-
Abridge
v. condense or shorten.
-
Abstemious
adj. sparing in eating and drinking; temperate.
-
Abstract
adj. theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational.
-
Abstruse
adj. obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
-
Accessible
adj. easy to approach; obtainable.
-
Acclaim
v. applaud; annouce with great approval.
-
Adulation
n. flattery; admiration.
-
Advocate
v. urge; plead for.
-
Aesthetic
adj. [es-thet-ik] artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful.
-
Affable
adj. easily approachable; warmly friendly.
-
Affirmation
- n.[af-er-mey-shuhn] positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath.
-
-
Aloof
adj. apart; reserved.
-
Altruistic
adj. unselfishly generous; concerned for others. altruism, n.
-
Ambiguous
adj. unclear or doubtful in meeting. ambiguity, n.
-
Ambivalence
n. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes. ambivalent, adj.
-
Analogous
adj.[uh-nal-uh-guhs] comparable; similar in some way.
-
Anarchist
n. person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority. anarchy, n.
-
Anecdote
n.[an-ik-doht] short account of an amusing or interesting event.
-
Animosity
n. active enmity.
-
Antagonism
n.[an-tag-uh-niz-uhm] hostility; active resistance. antagonistic, adj.
-
Antidote
n. medicine to counteract a poison or disease.
-
Antiquated
adj.[an-ti-kwey-tid] old-fashioned; obsolete.
-
Apathy
n. lack of caring; indifference.
-
Appease
v. pacify or soothe; relieve.
-
-
Arbitrary
adj. capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical.
-
Archaic
adj.\r-ˈkā-ik\ antiquated.
-
Arrogance
n. pride; haughtiness.
-
Articulate
adj. effective; distinct.
-
Artisan
n. manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to artist.
-
Ascendancy
n. controlling influence; domination.
-
Ascetic
adj. practicing self-denial; austere.
-
Aspire
v. seek to attain; long for.
-
Astute
adj. wise; shrewd; keen.
-
Attribute (V)
v. ascribe; explain.
-
Augment
v. increase; add to.
-
Austere
adj. forbiddingly stern; severely simple and not ornamented.
-
Authoritarian
adj. subordinating the individual to state; completely dominating another's will.
-
Autonomous
adj. self-governing.
-
Aversion
n. firm dislike.
-
Belie
v. contradict; give false impression.
-
Benevolent
adj. generous; charitable.
-
Bolster
v. support; reinforce.
-
-
-
-
Candor
n. frankness; open honesty. candid, adj.
-
Capricious
adj. unpredictable; fickle; fanciful.
-
Censorious
adj. critical.
-
Censure
v. blame; criticize.
-
Coercion
n. use of force to get someone to obey.
-
-
Conciliatory
adj. reconciling; soothing. conciliate, v.
-
Concise
adj. brief and compact.
-
-
Condone
v. overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse.
-
Conflagration
n. great fire.
-
Confound
v. confuse; puzzle.
-
Constraint
n. compulsion; repression of feelings.
-
Contend
v. struggle; compete; assert earnestly.
-
Contentious
adj. quarrelsome.
-
Contract(V)
v. compress or shrink; make a pledge; catch a disease.
-
Cordial
adj.[kawr-juhl] gracious; heartfelt.
-
Corroborate
v. confirm; support.
-
Credulity
n. belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete. credulous, adj.
-
Criterion
n. standard used in judging.
-
Cryptic
adj. mysterious; hidden; secret.
-
Cursory
adj.[kur-suh-ree] casual; hastily done.
-
Curtail
v. shorten; reduce.
-
Decorum
n. propriety; orderliness and good taste in manner. decorous, adj.
-
Deference
n. courteous regard for another's wish.
-
Degradation
n. humiliation; debasement; degeneration. degrade, v.
-
Delineate
v. portray; depict; sketch. delineation, n.
-
Denounce
v. condemn; criticize. denunciation, n.
-
Deplore
v. regret; disapprove of.
-
Depravity
n. extreme corruption; wickedness.
