermittently

Doughty

(adj.) brave; bold; courageous I enjoy films in which a _______ group comes together to battle a force of evil.

Heterogeneous

(adj.) composed of different kinds, diverse

Doting

(adj.) extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring

Auspicious

(adj.) favorable; fortunate. While a sunny day is favorable for photo-ops, its actually doesn't provide __________ conditions for marathons because it causes excessive dehydration in runners.

Putative

(adj.) generally regarded as such on inconclusive grounds; reputed; hypothesized, inferred

Nonpareil

(adj.) having no equal; peerless. 無双

Dogmatic

(adj.) highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct

Callow

(adj.) immature Both Los Angeles and New York are known for ______ out-of-towners hoping to make it big.

Ineluctable

(adj.) impossible to avoid or evade, =unavoidable. For those who smoke cigarettes for years, a major health crisis brought on by smoking is ___________.

Embroiled

(adj.) involved in argument or contention These days we are never short of a D.C. politician _________ 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.

Bumbling

(adj.) lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands

Appreciable

(adj.) large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount) There is a(n) ___________ difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.

Perennial

(adj.) lasting for a long time, persistent; (n.) a plant that lives for many years. Origin: Latin "per"+"annus" - "through"+"year" Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial would get the loudest cheer: he was a _________ favorite of the fans there.

Feckless

(adj.) lazy and irresponsible Two years after graduation, Charlie still lived with his parents and had no job, becoming more ________ with each passing day.

Lascivious

(adj.) 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, __________ man, falls in love with a girl.

Fickle

(adj.) liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachments She was so ______ 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.

Meteoric

(adj.) like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to ________ stardom, but a terribly injury tragically cut short his career.

Avuncular

(adj.) like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant

Affable

(adj.) likeable; easy to talk to For all his surface __________, Marco was remarkably glum when he wasn't around other people.

Tendentious

(adj.) 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.

Forlorn

(adj.) lonely, hopeless After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply _______: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.

Prolix

(adj.) long-winded and wordy; tending to speak or write in such a way; using way too many words. No one doubts that many of the great novelists of the past are somewhat tedious and ______.

Pedantic

(adj.) marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning, especially its trivial aspects Comey's testimony revealed the encounters between a skilled, sometimes ________ student of the Constitution and an amateur with no moral governor and no prudent counsel.

Foolhardy

(adj.) 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 _________.

Rash

(adj.) 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 ____.

Smug

(adj.) marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction When Phil was dating the model, he had a ____ attitude that annoyed his buddies.

Vehement

(adj.) 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 ________ manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.

Steadfast

(adj.) marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable A good captain needs to be _________, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm.

Enamored

(adj.) marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness; totally infatuated She is completely ________ with Justin Bieber, and goes to all his concerts on the East coast.

Haphazard

(adj.) 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 _________.

Elephantine

(adj.) massive; clumsy; enormous

Tempered

(adj.) moderated in effect The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now ________ after she had worked many years in the criminal justice system.

Disingenuous

(adj.) 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 ____________.

Immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constant Taxes are one of the _________ laws of the land, so there is no use arguing about paying them.

Posthumous

(adj.) occurring or published after death

Saturnine

(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood Deprived of sunlight, humans become _________; that's why in very northerly territories people are encouraged to sit under an extremely powerful lamp, lest they become morose.

Moot

(adj.) of no matter or consequence; not important. Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO, what the finance committee might have thought of his proposed marketing plan for next year is now a ____ point.

Venal

(adj.) open to or marked by bribery or corruption Origin: Latin "venum" = "something for sale", related to VENdor

Overt

(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

Leery

(adj.) openly distrustful and unwilling to confide Without checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am _____ of hiring the candidate.

Humdrum

(adj.) ordinary, dull, routine, without variation. Was life that dull, that boring and ________ for people?

Gregarious

(adj.) outgoing; sociable Often we think that great leaders are those who are __________, 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.

Indefatigable

(adj.) persisting tirelessly, 疲れ知らず

Omnipresent

(adj.) present in all places at all times

Dispassionate

(adj.) unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice A good scientist should be _____________, focusing purely on what the evidence says, without personal attachment.

Irresolute

(adj.) uncertain how to act or proceed. 態度がはっきりしない様、優柔不断 He stood __________ at the split in the trail, not sure which route would lead back to the camp.

Unforthcoming

(adj.) 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 ____________.

Provisional

(adj.) 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 ___________ arrangement.

Inauspicious

(adj.) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

Bereft

(adj.) unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love After 64 years of marriage, William was ______ after the death of his wife. (adj.) sorrowful through loss or deprivation "You are not ______ if you haven't played on your Xbox in the past week," his mother said.

Desiccated

(adj.) uninteresting, lacking vitality Few novelists over 80 are able to produce anything more than __________ works--boring shadows of former books.

Contrived

(adj.) unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous. Ex.: The ending was rather ______.

Precarious

(adj.) unstable, insecure, dangerous People smoke to relax and forget their cares, but ironically, in terms of health risks, smoking is far more __________ than either mountain-climbing or skydiving.

Loath

(adj.) unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by 'to') I was _____ to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing.

Taxing

(adj.) use to the limit; exhaust The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so ______ that I could barely speak or stand up.

Hackneyed

(adj.) used so often as to lack freshness or originality Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's _________ advice to "be true to yourself."

Fastidious

(adj.) very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. =picky, meticulous Whitney is __________ about her shoes, arranging them on a shelf in a specific order, each pair evenly spaced.

Punctilious

(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety, fussy over details The colonel was so __________ about enforcing regulations that men fell compelled to polish even the soles of their shoes.

Unstinting

(adj.) very generous Helen is __________ with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.

