attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred images
ideology
system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture
idiom
expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic
idiosyncrasy
individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude
idolatry
worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion; ADJ. idolatrous
idyllic
charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene
idyll(idyl)
short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers
igneous
produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite
ignite
kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to
ignoble
unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
ignominy
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat
illicit
illegal
illimitable
infinite; limitless
illuminate
brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten; enable to understand; Ex. illuminating remarks
illusion
misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion
illusive
deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive
illusory
illusive; deceptive; not real
imbalance
lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion
disproportion
lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate
imbecility
weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool
imbibe
drink in
imbroglio
complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil
imbue
saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
immaculate
spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
tenant
one that pays rent to use property owned by another
tenancy
possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy
imminent
impending; near at hand
immobility
state of being immovable
immolate
offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
immune
resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
immure
imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
immutable
unchangeable
impair
injure; hurt; damage
impale
pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear
drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action
impending
nearing; approaching; about to happen
impenetrable
not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery
impenitent
not repentant
imperative
absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done
imperceptible
unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable
imperial
like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism
imperil
put in danger
imperious
domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor
impermeable
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to permeate
impertinent
insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
imperturbable
unshakably calm; placid
collected
composed; calm; self-possessed
impervious
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism
impetuous
violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision
impetus
moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
impiety
irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety
impinge
infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives.
impious
irreverent
implacable
incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease; Ex. implacable enemy
implausible
unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible alibi
implement
put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument
implicate
incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime
implication
something hinted at or suggested; implying; implicating
implicit
understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; Ex. implicit trust
implode
burst inward; CF. vaccum tube
implore
beg
imply
suggest a meaning not expressed; signify
impolitic
not wise; not expedient; not politic
imponderable
weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound
import
significance; importance; meaning
significant
expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
importunate
urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent
importune
beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)
imposture
assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor
masquerade
wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise
impotent
weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or power
crave
desire; want intensely
imprecation
curse; swearword
impregnable
invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
impregnate
make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
impromptu
without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment
impropriety
improperness; unsuitableness
improvident
thriftless; not providing for the future
improvise
compose on the spur of the moment
imprudent
lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
impudence
impertinence; insolence
impugn
dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight
impuissance
powerlessness; feebleness
impunity
freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
impute
attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation
inadvertently
unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
oversee
watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice or do something; supervision
inalienable
not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights
inane
silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
inanimate
lifeless; not animate
inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
speechless
unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
inaugurate
begin formally; install in office; induct into office by a formal ceremony; N. inauguration; ADJ. inaugural
incandescent
strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle
incantation
singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant
chant
tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant
charm
quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch
bewitch
cast a spell over; captivate completely
recite
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
recital
act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
incapacitate
disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity
incarcerate
imprison
incarnate
endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody
incarnation
act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation
personify
represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
incendiary
arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb
incense
enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor
incentive
spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity
inception
start; beginning
incessant
uninterrupted; unceasing
inchoate
(of desire
incidence
rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant mortality
incidental
not essential; minor; N: something incidental
incident
event; event that causes a crisis
incinerate
burn to ashes
incipient
beginning; in an early stage
incisive
(appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks; V. incise: make a cut into
incite
arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion
inclement
stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement
incline
slope; slant; Ex. steep incline
inclined
tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant; dispose; be disposed; tend
tend
have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend
inclusive
tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive charge
incognito
with identity concealed; using an assumed name; ADJ.
incoherent
unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking cohesion; not coherent
incommodious
not spacious; inconvenient
incompatible
inharmonious; N. incompatibility
incongruity
lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony; inappropriate
attire
clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportant
inconsistency
state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent: displaying a lack of consistency; erratic; contradictory; incompatible
incontinent
lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
incontrovertible
indisputable; impossible to dispute; not open to question; unquestionable
incorporate
introduce something into a larger whole; include; embody; give material form to; ADJ.