-
Deprecate
v. express disapproval of; protest against; belittle. deprecatory, adj
-
Deride
v. ridicule; make fun of. derision, n
-
Derivative
adj. unoriginal; derived from another source.
-
Despondent
adj. depressed; gloomy. despondency, n
-
Detached
adj. emotionally removed; calm and objective; physically unconnected.
-
Deterrent
n. something that discourages; hindrance. deter, v.
-
Detrimental
adj. harmful; damaging.
-
Devious
adj. roundabout; erratic; not straightforward.
-
Devise
v. think up; invent; plan.
-
Diffuse
adj. wordy; rambling; spread out(like a gas). diffusion, n.
-
Digression
n. wandering away from the subject. digress, v.
-
Diligence
n. steadiness of effort; persistent hard work.
-
Diminution
n. lessening; reduction in size.
-
Discerning
adj. mentally quick and observant; having insight.
-
Disclose
v. reveal. disclosure, n.
-
Discordant
adj. not harmonious; conflicting.
-
Discount(V)
v. disregard; dismiss.
-
Discrepancy
n. lack of consistency; difference.
-
Discriminating
adj. able to see differences; prejudiced.
-
Disdain
v. view with scorn or contempt.
-
Disinclination
n. unwillingness.
-
-
Disparity
n. difference; condition of inequality.
-
Disputatious
adj. argumentative. disputant, n.
-
Disseminate
v. distribute; spread; scatter.
-
-
Divergent
adj. differing; deviating. divergence, n.
-
Doctrine
n. teaching, in general; particular principle taught.
-
Document(V)
v. provide written evidence.
-
Dogmatic
adj. opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal.
-
Dubious
adj. questionable; filled with doubt.
-
Duplicity
n. double-dealing; hypocrisy.
-
Eclectic
adj.[ih-klek-tik] composed of elements drawn from desperate sources.
-
Egotistical
adj. excessively self-centered; self-important; conceited.
-
Elated
adj.[ih-ley-tid] overjoyed; in high spirits. elation, n.
-
Eloquence
n. expressiveness; persuasive speech. eloquent, adj.
-
Elusive
adj. evasive; baffling; hard to grasp. elude, v.
-
Embellish
v. adorn; ornament.
-
Emulate
v. imitate; rival.
-
Endorse
v. approve; support. endorsement, n.
-
Enhance
v. increase; improve.
-
Enigma
n.[uh-nig-muh] puzzle; mystery. enigmatic, adj.
-
Enmity
n. ill will; hatred.
-
Ephemeral
adj.[ih-fem-er-uhl] short-lived; fleeting.
-
Equivocal
adj. ambiguous; intentionally misleading. equivocate, v.
-
Erroneous
adj. mistaken; wrong.
-
Erudite
adj.[er-yoo-dahyt] learned; scholarly.
-
Esoteric
adj. hard to understand; known only to the chosen few.
-
Eulogy
n.[yoo-luh-jee] expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death.
-
Euphemism
n. mild expression in place of an unpleasant one.
-
Exacerbate
v.[ig-zas-er-beyt] worsen; embitter.
-
Exalt
v. raise in rank or dignity; praise.
-
Execute
v. put into effect; carry out. execution, n.
-
Exemplary
adj. serving as a model; outstanding.
-
Exemplify
v. serve as an example of; embody.
-
Exhaustive
adj. thorough; comprehensive.
-
Exhilarating
adj. invigorating and refreshing; cheering.
-
Exonerate
v. acquit; exculpate.
-
Expedient
adj. suitable; practical; politic. expediency, n.
-
-
Explicit
adj. totally clear; definite; outspoken.
-
Exploit(V)
v. make use of, sometimes unjustly. exploitative, adj.
-
Extol
v. praise; glorify.
-
Extraneous
adj. not essential; superfluous.
-
Facilitate
v. help bring about; make less difficult.
-
Fallacious
adj.[fuh-ley-shuhs] false; misleading. fallacy, n.
-
Fanaticism
n. excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause.
-
Fastidious
adj. difficult to please; squeamish.