Splenetic

(adj.) very irritable Ever since the car accident, Frank has been unable to walk without a cane, and so he has become _________ and unpleasant to be around.

Capacious

(adj.) very spacious The workers delighted in their new ________ office space.

Hobnobbing

(n.) Socializing, esp. with those of a higher social rank.

Ampersand

(n.) The character &; and.

Calumny

(n.) a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation. 誹謗中傷. With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with _______, and the mud already waist-high.

Umbrage

(n.) a feeling of anger caused by being offended Since he was so in love with her, he took _______ at her comments, even though she had only meant to gently tease him.

Presentiment

(n.) a feeling of evil to come On the night that Lincoln would be fatally shot, his wife had a(n) ____________ about going to Ford's Theater, but Lincoln persuaded her that everything would be fine.

Solicitude

(n.) a feeling of excessive concern. おせっかい When you're sick in bed, it's nice to have someone around to treat you with __________, hovering nearby, bringing you cups of tea, and handing you tissues all day.

Euphoria

(n.) a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation The ________ of winning her first gold medal in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense joy.

Complacency

(n.) a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

Juggernaut

(n.) a force that cannot be stopped Napoleon was considered a(n) __________ until he decided to invade Russia in winter; after which, his once indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine.

Vignette

(n.) a short, usually descriptive, piece of writing

Semblance

(n.) an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading While the banker maintained a _________ of respectability in public, those who knew him well were familiar with his many crimes.

Reservation

(n.) 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 ____________.

Legion

(n.) any large group or number; (adj.) many, numerous

Contention

(n.) assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

Compendium

(n.) brief, comprehensive summary

Valor

(n.) great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle

Discord

(n.) lack of agreement or harmony Despite all their talented players, the team was filled with _______--some players refused to talk to others--and lost most of their games.

Insouciance

(n.) 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 ___________.

Inquisitor

(n.) one who inquires, especially in a hostile manner

Anachronism

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

Anomaly

(n.) something that is not normal, standard, or expected After finding an _______ in the data, she knew that she would have to conduct her experiment again.

Travail

(n.) strenuous physical or mental labor or effort. Ex.: The _______s of regular civilians might seem entirely separate from Mr. Cosby, who is American royalty.

Obloquy

(n.) strong disapproval, =calumny, defamation. Origin Latin: "ob"+"loqui" - "against"+"to speak" As a result, she became an unwilling media figure and victim who, long after her father's conviction and imprisonment, was subjected to _______ and harassment. (n.) a bad reputation resulting from public criticism. While Jacobs went on to enjoy a distinguished career as author and urbanist, Moses descended into increasing _______.

Chagrin

(n.) strong feelings of embarrassment Much to the timid writer's _______, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage. (v.) cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of She never cared what others said about her appearance but was _________ by the smallest comment from her mother.

Obstinancy

(n.) stubbornness; resistance to treatment

Celerity

(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action. We aim to respond to customers' questions with ________ and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time.

Credulity

(n.) tendency to believe readily Virginia's wide-eyed _________ as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn't really exist.

Beatification

(n.) the action of rendering supremely blessed and extremely happy

Ontology

(n.) the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.

Hoi Polloi

(n.) the common people, the masses

Oeuvre

(n.) the complete work of an artist, composer, or writer

Venality

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

Pinnacle

(n.) the highest point At its ________, 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.

Apex

(n.) the highest point The Ivy League is considered the ____ of the secondary education system.

Zenith

(n.) the highest point; culmination At the ______ of his artistic career, Elvis was outselling any other artist on the charts.

Eponym

(n.) the name derived from a person (real or imaginary); the person for whom something is named Alexandria, Egypt is an _____ because it is named after Alexander the Great.

Dissimilation

(n.) the process by which two nearby things become less alike with respect to some feature.

Artlessness

(n.) the quality of innocence I, personally, found the ___________ of her speech charming.

Purview

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something

Indifference

(n.) the trait of seeming not to care In an effort to fight _____________, the president of the college introduced a new, stricter grading system

Chicanery

(n.) trickery; deception

Qualm

(n.) uneasiness about the fitness of an action While he could articulate no clear reason why Harkner's plan would fail, he neverless felt ______ about committing any resources to it.

Hauteur

(n.) {Hoe-tur} Overbearing pride, Arrogance As soon as she won the lottery, Alice begin displaying a _______ to her friends, calling them dirty-clothed peasants behind their backs.

Panegyric

(n.) {pan-e-jirik}Formal or lofty expression of praise. 賞賛しまくる様 Business dinners are usually started with going down the litany of speakers who have prepared _________ statements sucking up to the most important person in the room.

Vitriol

(n.) {vit-ree-al} cruel and bitter criticism His _______ spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life.

Denote

(v) be a name or symbol for. "Stands for" Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon _______ "stop" to all motorists in America.

Upbraid

(v.) Find fault with, criticize or scold severely Mary _________ the hair stylist for messing up her braids, on the day before her senior prom.

Concede

(v.) Give in, admit, yield. Acknowledge defeat. (v.) acknowledge reluctantly After a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia ________ to having broken the window. (v.) grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing war) The Spanish were forced to _______ much of the territory they had previously conquered.

Burgeon

(v.) Grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant).萌芽 Some longtime residents say law enforcement bears some of the responsibility for the gang's rise because it ignored the __________ problem for years.

Abstain

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

Ameliorate

(v.) Improve; make better or more bearable An air conditioner can __________ the discomfort of a stiflingly hot summer day.

Ingratiate

(v.) Make an effort to gain favor with, to kiss up to someone There would be a queue of leaders, eager to __________ themselves with a country on the threshold of magnificent liberation.