incorporeal
without a material body; insubstantial
incorrigible
uncorrectable
incredulity
tendency to disbelief
incredulous
withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
increment
increase
incriminate
accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence against; cause to seem or make guilty of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence
incrustation
hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust
incubate
hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease
inasmuch_as
since; owing to the fact that
incubus
burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus
inculcate
teach (ideas or principles); instill
incumbent
obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person who holds an office
incur
bring upon oneself
incursion
temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey
indefatigable
tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired
indelible
not able to be erased
indemnify
make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured
indentation
notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
indenture
bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified time (as between an apprentice and his master)
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
indicative
suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
indices
signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index
indict
charge; N. indictment
indifferent
unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest in; mediocre; neither good nor bad
indigence
poverty
indigenous
native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
indigent
poor; destitute
indignation
anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant
righteous
morally upright; just
rightful
legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
indignity
treatment or situation that causes shame or loss of dignity
indiscriminate
choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions
indisputable
too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt
indissoluble
permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate
indite
write; compose
indolent
lazy
indomitable
unconquerable; unyielding
indubitable
unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable
induce
persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N. inducement
inductive
pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general
induct
place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
indulge
yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special pleasure; Ex. indulge one's every whim/a child/in a big cigarette; N. indulgence
humor
indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that makes something amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor
industrious
diligent; hard-working; N. industry
inebriated
habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
inebriate
make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
intoxicate
make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win
ineffable
unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy
inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move or act; Ex. chemically inert; N. inertia: state of being inert; force which keeps a thing in the position or state
inevitable
unavoidable
inexorable
relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises
infallible
unerring; never making mistakes
infamous
notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil fame or reputation
infantile
childish; infantlike
infer
deduce; conclude; N. inference
infernal
pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction
infidel
unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
infiltrate
pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator
penetrate
enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand
infinitesimal
very small
infirmity
weakness
inflated
exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)
influx
flowing into
infraction
violation (of a rule or regulation); breach
infringe
violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person)
ingenious
marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity
resourceful
clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource
ingenuous
naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid
wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity
initiate
begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has been initiated
injurious
harmful; causing injury
inkling
hint; slight indication
innate
inborn
innocuous
harmless
innovation
change; something newly introduced; introduction of something new; V. innovate: begin or introduce (something new); be creative; ADJ. innovative
innuendo
indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation; Ex. sexual innuendo
inopportune
untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen
questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person making an inquisition
inquisitive
eager for knowledge; unduly curious
insalubrious
unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place
healthful
conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air
healthy
possessing good health; healthful
wholesome
conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
insatiable
not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite
inscrutable
difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious
insensate
without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
insensible
unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible
insidious
treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot
insightful
discerning; perceptive
insinuate
hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate
creep
move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
artful
exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
insipid
lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character
chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are that it will rain. Ex. at odds with
insurgent
rebellious; N.
insurmountable
overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable
insurrection
rebellion; uprising
intangible
not able to be perceived by touch; vague
integral
complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral part
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unit
integrity
honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided; completeness
upright
(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral
intellect
higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability
intelligentsia
intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily)
inter
bury; N. interment
cemetery
place for burying the dead
interdict
prohibit; forbid; N.
interim
meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place during an interim; Ex. interim paper
interloper
intruder; one who interferes
interminable
endless
intermittent
periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals
internecine
mutually destructive
interpolate
insert between
interregnum
period between two successive reigns or governments
interrogate
question closely; cross-examine; cross-question
intervene
come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to prevent a fight; N. intervention
intimate
hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy
intimidate
frighten; N. intimidation
intractable
unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable problem/child
intransigence
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising
intrepid
fearless
intrinsic
essential; inherent; built-in
introspective
looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination
introvert
one who is introspective or inclined to think more about oneself; ADJ. introverted
intrude
put or force in without being asked; trespass; enter as an uninvited person; Ex. intrude one's own opinion into the report; CF. thrust in
intuition
immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning; ADJ. intuitive; V. intuit: know by intuition
inundate
flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work
overwhelm
(of water) cover completely; defeat completely by much greater force; Ex. overwhelmed by grief
submerge
place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work
engulf
surround and swallow up
inured
accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling
invalidate
weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify
invalid
one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness; ADJ: incapacitated by illness; not valid; null; V: allow to leave (a military force) because of ill-health
invective
abuse
inveigh
denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink
inveigle
deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly
inverse
opposite
invert
turn upside down or inside out; reverse the position or condition of
inveterate
deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old
invidious
designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison
invincible
unconquerable
inviolable
secure from corruption
invocation
prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support; act of invoking
invoke
call and bring into use (a right or law); call on/upon (a higher power or god) for help; ask for; beg for; conjure (a spirit); Ex. invoke the veto power; Ex. invoke one's advisor/God
invulnerable
incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure
iota
very small quantity
irascible
irritable; easily angered
irate
angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath
iridescent
exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence
irksome
annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy
ironic
expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner
irony
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
irreconcilable
impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved
irrefutable
indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable
irrelevant
not applicable; unrelated
irremediable
incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy
irreparable
not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair
irrepressible
unable to be restrained or held back; impossible to hold back