-
-
Fervor
n.[fur-ver] glowing ardor. intensity of feeling.
-
Flagrant
adj.[fley-gruhnt] conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous.
-
Frivolous
adj. lacking seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant. frivolity, n.
-
Frugality
n.[froo-gal-i-tee] thrift; economy; prudent in saving; the lack of wastefulness. frugal, adj.
-
Furtive
adj. stealthy; sneaky.
-
Garrulous
adj.[gar-uh-luhs] loquacious[loh-kwey-shuhs]; wordy; talkative. garrulity, n.
-
Glutton
n. someone who eats too much. gluttonous, adj.
-
-
Gratuitous
adj.[gruh-too-i-tuhs] given freely; unwarrented; uncalled for.
-
Gravity
n. seriousness. grave, adj.
-
Gregarious
adj. sociable.
-
Guile
n.[gahyl] deceit; duplicity; wiliness[wahy-lee-nes]; cunning.
-
Gullible
adj. easily deceived.
-
-
Hardy
adj. sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather.
-
Haughtiness
n. pride; arrogance.
-
Hedonist
n.[heed-n-ist] one who belives that pleasure is the sole aim in life.
-
Heresy
n.[her-uh-see] opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion. heretic, n.
-
Hierarchy
n. arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks.
-
Homogeneous
adj.[hoh-muh-jee-nee-uhs] of the same kind. homogenize, v.
-
Hypocritical
adj. pretending to be virtuous; deceiving. hypocrisy, n.
-
Hypothetical
adj. based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed. hypothesis, n.
-
Idiosyncrasy
n.[id-ee-uh-sing-kruh-see] individual trait, usually odd in nature; eccentricity. idiosyncratic, adj.
-
Illusory
adj.[ih-loo-suh-ree] deceptive; not real.
-
Immutable
adj.[ih-myoo-tuh-buhl] unchangeable.
-
-
Impeccable
adj. faultless.
-
Impede
v. hinder; block; delay.
-
Implausible
adj. unlikely; unbelievable.
-
Implement(V)
v. put into effect; supply with tools.
-
Impudence
n.[im-pyuh-duhns] impertinence; insolence.
-
Inadvertent
adv. unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly.
-
Inane
adj. silly; senseless.
-
Incisive
adj.[in-sahy-siv] cutting; sharp.
-
Incite
v. arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exit.
-
Inclusive
adj. tending to include all.
-
Incongruous
adj.[in-kong-groo-uhs] not fitting; absurd. incongruity, n.
-
Inconsequential
adj. insignificant; unimportant.
-
Incorrigible
adj.[in-kawr-i-juh-buhl] not correctable.
-
Indict
v.[in-dahyt] charge. indictment, n.
-
Indifferent
adj. unmoved or unconcerned by; mediocre.
-
Indiscriminate
adj. choosing at random; confused.
-
Induce
v. persuad; bring about. inducement, n.
-
Inert
adj. inactive; lacking power to move.
-
Ingenious
adj.[in-jeen-yuhs] clever; resourceful. ingenuity, n.
-
Inherent
adj.[in-heer-uhnt] firmly established by nature or habit.
-
-
Innocuous
adj.[ih-nok-yoo-uhs] harmless.
-
Innovation
n. change; introduction of something new. innovate, n.
-
Insipid
adj. lacking in flavor; dull.
-
Instigate
v. urge; start; provoke.
-
Insularity
n. narrow-mindedness; isolation. insular, adj.
-
Integrity
n. uprightness; wholeness.
-
Intervene
v. come between.
-
-
-
Inundate
v.[in-uhn-deyt] overwhelm; flood; submerge.
-
Invert
v. turn upside down or inside out.
-
Ironic
adj. resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcome.
-
Lament
v.[luh-ment] grieve; express sorrow. lamentation, n.
-
Laud
v. praise; laudable. laudatory, adj.
-
Lavish(ADJ)
adj. generous; openhanded; extravagant; wasteful. also v.
-
Lethargic
adj. drowsy; dull.