Juxtapose

(v.) Place side by side (either physically or in a metaphorical way, such as to make a comparison) The meaning of her paintings comes from a classical style which _________s modern themes.

Engender

(v.) Produce, give rise to, cause to exist; procreate The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they ________ed deep hatred and resentment in the German people.

Refute

(v.) Prove to be false To rebut is to try to prove something isn't true, but to _______ is to actually prove it isn't.

Culminate

(v.) Reach the highest point or final stage

Repudiate

(v.) Reject, cast off, deny that something has authority. 否認・拒絶. Origin: Latin "repudiare" - "to put away, divorce" The restaurant chain also _________ reports that it "knowingly employs racists and promotes racist theology."

Admonish

(v.) Scorn; caution, advise, or remind to do something Before the concert began, security personnel ________ed the crowd not to come up on stage during the performance.

Confound

(v.) To confuse and frustrate Americans often ________ sweet potatoes with yams, and refer to both vegetables by the same name.

Mollycoddle

(v.) To overindulge, pamper too much

Ascribe

(v.) attribute or credit to History _______ The Odyssey and The Iliad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a historical figure or a fictitious name.

Circumvent

(v.) cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations

Decry

(v.) express strong disapproval of The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, ________ the penalty card issued by the referee.

Aggregate

(v.) gather; accumulate

Afford

(v.) provide with an opportunity The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro _______ a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya.

Simper

(v.) smile or gesture in an affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating manner.

Aver

(v.) to affirm, declare confidently

Trounce

(v.) to beat severely, defeat

Kowtow

(v.) to bow or act in a subservient manner Paul ________ to his boss so often the boss herself became nauseated by his sycophancy.

Adulterate

(v.) to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value

Exorcise

(v.) to dispose of something troublesome, menacing, or oppressive

Abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy)

Malinger

(v.) to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

Disbar

(v.) to expel from the practice of law

Cow

(v.) to intimidate Do not be _____ by a 3,000-word vocabulary list: turn that list into a deck of flashcards!

Hound

(v.) to pursue relentlessly An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness _______ out graft in all forms—he even helped nab Al Capone.

Abate

(v.) to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

Bloviate

(v.) to speak pompously

Avert

(v.) turn away Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I _______ my eyes as we drove by. (v.) ward off or prevent The struggling video game company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to _____ bankruptcy.

Aboveboard

(adj & adv.)without dishonesty or concealment. The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered about the city, was hardly __________ - some concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and get away with it.

Inured

(adj) accustomed to accepting something undesirable; made accustomed to by habitual exposure. Related: desensitized

Intractable

(adj) difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn. The President's rightly focused on how do we move forward from what may simply be a(n) __________ disagreement at this point.

Mercurial

(adj) quickly unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty 情緒不安定 The fact that Ella's moods were as _________ as the weather was problematic for her relationships--it didn't help that she lived in Chicago.

Eclectic

(adj) selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources, 取捨選択的に. Mad Men has an ________ choice of music for its soundtrack, with pieces only from the age, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Sinatra.

Qualify

(adj) to be legally competent or capable If James had made more than $50,000 last year, then he wouldn't have _______ed for the low-income scholarship. (v.) to make less severe (v.) to limit (a statement) Chris _______ed his love for San Francisco, adding that he didn't like the weather as much as the weather in Los Angeles.

Peripatetic

(adj) travelling from place to place (especially by foot). =itinerant Jim always preferred a ___________ approach to discovering a city: he felt that he could see so many more details while walking.

Exacting

(adj) very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention. =demanding. Though his childhood piano teacher was so ________, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist.

Aesthetic

(adj.) Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste, pertaining to the science of what is beautiful. 美的 The director, not known for his _________ sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing. (n.) a sense of beauty and taste of a particular time and place. 美学 The artist operated according to a peculiar _________, not considering any photograph to be worth publishing unless it contained a marine mammal.

Polemical

(adj.) Controversial. Origin: Latin "Polemos" = "war". Usage Alert: the meaning is slightly different from "polemic" The president slammed Trump for making _________ comments daily and said controversies surrounding Clinton did not compare.

Antithetical

(adj.) Directly opposed, opposite; involving antithesis (the rhetorical act of placing two phrases opposite one another for contrast, as in love me or hate me) His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, ____________ to the disattachment Buddhism preaches.

Languid

(adj.) Drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a _______ week lying around the house.

Frugal

(adj.) Economical, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive. =parsimonious Monte was no miser, but was simply _______, wisely spending the little that he earned.

Sated

(adj.) Satisfied; provided with more than enough

Disinterested

(adj.) Unbiased, impartial; not interested The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist only of _____________members.

Caustic

(adj.) able to burn or eat away by chemical action; biting, sarcastic

Palatable

(adj.) acceptable to the taste or mind Mikey didn't partake much in his friends' conversations, but found their presence _________.

Perspicacious

(adj.) acutely insightful and wise Many modern observers regard Eisenhower as _____________, particularly in his accurate prediction of the growth of the military.

Estimable

(adj.) admirable, deserving of respect. Think: ESTeem. After serving thirty years, in which he selflessly served the community, Judge Harper was one of the more _________ people in town.

Becoming

(adj.) appropriate, and matches nicely Her dress was _______ and made her look even more beautiful.

Aphrodisiac

(adj.) arousing sexual desire

Haughty

(adj.) arrogant, condescending. Hints a sense of pride. Ex.: While many American cynics like to think of the French as a backward-leaning, _______ and frivolous people, reality paints a different picture.

Factitious

(adj.) artificial; not natural The defendant's story was largely _________ and did not accord with eyewitness testimonies

Tempestuous

(adj.) 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(n) ___________ relationship.

