-
Sacrilege
Violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred
-
Sacrosanct
Regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with
-
Sadism
The tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation on others
-
Sagacious
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement, wise or shrewd
-
Sagacity
The quality of being sagacious
-
Sage
A profoundly wise man
-
Saga
A long, involved story, account, or series of incidents
-
Salacious
Having or conveying undue or indecent interest in sexual matters
-
Salient
Most noticeable or important, prominent and conspicuous
-
Sallow
An unhealthy yellow or pale brown colour
-
Sally
A sudden charge out of a besieged place against the enemy, a sortie
-
Salubrious
Health giving, healthy, pleasant, not run-down
-
Salutary
Producing good effects, beneficial
-
-
Sanatorium
An establishment for the medical treatment of people who are convalescing or have a chronic illness
-
-
Sanctimonious
Making a show of being morally superior to other people
-
Sanction
A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule
-
Sanctity
Ultimate importance and inviolability
-
Sanctuary
Refuge or safety from pursuit, persecution or other danger
-
Sanctum
A private place from which most people are excluded
-
Sangfroid
Composure or coolness shown in danger or under trying circumstances
-
Sanguine
Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation
-
Sanitise
Make something more palatable by removing elements that are likely to be unacceptable or controversial
-
Sarcasm
The use of irony to mock or convey contempt
-
Sardonic
Grimly mocking or cynical
-
Sartorial
Relating to tailoring, clothes or style of dress
-
Sate
Satisfy a desire or appetite to the full
-
Satiate
Satisfied to the full
-
Satire
The use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices
-
Satirise
Deride and criticize by means of satire
-
Saturnalia
An occasion of wild revelry or indulgence
-
Saturnine
Gloomy temperament
-
Saunter
Walk in a slow & relaxed manner
-
-
Savoir faire
The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations
-
Savour
Taste and enjoy it to the full
-
Savvy
Shrewdness and practical knowledge, the ability to make good judgements
-
Scant
Barely sufficient or adequate
-
Scarify
Criticise severely and hurtfully
-
Sceptic
A person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions
-
Schema
A representation of a plan or theory in the form of an outline or model
-
Schematic
Of a diagram or other representation, symbolic and simplified
-
Schism
A split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion and belief
-
Scilicet
That is to say, namely (introducing a word to be supplied or an explanation of an ambiguity)
-
Scintillate
Emit flashes of light, sparkle
-
Scintilla
A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling
-
Scion
A descendant of a notable family
-
Scorn
A feeling and expression of contempt or disdain for someone or something
-
Scoundrel
A dishonest or unscrupulous person, a rogue
-
Scourge
A person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering
-
Screed
A long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious
-
Scribe
A person who copies out documents
-
Scrimp
Be thrifty or parsimonious
-
Scruple
A feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action
-
Scrupulous
Careful, thorough and extremely attentive to details
-
Scrutinise
Examine or inspect closely or thoroughly
-
Scurrilous
Making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation
-
Scurry
Move hurriedly with short quick steps
-
Secede
Withdraw formally from membership of a federal union, an alliance etc
-
Seclude
Keep someone away from other people
-
Secular
Not connected with religious or spiritual matters
-
Sedate
Calm, dignified and unhurried
-
Sedentary
Tending to spend much time seated, somewhat inactive
-
Sedition
Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch
-
Seduce
Entice someone into sexual activity
-
Sedulous
Of a person or action, showing dedication and diligence
-
Seemly
Conforming to accepted notions of propriety or good taste
-
Seer
A person of supposed supernatural insight who sees visions of the future
-
Seethe
Be filled with intense but unexpressed anger
-
Segue
Move without interruption from one piece of music to another
-
Seismic
Of enormous proportions or effect
-
Semantic
Relating to meaning in language or logic
-
Semblance
The outward appearance or apparent form of something
-
Seminal
Strongly influencing later developments
-
Sensational
Causing great public interest and excitement
-
Sententious
Given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner
-
Sentient
Able to perceive or feel things
-
Sentiment
A view or opinion that is held or expressed
-
Sequence
A particular order in which related things follow each other
-
Sequester
Isolate or hide away
-
Serendipity
The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy and beneficial way
-
Serene
Calm, peaceful and untroubled
-
Servile
Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others
-
Servitude
The state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful
-
Sesquipedalian
Characterised by long words
-
Sever
Divide by cutting or slicing
-
Several
Separate or respective
-
Shambles
A state of total disorder
-
Sheepish
Showing or feeling embarrassment from shame or a lack of self-confidence
-
-
Shun
Persistently avoid, ignore or reject
-
Simile