-
Levity
n. lack of seriousness; lightness.
-
Linger
v. loiter or dawdle; continue or persist.
-
Listless
adj. lacking in spirit or energy.
-
-
Malicious
adj. hateful; spiteful.
-
Marred
adj. damaged; disfigured. mar, v.
-
Materialism
n. preoccupation with physical comforts and things.
-
Methodical
adj. systematic.
-
Meticulous
adj. excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous.
-
Miserly
adj.[mahy-zer-lee] stingy; mean.
-
Mitigate
v. appease; moderate.
-
Morose
adj.[muh-rohs] ill-humored; sullen; melancholy.
-
Mundane
adj. worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday.
-
Negate
v. cancel out; nullify; deny.
-
Nonchalance
n.[non-shuh-lahns] indifference; lack of concern; composure.
-
Notoriety
n. disrepute; ill-fame. notorious, adj.
-
Novelty
n.[nov-uhl-tee] something new; newness. novel, adj.
-
Nurture
v. nourish; educate; foster. also n.
-
Obliterate
v. destroy completely.
-
Oblivion
n. obscurity; forgetfulness.
-
Obscure(V)
v. darken; make unclear.
-
Obstinate
adj.[ob-stuh-nit] stubborn; hard to control or treat. obstinacy, n.
-
Ominous
adj. threatening.
-
Opaque
adj.[oh-peyk] dark; not transparent. opacity, n.
-
Opportunist
n. individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances.
-
Optimist
n . person wo looks on the good side.
-
Opulence
n.[op-yuh-luhns] extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance. opulent, adj.
-
Orator
n.[awr-uh-ter] public speaker.
-
Ostentatious
adj.[os-ten-tey-shuhs] showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention. ostentation, n.
-
Pacifist
n. one opposed to force; anti-militarist.
-
Partisan
adj. one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party. also n.
-
Peripheral
adj. marginal; outer. periphery, n.
-
Perpetuate
v. make something last; preserve from extinction.
-
Pervasive
adj. pervading; spread throughout every part. pervade, v.
-
Pessimism
n. belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess.
-
Phenomena
n. observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation.
-
Philanthropist
n. lover of mankind; doer of good.
-
Piety
n.[pahy-i-tee] religious devotion; godliness. pious, adj
-
Placate
v.[pley-keyt] pacify; conciliate.
-
Ponderous
adj. weighty; unwieldy.
-
Pragmatic
adj. practical(as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something.
-
Preclude
v. make impossible; eliminate.
-
Precocious
adj.[pri-koh-shuhs] advanced in development. precocity, n.
-
Predecessor
n. former occupant of a post.
-
Presumptuous
adj.[pri-zuhmp-choo-uhs] overconfident; impertinently bold; taking liberties.
-
Pretentious
adj. ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overly ambitious.
-
Prevalent
adj. widespread; generally accepted.
-
Prodigal
adj.[prod-i-guhl] wasteful; reckless with money. also n.
-
Profane
v. violate; desecrate; treat unworthily. also adj.
-
Profound
adj. deep; not superficial; complete. profundity, n.
-
Profusion
n. overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess.
-
Proliferation
n.[pruh-lif-uh-rey-shuhn] rapid growth; spread; multiplication. proliferate, v.
-
Prolific
adj. abundantly fruitful.
-
Provincial
adj. pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated.
-
-
Prudent
adj. cautious; careful. prudence, n.
-
Qualified
adj. limited; restricted.
-
-
Ramble
v. wander aimlessly(physically or mentally).
-
Rancor
n.[rang-ker] bitterness; hatred.
-
Ratify
v. approve formally; confirm; verify.
-
Rebuttal
n.[ri-buht-l] refutation; response with contrary evidence.
-
Recluse
n.[ri-kloos] hermit; loner. reclusive, adj.
-
Recount
v. narrate or tell; count over again.
-
Rectify
v. set right; correct.
-
Redundant
adj. superfluous; repetitious; excessively wordy.
-
Refute
v. disprove. refutation, n.