Sycophantic

(adj.) attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery. Note: A teacher's pet is usually characterized by behavior of this character.

Conjectural

(adj.) based on guesswork, =hypothetical, supposed. Although Morgan's evidence was indirect, his idea quickly became reified, and most geologists forgot that mantle plumes were a ___________ concept rather than an observation.

Obtain

(adj.) be valid, applicable, or true The custom of waiting your turn in line does not ______ in some countries, in which many people try to rush to the front of the line at the same time.

Tantamount

(adj.) being essentially equal to something In many situations, remaining silent is _________ to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence

Fecund

(adj.) being highly fertile and easily producing offspring or fruit. Origin: Latin "fecundus" = "fruitful". The rabbit was chosen as the Playboy magazine's mascot because of its ______ nature.

Coterminous

(adj.) being of equal extent or scope or duration. =commensurate. USAGE ALERT: do not confuse with "contingent (upon)" The border of the state is __________ with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert.

Mordant

(adj.) biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style While Phil frequently made _______ remarks about company policy overall, he always was considerably gentler in discussing any person in particular.

Irreproachable

(adj.) blameless; impeccable; not deserving of criticism. The acting, writing and directing is ______________, but there's something missing at its core.

Beatific

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

Audacious

(adj.) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring. Those people who applied to be one the first manned mission to Mars are ______; they have no assurance of returning to Earth.

Peremptory

(adj.) bossy and domineering My sister used to ___________ tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether.

Serene

(adj.) calm and peaceful I'd never seen him so ______; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange.

Malleable

(adj.) capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out The clay became _________ and easy to work with after a little water was added. (adj.) easily influenced. =Tractable. My little brother is so _________ that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.

Provident

(adj.) careful in regard to your own interests; providing carefully for the future. 将来を配慮した In a move that hardly could be described as _________, Bert spend his entire savings on a luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills would come due a couple months later.

Feted

(adj.) celebrated. Remember: fête in French means "party".

Parochial

(adj.) confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish; limited in range or scope Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too _________; "After all," she quipped on her blog, "he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."

Esoteric

(adj.) confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle Map collecting is a(n) ________ hobby to most, but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable past time.

Genial

(adj.) cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warm Betty is a _______ young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace.

Creditable

(adj.) deserving of praise but not that amazing Critics agreed the movie was __________, but few gave it more than three out of five stars.

Unctuous

(adj.) exaggeratedly or insincerely polite

Doleful

(adj.) filled with or evoking sadness No event is more _______ 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.

Sordid

(adj.) filthy, contemptible and corrupt. Origin: Latin "sordes" - "dirt" The nightly news simply announced that the senator had had an affair, but the tabloid published all the ______ details of the interaction.

Entrenched

(adj.) fixed firmly or securely By the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so ___________ that it is difficult for us to change.

Cogent

(adj.) forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point A ______ argument will change the minds of even the most skeptical audience.

Deleterious

(adj.) harmful to living things. =detrimental The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was ___________ to the fishing industry in the southern states.

Innocuous

(adj.) harmless, inoffensive; insignificant Everyone found Nancy's banter _________ - except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on him.

Acerbic

(adj.) harsh and biting in tone. THINK: ACID would be like this kind of speech, because it is sour and corrodes, or weakens, relationships. The First Amendment protects all kind of speech, even if they may be scornful and _______.

Vitriolic

(adj.) harsh or corrosive in tone While the teacher was more moderate in her criticism of the other student's papers, she was ________ toward Peter's paper, casting every flaw in the harshest light.

Precipitate

(adj.) hasty or rash Instead of conducting a thorough investigation after the city hall break-in, the governor acted ____________, accusing his staff of aiding and abetting the criminals. (v.) to cause to happen The government's mishandling the hurricane's aftermath ____________ a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity.

Cursory

(adj.) hasty, not thorough. =Perfunctory. The teacher took a _______ look through the test papers to make sure everyone had their names at the top.

Agog

(adj.) highly excited by eagerness

Cerebral

(adj.) involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct A ________ analysis of most pop music finds it to be simple and childish, but that ignores the point--the music's effect on the listener.

Fractious

(adj.) irritable and is likely to cause disruption We rarely invite my _________ Uncle over for dinner; he always complains about the food, and usually launches into a tirade on some touchy subject.

Bilious

(adj.) irritable; always angry Rex was _______ all morning, and his face would only take on a look of contentedness when he'd had his morning cup of coffee.

Lethargic

(adj.) lacking energy After Katrina, anger and frustration erupted over the _________ pace of New Orleans' recovery and authorities' failure to deliver promised assistance.

Anemic

(adj.) lacking energy and vigor After three straight shows, the lead actress gave an ______ performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear.

Churlish

(adj.) lacking manners or refinement The manager was unnecessarily ________ 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.

Impecunious

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

Transient

(adj.) lasting a very short time The unpredictable and _________ nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study properly.

Vociferous

(adj.) loud, boisterous Think: VOICE FERRIES! I'm tired of his __________ bickering so I'm breaking up with him.

Antic

(adj.) ludicrously odd The clown's _____ act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.

Sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of being pious; holier-than-thou Even during the quiet sanctity of evening prayer, she held her chin high, a _____________ sneer forming on her face as she eyed those who were attending church for the first time.

Extenuating

(adj.) making less guilty or more forgivable The jury was hardly moved by the man's plea that his loneliness was an __________ factor in his crime of dognapping a prized pooch.

Rakish

(adj.) marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness As soon as he arrived in the city, the ______ young man bought some drugs and headed straight for the seedy parts of town.

Raffish

(adj.) marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness The men found him _______, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.

Effervescent

(adj.) marked by high spirits or excitement After the sales result, the manager was in a(n) ____________ mood, letting several employees leave work early that day.