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind eg as brave as lion
-
Similitude
The quality or state of being similar to something
-
Simper
Smile in an affectedly coy or ingratiating way
-
Simplistic
Treating complex issues and problems as if they were much simpler than they really are
-
Simulate
Imitate the appearance or character of
-
Simultaneous
Occurring, operating or done at the same time
-
Sinecure
A position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit
-
Sinuous
Having many curves and turns
-
Skittish
Nervous or excitable, easily scared
-
Skulduggery
Underhand, unscrupulous
-
Skulk
Keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive
-
Skylark
Pass time by playing tricks or practical jokes
-
Slake
Quench or satisfy one's thirst
-
Slander
A false and malicious spoken statement
-
Slapdash
Done too hurriedly and carelessly
-
Slapstick
Comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events
-
Sleight
The use of dexterity or cunning, especially so as to deceive
-
Slipshod
Characterised by a lack of care, thought or organization
-
Sloth
Reluctance to work or make an effort
-
Sloven
A person who is habitually untidy or careless
-
Sluggard
A lazy, sluggish person
-
Smidgen
A small amount of something
-
Smirch
Discredit a person or their reputation
-
Smite
Strike with a firm blow
-
Smitten
Be strongly attracted to someone
-
Sneer
A contemptuous or mocking smile
-
Snide
Derogatory or mocking in an indirect way
-
Snigger
Laugh in a half-suppressed and typically scornful way
-
Snipe
Make a sly or petty verbal attack
-
Snub
Rebuff, ignore or spurn disdainfully
-
Soigne
Dressed very elegantly, well groomed
-
Soiree
An evening party or gathering
-
-
Solace
Comfort or consolation in a time of great distress or sadness
-
Solecism
A grammatical mistake in speech or writing, a breach of good manners
-
Solemn
Formal and dignified
-
Solicit
Ask for or try to obtain something from someone
-
Solicitous
Characterised by or showing interest or concern
-
Solidarity
Unity or agreement of feeling or action
-
Soliloquy
An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself
-
Solitude
The state or situation of being alone
-
Soluble
Able to be solved
-
Sombre
Having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness
-
-
Sonorous
Using imposing language
-
Sophism
A clever but false argument, especially one used deliberately to deceive
-
Sophistry
The use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving
-
Sophisticated
Having, revealing or involving a great deal of worldly experience
-
Soporific
Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep
-
Sordid
Involving dishonourable actions and motives
-
Sotto voce
In a low voice
-
Soupcon
A very small quantity of something
-
Sparse
Thinly dispersed or scattered
-
Spartan
Showing or characterised by austerity or a lack of comfort or luxury
-
Spasmodic
Occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts
-
Spate
A large number of similar things coming in quick succession
-
Spatial
Relating to space
-
Spawn
Produce or generate a large number of
-
Specific
Clearly defined or identified
-
Specious
Superficially plausible, but actually wrong
-
Spectacle
A visually striking performance or display
-
Spectre
Something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence
-
-
Spellbound
Hold the complete attention of someone as though by magic
-
Sphere
An area of activity, interest or expertise, a section of society or an aspect of life distinguished and unified by a particular characteristic
-
Spiel
An elaborate or glib speech or story
-
-
Splendid
Magnificent, very impressive
-
Splendour
Magnificent and splendid appearance
-
Splutter
Make a series of short explosive spitting or choking sounds
-
Spontaneous
Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden impulse or inclination and without premeditation
-
Spoonerism
A verbal error in which a speaker accidentally transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words
-
Sporadic
Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places
-
Spree
A spell or sustained period of unrestrained activity of a particular kind
-
Sprightly
Lively, full of energy
-
Spruce
Neat in dress and appearance
-
Spurious
Not being what it purports to be, false or fake
-
Spurn
Reject with disdain or contempt
-
Squalid
Extremely dirty and unpleasant
-
Squalor
The state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant
-
Squander
Waste something in a reckless and foolish manner
-
Squeamish
Easily made to feel sick or disgusted
-
Stagnant
Having no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell
-
Stalwart
Loyal, reliable and hard-working
-
Stamina
The ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort
-
Startle
Cause to feel sudden shock or alarm
-
Static
Lacking in movement, action or change
-
Statuesque
Of a woman, attractively tall, graceful and dignified
-
Stature
Importance or reputation gained by ability or achievement
-
Staunch
Very loyal and committed in attitude
-
Steadfast
Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering
-
Stealth
Cautious and surreptitious action or movement
-
Stellar
Exceptionally good, outstanding
-
Stentorian
Loud and powerful
-
Stifle
Restrain a reaction or stop oneself acting on an emotion
-
Stigma
A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person
-
Stipulate
Demand or specify a requirement
-
Stolid
Calm, dependable and showing little emotion or animation