-
Relegate
v. banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign.
-
Remorse
n. guilt; self-reproach.
-
Renounce
v.[ri-pyoo-dee-eyt] abandon; disown; repudiate. renunciation, n.
-
Repel
v. drive away; disgust.
-
Reprehensible
adj. deserving blame.
-
Reprimand
v. reprove severely; rebuke.
-
Reprove
v. censure; rebuke.
-
Repudiate
v. disown(reject); disavow.
-
Reserve(N)
n. self-control; formal but distant manner.
-
Resigned
adj. accepting one's fate; unresisting; patiently submissive.
-
Resolution
n. determination; resolve. resolute, adj.
-
Resolve(N)
n. determination; firmness of purpose.
-
Restraint
n. moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction.
-
Reticence
n.[ret-uh-suhns] reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to silence. reticent, adj.
-
Retract
v. withdraw; take back. retraction, n.
-
Reverent
adj.[rev-er-uhnt] respectful; worshipful. revere, v.
-
Rhetorical
adj. pertaining to effective communication; insincere in language.
-
-
Robust
adj. vigorous; strong.
-
Sage
n. person celebrated for wisdom. also, adj.
-
Sanction(V)
v approve; ratify.
-
Satirical
adj.[suh-tir-i-kuhl] mocking.
-
Saturate
v. soak thoroughly.
-
Scanty
adj. meager; insufficient.
-
Scrupulous
adj. conscientious; extremely thorough.
-
Scrutinize
v. examine closely and critically.
-
Seclusion
n. isolation; solitude. seclude, v.
-
Servile
adj. slavish; cringing.
-
Skeptic
n. doubter; person who suspends judgment until the evidence supporting a point of view has been examined.
-
Sluggish
adj. slow; lazy; lethargic.
-
Somber
adj. gloomy; depressing; dark; drab.
-
Sporadic
adj. occurring irregularly.
-
-
Stagnant
adj. motionless; stale; dull. stagnate, v.
-
Static(ADJ)
adj. unchanging; lacking development.
-
Submissive
adj. yielding; timid.
-
Subordinate(ADJ)
adj. occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive.
-
Subside
v. settle down; descend; grow quiet.
-
Substantiate
v. establish by evidence; verify; support.
-
Succinct
adj[suhk-singkt] brief; terse; compact.
-
Superficial
adj. trivial; shallow.
-
Superfluous
adj. unnecessary; excessive; overabundant.
-
-
Surreptitious
adj.[sur-uhp-tish-uhs] secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden.
-
Susceptible
adj. impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease; receptive to.
-
Sustain
v. experienced; support; nourish.
-
Sycophant
n.[sik-uh-fuhnt] servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man. sycophancy, n.
-
Taciturn
adj.[tas-i-turn] habitually silent; talking little.
-
Temper(V)
v. moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen(steel).
-
Tentative
adj.[ten-tuh-tiv] hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or positive.
-
Terse
adj. concise; abrupt; pithy.
-
Thrive
v. prosper; flourish.
-
Tranquillity
n. calmness; peace.
-
Transient
adj.[tran-shuhnt] momentary; temporary; staying for a short time. transience, n.
-
Trite
adj. hackneyed; commonplace.
-
Turbulence
n. state of violent agitation.
-
Turmoil
n. great commotion and confusion.
-
Undermine
v. weaken; sap;
-
Uniformity
n. sameness; monotony.
-
Unwarranted
adj. unjustified; groundless; undeserved.
-
Usurp
v. seizing another's power or rank.
-
Vacillate
v.[vas-uh-leyt] waver; fluctuate.
-
Venerate
v.[ven-uh-reyt] revere.
-
-
Vigor
n. active strength.
-
-
Vindicate
v. clear from blame; exonerate; justify or support.
-
Virtuoso
n.[vur-choo-oh-soh] highly skilled artist. virtuosity, n.
-
Volatile
adj.[vol-uh-tl] changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly.
-
Whimsical
adj. capricious; fanciful. whimsy, n.
-
Zealot
n. fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal.
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