Tangential

(adj.) merely touching or slightly connected; only superficially relevant. USAGE ALERT: do not confuse with tangible.

Inviolate

(adj.) must be kept sacred. HINT: This can't be violated. While the literary critic subjected most of the classics to the harshest reviews, he regarded Cervantes as _________, and had nothing but praise for him.

Cryptic

(adj.) mysterious or vague, usually intentionally Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she only answered _________ly when he would ask her questions about it.

Endemic

(adj.) native; originating where it is found Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not ______ to Ireland.

Incontrovertible

(adj.) necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disprove Unless you can provide _______________ evidence, I will remain skeptical.

Incumbent

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

Remiss

(adj.) neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless ______ in his duty to keep the school functioning efficiently, the principle was relieved of his position after only three months.

Indelible

(adj.) not able to be erased or removed; memorable

Improvident

(adj.) not given careful consideration Marty was __________, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home.

Unseemly

(adj.) not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society He acted in an ________ manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband.

Uncompromising

(adj.) not making concessions The relationship between Bart and Hilda ultimately failed because they were both so ______________, never wanting to change their opinions.

Anomalous

(adj.) not normal. The prefix"a" + のーまる According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply _________--average temps should return to average, they believe.

Unassuming

(adj.) not putting on airs, unpretentious; modest. 出しゃばらない、気取らない Michael would no doubt be amazed at the fuss about him as he was very __________ and humble, his father said.

Frivolous

(adj.) 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 _________.

Decrepit

(adj.) old and feeble; worn-out, ruined

Egregious

(adj.) outstandingly bad; shocking; flagrant. Most _________ly, this list neglects to mention some of Pixar's biggest hitters.

Irascible

(adj.) quickly aroused to anger If Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he becames highly _________, even growling at his own shadow.

Sedate

(adj.) quiet, settled, sober (v.) to administer a tranquilizer

Protean

(adj.) readily taking on different roles; versatile Peter Sellers was truly a _______ actor—in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist.

Profligate

(adj.) recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant

Genteel

(adj.) refined; polite; aristocratic; affecting refinement A live string quartet would provide a more _______ air to the wedding than would a folk singer.

Adamant

(adj.) refusing to change one's mind. =uncompromising, stubborn, resolute Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for _________ refusing to give up her seat on a public bus--even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.

Intransigent

(adj.) refusing to compromise, irreconcilable. 頑固 In order to succeed, Nepalese females have to take on both the extreme demands of competition and the ___________ limitations of the country's male-dominated, caste-based society.

Sartorial

(adj.) related to fashion or clothes. サルトルがお洒落な服を着てるのを想像してみて Ex.: All the hubbub over the Trumps' attire almost overshadowed another notable __________ moment: the almost eerily coordinated outfits worn by Mike Pence and Paul Ryan.

Pertinent

(adj.) related to the matter at hand, to the point. =germane While the salaries of the players might draw attention in the media, such monetary figures are not _________ to the question of who plays the best on the field.

Topical

(adj.) related, relevant to current events. Hint: It's related because its relevant to the TOPIC at hand.

Pecuniary

(adj.) relating to or involving money The defendent was found guilty and had to serve a period of community service as well as pay ________ damages to the client.

Sisyphean

(adj.) requiring endless, useless effort（果てしない）

Rancid

(adj.) stale, spoiled She said he's protesting conditions that include 20 hours a day in solitary confinement and ______ food.

Besotted

(adj.) strongly affectionate towards Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became ________ with the young Romeo. (adj.) very drunk Never before have I seen my mom so ________, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much.

Obdurate

(adj.) stubborn. Ex.: If you want to major in English, but your parents are ________ that you should go premed, they might go so far as to threaten not to pay your tuition.

Tenacious

(adj.) stubbornly unyielding, not easily letting go or giving up He is a _________ — bordering on pugnacious — interviewer, determined to ask Powell the aforementioned question from every possible angle. (adj.) good at remembering

Robust

(adj.) sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction. NOT weak. The habitual use of cold-water bathing will make you ______ in health. (adj.) marked by richness and fullness of flavor Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more ______ flavor.

Ineffable

(adj.) 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 _________.

Pellucid

(adj.) transparently clear; easily understandable The professor had a remarkable ability make even the most difficult concepts seem ________.

Picayune

(adj.) trifling or petty (a person) English teachers are notorious for being ________; 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

(adj.) troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances With a team of new hires to train, Martha was constantly _______ with little questions and could not focus on her projects.

Veracious

(adj.) truthful While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be _________, history has shown that such a hope is naive.

Veritable

(adj.) truthfully, without a doubt. まぎれもない Frank is a _________ life-saver -- last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR.

Insolvent

(adj.) unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt With credit card bills skyrocketing, a shockingly large number of Americans are truly ________.

Heterodox

(adj.) unorthodox. Origin: Latin "Heteros" + "Doxa" = "The Other" + "Opinion" A group of professors, frustrated by the main stream trend, has compiled a _________ Academy ranking of colleges based on ideological diversity.

Erratic

(adj.) 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 _______, with an approval rating jumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent.

Unconscionable

(adj.) unreasonable; unscrupulous; excessive The lawyer's demands were so ______________ that rather than pay an exorbitant sum or submit himself to any other inconveniences, the defendant decided to find a new lawyer.

Brazen

(adj.) unrestrained by convention or propriety. 隠す気もなく、厚かましく. HINT: Both similar in sound and meaning to brassy. Metropolitan Police arrested a 19-year-old on Friday night in connection with a series of _____ overnight home burglaries in Northwest Washington this summer.