-
Stratagem
A plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end
-
Stratify
Form or arrange into strata
-
Stratum
A thin layer within any structure
-
Strenuous
Requiring or using great effort or exertion
-
Stricken
Seriously affected by an undesirable condition or unpleasant feeling
-
Strict
Demanding that rules concerning behaviour are obeyed and observed
-
Stricture
A sternly critical or censorious remark or instruction
-
Strident
Loud and harsh, grating
-
Strife
Angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues
-
Stringent
Strict, precise and exacting
-
Studious
Spending a lot of time studying or reading
-
Stultify
Cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine
-
Stupefy
Make someone unable to think or feel properly
-
Stupendous
Extremely impressive
-
Stupor
A state of near unconsciousness or insensibility
-
Stymie
Prevent or hinder the progress of
-
Suave
Charming, confident and elegant
-
Subcutaneous
Situated or applied under the skin
-
Subdue
Overcome, quieten or bring under the control of a person
-
Subjective
Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes or opinions
-
Subjugate
Bring under domination or control, especially by conquest
-
Sublime
Of very great excellence or beauty
-
Subliminal
Perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it
-
Submissive
Ready to conform to the authority or will of others
-
Subordinate
Lower in rank or position
-
Subservient
Prepared to obey others unquestioningly
-
Subside
Become less intense, violent or severe
-
Subsist
Maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level
-
Substantive
Having a firm basis in reality and so important, meaningful or considerable
-
Subsume
Include or absorb something in something else
-
Subterfuge
Deceit used in order to achieve one's goal
-
Subtle
So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe
-
Subvert
Undermine the power and authority of an established system or institution
-
Successive
Following one another or following others
-
Succinct
Briefly and clearly expressed
-
Succour
Assistance and support in times of hardship and distress
-
Succulent
Tender, juicy and tasty
-
Succumb
Fail to resist pressure, temptation or some other negative force
-
Sufferance
Absence of objection rather than genuine approval
-
Suffice
Be enough or adequate
-
Sufficient
Enough, adequate
-
Suffrage
The right to vote in political elections
-
Sullen
Bad-tempered and sulky
-
Sully
Damage the purity or integrity of
-
Sultry
Hot and humid OR displaying or suggesting a strongly sexual nature
-
Sumptuous
Splendid and expensive-looking
-
-
Superb
Very good, excellent
-
Supercilious
Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others
-
Superficial
Not thorough, deep or complete
-
Superfluous
Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough
-
Superimpose
Place or lay one thing over another
-
Superlative
Of the highest quality or degree
-
Supernumerary
Present in excess of the normal or requisite number
-
Supersede
Take the place of a person or thing previously in authority or use
-
Supervene
Occur as an interruption or change to an existing situation
-
Supplant
Supercede and replace
-
Supple
Bending and moving easily and gracefully
-
Suppress
Forcibly put an end to
-
Supposition
A belief held without proof or certain knowledge, an assumption or hypothesis
-
Suppress
Forcibly put an end to
-
Supra
Used in academic or legal texts to refer to someone or something mentioned above or earlier
-
Supreme
Very great or the greatest
-
Surety
The state of being sure or certain of something
-
Surfeit
An excessive amount of something
-
Surly
Bad tempered and unfriendly
-
Surmise
Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it
-
Surmount
Overcome a difficulty or obstacle
-
Surpass
Exceed, be greater than
-
Surreal
Dream like experiences
-
Surreptitious
Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
-
-
Susceptible
Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing
-
Sustainable
Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
-
Sustenance
Food and drink regarded as a source of strength, nourishment
-
Svelte
Slender and elegant
-
Sybarite
A person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury
-
Sycophant
A person who acts obsequiously towards someone in order to gain advantage
-
Sylph
A slender woman or girl
-
Symmetry
The quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis
-
Symptomatic
Serving as a symptom or sign, especially of something undesirable
-
Symposium
A conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject
-
Synchronise
Cause to occur or operate at the same time or rate
-
Synchronicity
The simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection
-
Synopsis
A brief or condensed statement giving general view of some subject
-
Synoptic
Of or forming a general summary or synopsis
-
Syntax
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language
-
Synthesis
The combination of components or elements to form a connected whole
-
Synthesise
Combine a number of things into a coherent whole
-
Systematise
Arrange according to an organized system, make systemic
-
Systematic
Done or acting according to a fixed plan or system
-
Systemic
Relating to a system
-
Sabbatical
A period of paid leave granted to a worker for study or travel
-
Sanbenito
The stigmatising hood and robe that those accused by the Inquisition were obliged to wear
|
|