Ponderous

(adj.) weighed-down; moving slowly. =cumbrous. Usage Alert: Fat people are ________ not because they ponder the questions of life, its because they're fat. Laden with 20 kilograms of college text books, the freshman moved _________ly across the campus.

Illustrious

(adj.) widely known and esteemed; having or conferring glory Einstein was possibly the most ___________ scientist in recent history.

Quixotic

(adj.) wildly idealistic; impractical For every thousand startups with ________ plans to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable.

Malevolent

(adj.) wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred Villians are known for their __________ nature, oftentimes inflicting cruetly on others just for enjoyment.

Blatant

(adj.) without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious Allen was often punished in school for _______ly disrespecting teachers.

Wanton

(adj.) without check or limitation; showing no moral restraints to one's anger, desire, or appetites Due to ______ behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return.

Artless

(adj.) without cunning or deceit Despite the president's seemingly _______ speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator.

Impeccable

(adj.) without fault or error He was ___________ dressed in the latest fashion without a single crease or stain.

Inarticulate

(adj.) without or deprived of the use of speech or words Although a brilliant economist, Professor Black was completely ____________, a terrible lecturer.

Verbose

(adj.) wordy

Ecumenical

(adj.) worldwide or universal in influence or application BUT it usually refers to bringing together different groups of Christians

Commendable

(adj.) worthy of high praise The efforts of the firefighters running into the burning building were ___________.

Fledgling

(adj.) young and inexperienced; describing any new participant in some activity Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a _________ in surgery.

Prescient

(adj.) {preh-sch-unt} to have foreknowledge of events. McLuhan never lived to see the Web, but he was eerily _________ about it in his writings in the 1960s, accurately predicting the emergence of a service that strikingly resembles Facebook.

Insipid

(adj.)Boring and stupid; lacking flavor; dull; not at all stimulating The movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the _______ scripts he would typically use.

Idiosyncrasy

(n.) Characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirk Her behavioral ____________ to bow whenever greeting people was due to her Japanese upbringing.

Plebeian

(n.) Common person; lower class person/people. Origin Latin: "plebs" - "common people". Related: PLEBIscite. Pompey the Great, for all his riches and power, was a ________ from an area colonized in the 3rd century B.C.

Navel-gazing

(n.) Complacent self absorption, 自己陶酔

Primacy

(n.) The state of being first or most important. The Predators blitzed through the Western Conference playoff bracket as the lowest-seeded team, toppling Chicago, St. Louis and Anaheim, asserting their resilience and ______ throughout.

Contrariness

(n.) The tendency to oppose almost everything others do or say. While you should never be CONTRARY just for the sake of _____________, don't be afraid to take an unpopular or unusual position.

Plebiscite

(n.) Vote in which voters have a direct say on an issue. 住民投票. Think: The first part of this word is closely related to PLEBEIAN. Quebec separatists periodically hold a __________ to determine whether Quebec should secede from Canada.

Amalgam

(n.) a MIXTURE of multiple things The school putting together a(n) _______ of police, doctors, teachers, social workers, and students, for the new anti-drug task force.

Foible

(n.) 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 ______.

Encumbrance

(n.) a burden or impediment: My obesity is a(n ) _______ to becoming an attractive individual.

Vicissitude

(n.) a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant Even great rulers have their ___________—massive kingdoms have diminished overnight, and once beloved kings have faced the scorn of angry masses.

Ploy

(n.) a clever plan to turn a situation to one's advantage Dennis arranged an elaborate ____, 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.

Platitude

(n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark. The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere ________.

Egotist

(n.) a conceited and self-centered person An _______, Natasha had few friends because of her inability to talk about anything except her dream of becoming the next American Idol.

Imbroglio

(n.) 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.

Boon

(n.) a desirable state The idea that Asia's biggest economy is a ____ for Abe's deflation-plagued population is hardly revolutionary. (adj.) very close and convivial He was a ____ companion to many and will be sadly missed.

Acolyte

(n.) a devoted follower or attendant.

Conundrum

(n.) a difficult problem Computers have helped solve some of the mathematical __________ which have puzzled man for many centuries.

Malady

(n.) a disease or sickness The town was struck by a ______ throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.

Surliness

(n.) a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger; rude, harshness. The irritable old guy who lives on your street and always seems to be simmering with some sullen nasty anger, whose every utterance he spits out with a snarl is the poster boy of _________.

Leitmotif / Leitmotiv

(n.) a dominant recurring theme

Figment

(n.) a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion. ORIGIN: Shares origins with "fiction"

Dirge

(n.) a funeral song

Contingent

(n.) a gathering of persons representative of some larger group Sen. John Cornyn tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that there should be a vote once there is a "full __________ of senators" available. (adj.) determined by conditions or circumstances that follow Khan said his proposal was _________ on new public housing being built to replace the old.

Intimation

(n.) a hint, indirect suggestion At first the hostess tried __________, praising the benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continued eating with his hands, the hostess told him to use a fork at dinner.

Dearth

(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply. THINK: The word is related to "dear", and if something is dear, its probably not in abundance. At a news conference following the awards ceremony, juror Jessica Chastain noted her disappointment at the ______ of women in substantive roles on screen

Myriad

(n.) a large indefinite number. =Opulence, copiousness There are a ______ of internet sites hawking pills that claim to boost energy for hours on end.

Raft

(n.) a large number of something Despite a ____ of city ordinances passed by an overzealous council, noise pollution continued unabated in the megalopolis.

Dissolution

(n.) a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasure Many Roman emporers were known for their ___________, indulging in unspeakable desires of the flesh.

Litany

(n.) a long, repetitive, or dull account Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and did not give a ______ of reasons to keep funding the program, but instead, appealed to the basic human decency of all present.

Gambit

(n.) a manuveur or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage Randy played a(n) ______, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn't get a raise.

Mendicant

(n.) 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 _________.

Respite

(n.) a pause from doing something (as work) Every afternoon, the small company has a _______ in which workers play foosball or board games.

Miscreant

(n.) a person who breaks the law "Come back you _________!" yelled the woman who just had her purse stolen.

Parvenu

(n.) a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher class The theater was full of _______ who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats.

Heretic

(n.) 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 _______ and always did the reverse.

Sybarite

(n.) a person who indulges in luxury Despite the fact that he'd maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a ________ at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.

Luddite

(n.) a person who is averse to technology or technological progress

Eeprobate

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

Proponent

(n.) a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea Ironically, the leading _________ of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.

Jingoist

(n.) 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 ________, who are only too eager to wave national flags from their vehicles and vehemently denounce those who do not do the same.

Corollary

(n.) a practical consequence that follows naturally A _________ 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.

Atavism

(n.) a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback Much of the modern art movement was a(n) _______ to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.

Asceticism

(n.) a religious lifestyle of discipline and denial of bodily pleasures for spiritual ends

Simulacrum

(n.) a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture) The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a(n) __________ of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai. (n.) a bad imitation The early days of computer graphics made real people into a(n) __________ that now seems comical.

Reprisal

(n.) 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 ________ for the smallest scratch.

Aphorism

(n.) a short instructive saying about a general truth Nietzsche was known for using ________, sometimes encapsulating a complex philosophical thought in a mere sentence.

Apothegm

(n.) a short, pithy instructive saying Winston Churchill is famous for many _________, 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."

Artifice

(n.) a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of ________s designed to mislead the voting public.

Smattering

(n.) a slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something I know only a __________ of German, but Helen is able to read German newspapers and converse with natives.

Modicum

(n.) a small amount If my sister had even a _______ of sense, she wouldn't be engaged to that barbarian.

Pittance

(n.) 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 _________.

Gaffe

(n.) a socially awkward or tactless act In a famous _____, Vice President Quayle attempted to correct the spelling of a grade school student, only to find that the child was correct.

Solecism

(n.) a socially awkward or tactless act Mother Anna was always on guard against any ________ from her children and scolded them immediately if any of them talked out of place in public.

Caveat

(n.) a warning or caution to prevent a bad result

Epigram

(n.) a witty saying My favorite _______ from Mark Twain is "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way."

Quip

(n.) a witty saying or remark In one of the most famous _____ about classical music, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music is better than it sounds."

Invective

(n.) abusive or denunciatory language The Internet has unleashed the __________ in many of us; many people post stinging criticism on the comments section underneath newspaper articles or YouTube videos.

Ingratiating

(n.) acting in a way intended to win someone's favor. HINT: It's like "ingraining gratitude"

Adversary

(n.) an enemy, opponent

Surfeit

(n.) an excessive amount of something There was no such thing as a(n) _______ of shopping for Nancy--she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time.

Glut

(n.) an excessive supply The Internet offers such a(n) ___ of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first. (v.) supply with an excess of In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes _____ed with resumes.

Subterfuge

(n.) an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something. 口実 Finally deciding to abandon all __________, Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his secret affair over the past two years.

Dispensation

(n.) an exemption from a rule or obligation Since her father is a billionaire, she is given ___________ from many of the school's policies.

Virago

(n.) an ill-tempered or violent woman Poor Billy was the victim of the ______'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.

Racket

(n.) an illegal enterprise (such as extortion or fraud or drug peddling or prostitution) carried on for profit. At its core, the IOC is not a "movement"; it's an operation, a ______.

Powwow

(n.) an informal meeting or discussion Before the team takes the field, the coach always calls for a ______ so that he can make sure all the players are mentally in the right place.

Ingenue

(n.) an innocent, inexperienced, unworldly young woman

Contretemps

(n.) an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence; a mishap. Bill caused a ___________ at the Christmas party by kissing his boss's daughter.

Donnybrook

(n.) an inordinately wild fight or contentious dispute; brawl; free-for-all

Paucity

(n.) an insufficient quantity or number

Antipathy

(n.) an intense feeling of dislike or aversion Maria had an _________ 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.

Sinecure

(n.) an office that involves minimal duties The position of Research Director is a(n) ________: the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor does the person in that position have to answer to anyone.

Pariah

(n.) an outcast The once eminent scientist, upon being found guilty of faking his data, has become a(n) ______ in the research community.

Empiricism

(n.) any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge __________ does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.

Effrontery

(n.) audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to The skateboarders acted with __________, skating through the church grounds and spray-painting signs warning trespassers.

Tyro

(n.) beginner; novice All great writers, athletes, and artists were _____ at one time—unknown, clumsy, and unskilled with much to learn.

Credence

(n.) belief in something He placed no ________ in psychics, claiming that they offered no special powers beyond the ability to make people part with their money.

Rancor

(n.) bitter resentment or ill-will. Trump's excoriating tweets display his ______ for the mainstream media.

Skulduggery

(n.) dishonest actions; cheating; unscrupulous behavior. Think of people digging up skulls to sell!

Schadenfreude

(n.) joy from watching the suffering of others From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in ____________ as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill.

Clemency

(n.) 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 ________.

Raillery

(n.) light teasing The new recruit was not bothered by the ________, finding most of it light-hearted and good-natured.

Constraint

(n.) something that limits or restricts He found pop music a(n) __________ on his ability to learn and preferred to listen to classical musical while studying.

Anodyne

(n.) something that soothes or relieves pain Muzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an _______, but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated . (adj.) inoffensive Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill preferred a far more _______ meal in the mornings.

Exemplar

(n.) something to be imitated Lena's homework is on the wall because it is an ________ of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.

Zeitgeist

(n.) spirit of the times Each decade has its own _________—the 1990's was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable.

Philatelist

(n.) stamp collector

Quandary

(n.) state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options. =dillema, predicament Steve certainly is in a ________: 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.

Virulence

(n.) strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease. Think: Various VIRUses are known for their VIRUlence.

Catalyst

(n.) substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction

Lickspittle

(n.) sycophant

Resignation

(n.) 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 ___________.

Graft

(n.) the acquisition of money in dishonest ways, as in bribing a politician In countries with rampant _____, getting a driver's license can require no more than paying an official.

Pedagogy

(n.) the art or profession of teaching

Contrition

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

Ingenuity

(n.) the power of creative imagination Daedalus was famous for his _________; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.

Clairvoyance

(n.) the power to see things that cannot be perceived by the senses. 超能力

Profusion

(n.) the property of being extremely abundant When Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a __________ of reporters and journalists descended on the town.

Verisimilitude

(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable All bad novels are bad for numerous reasons; all good novels are good for their ______________ of reality, placing the readers in a world that resembles the one they know.

Brio

(n.) the quality of being active, alive, vigorous, good spirit. The doping professional described concocting exotic doping cocktails with the ____ a top bartender brings to mixing a mean mojito.

Variance

(n.) the quality of being different The cynic quipped, "There is not much ________ in politicians; they all seem to lie".

Dote over

(v. phrase) To be excessively fond of

Exonerate

(v.) Clear from blame or accusation; free from a responsibility The document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to _________ him of any charges

Canoodle

(v.) Coax; Persuade or cajole; wheedle

Castigate

(v.) Criticize severely; punish in order to correct Drill sergeants are known to _________ new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down during their first week in training.

Gainsay

(v.) Declare false, deny; oppose There's no __________ing the increasingly anti-Israel tilt of progressive politics.

Debase

(v.) Degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality The Mormon church belives masturbation leads to the ______ment of one's soul.

Foment

(v.) Incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of (bad things) After having his pay cut, Phil spread vicious rumors about his boss, hoping to ______ a general feeling of discontent.

Construe

(v.) Interpret or translate. 解釈&理解 Those books provided me with lots of benefits, although I could not _______ the Chinese words at first.

Demur

(v.) Show reluctance or object, especially for moral reasons. USAGE ALERT: Do not confuse with the adj. demure. Wallace disliked the cold, so he _____ed when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps.

Maintain

(v.) To assert "She _________ her innocence and intends to prove it in court," Friedman said.

Rebuke

(v.) criticize severely or angrily; censure. =lambaste The police chief _______ the two officers whose irresponsible decisions almost led to the deaths of seven innocent by-standers.

Besmirch

(v.) damage the good name and reputation of someone The prince's distasteful choice of words __________ not only his own name, but the reputation of the entire royal family.

Lacerate

(v.) deeply hurt the feelings of; distress The teacher was fired for __________ a student who wrote a poor essay.

Stultify

(v.) deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless As an undergraduate Mark felt __________ by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.

Disenfranchise

(v.) deprive of voting rights The U.S. Constitution ______________ women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.

Elude

(v.) escape understanding Even a basic understanding of physics can _____ most high schools students.

Dither

(v.) to be indecisive

Immure

(v.) to enclose, usually in walls The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are ______ in walls upon walls of products.

Preclude

(v.) to make impossible beforehand, prevent, shut out Oregon's land-use laws - adopted to preserve farm and forest land from urban sprawl - generally ________ rapid, wholesale development of agricultural land.

Mitigate

(v.) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity I can only spend so much time ________ing your disagreements with your wife, and at a certain point, you need to do it on your own.

Unnerve

(v.) to make nervous or upset At one time ________ by math problems, she began avidly "Magoosh-ing", and soon became adept at even combinations and permutations questions.

Remonstrate

(v.) to make objections while pleading The mothers of the kidnapped victims ___________ to the rogue government to release their children, claiming that the detention violated human rights.

Conciliate

(v.) to make peace with His opponents believed his gesture to be ____________, yet as soon as they put down their weapons, he unsheathed a hidden sword.

Burnish

(v.) to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish

Delineate

(v.) to outline. These include democratic governance, free markets, collective security, human rights and the rule of law — commitments that together, Wisner said, __________ the liberal international order.

Vex

(v.) to persistently annoy; irritate; puzzle; confuse For wealth advisers, the fight over the summer home is one of the most common — and ______ — family conflicts.

Wheedle

(v.) to persuade or attempt to persuade by flattery

Extol

(v.) to praise highly

Ferret

(v.) to search for something persistently Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton was able to ______ out the word origin of highly obscure words.

Sequester

(v.) to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody

Redress

(v.) to set right, remedy; THINK: If you burn a RED DRESS, then you will have to do this. (n.) relief from wrong or injury. Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in a row, and was only able to _______ his oversight by surprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti.

Eschew

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

Adumbrate

(v.) to sketch out in a vague way; to foreshadow

Mesmerize

(v.) to spellbind or enthrall The plot and the characters were so well developed that many viewers were __________, unable to move their eyes from the screen for even a single second.

Start

(v.) to suddenly move in a particular direction All alone in the mansion, Henrietta _______ when she heard a sound.

Underwrite

(v.) to support financially The latest symphony broadcast was made possible with ____________ from the Carnegie Endowment.

Coagulate

(v.) to thicken, clot The top layer of the pudding had _______ed into a thick skin.

Pine

(v.) to yearn for Standing forlornly by the window, she _____ for her lost love.

Irredenta

a region that is related ethically/historically to one country, but is politically ruled by another Italy and the Austrian Frontier—The shaded portions on the Austrian frontier represent the provinces of "Italia _________," which Italy would win back.