abate, verb

to reduce in amount,
degree or severity
abdicate, verb
to renounce or
relinquish a throne
aberrant, adjective
abnormal or deviant
abeyance, noun
suspended action
abject, adjective
utterly hopeless;
humiliating or wretched
ablution, noun
act of cleansing
abscond, verb
depart secretly and
hide
abstemious, adjective
sparing in eating and
drinking; temperate
acquiesce, verb
to comply, give in
acrid, adjective
sharp or biting to the
taste or smell
acrimonious,
adjective
caustic, stinging or
bitter in nature
adjoin, verb
to be close or in
contact with

admonish, verb
to counsel against
something; caution;
warn; reprove
adulterate, verb
to make impure by
adding inferior or
tainted substances
aesthetic, adjective
artistic; dealing with or
capable of appreciating
the beautiful
affable, adjective
friendly, courteous
aggrandize, verb
to increase in power,
influence and
reputation

of or pertaining to
lovers or lovemaking
ambiguous, adjective
unclear or doubtful in
meaning
ambivalence, noun
the state of having
contradictory or
conflicting emotional
attitudes
ameliorate, verb
to make better; to
improve
amity , noun
friendship; peaceful
harmony

aggregate, verb
gather; accumulate

anachronism, noun
something or someone
misplaced in time; an
obsolete or archaic
form

alacrity, adjective
cheerful promptness;
eagerness

anarchy, noun
absence of governing
body; state of disorder

alleviate, verb
relieve

androgynous,
adjective
being both male and
female

altruist, noun
a person unselfishly
concerned for the
welfare of others
amalgamate, verb
combine; unite in one
body
amatory, adjective

anomalous, adjective
abnormal; irregular
antipathy, noun
aversion; dislike
apartheid, noun
any system or caste

that separates people

according to race

or deteriorate; the
wasting away of body
tissue

apathy, adjective
lack of interest or
emotion; uncaring;
indifference

audacious, adjective
daring; bold

appease, verb
pacify or soothe;
relieve

austere, adjective
forbiddingly stern in
appearance; severely
simple and
unornamented

approbation, noun
approval; praise,
consideration
appropriate, adjective
acquire; take
possession of for ones
own use
arduous, adjective
hard; strenuous
artless, adjective
without guile; open and
honest
ascetic, adjective
practicing self-denial;
austere
assiduous, adjective
diligent, persistent,
hardworking
assuage, verb
to make less severe;
ease or lessen (pain);
satisfy (hunger); soothe
(anger)
atrophy, verb
to waste away; wither

autonomous,
adjective
self-governing;
independent
banal, adjective
boring; commonplace;
trite; lacking originality;
clichd; hackneyed
belligerent, adjective
warlike, given to
waging war
bemoan, verb
to express pity for
benevolent, adjective
desiring to do good to
others
benign, adjective
having a kindly
disposition
bilateral, adjective
pertaining to or
affecting two or both
sides
bolster, verb

support; reinforce
bombastic, adjective
pompous in speech and
manner ; using inflated
language
boorish, adjective
rude; insensitive
burnish, verb
make shiny by rubbing;
polish
buttress, verb
support; prop up
capitulate, verb
to surrender
unconditionally or on
stipulated terms
capricious, adjective
unpredictable; fickle;
changing ones mind
quickly and often
castigate, verb
to punish or criticize
harshly
catalyst, noun
agent that increases
the rate of a chemical
action; person or thing
that causes action
caustic, adjective
burning; sarcastically
biting
chicanery, noun
trickery; deception by
means of craft or guile

circuitous, adjective
roundabout, indirect
circumscribe, verb
to draw a line around
circumspect,
adjective
watchful and discreet
coagulate, verb
thicken; congeal; clot
cogent, adjective
convincing and well
reasoned
commensurate,
adjective
corresponding in
extent, degree, etc.;
proportionate
complacent, adjective
self-satisfied,
unconcerned
compliant, adjective
yielding; conforming to
requirements
compunction, noun
a feeling of uneasiness
for doing wrong
concentric, adjective
having a common
center
conciliate, verb
to placate, win over
conciliatory, adjective

reconciling; soothing

recovering from illness

condone, verb
overlook; forgive; give
tacit approval; excuse

converge, verb
approach; tend to
meet; come together

conflagration, noun
a large destructive fire

convoke, verb
to call together

confluence, noun
merging into one

convoluted, adjective
intricate and
complicated

confound, verb
confuse; puzzle
congenital, adjective
existing or as such
from birth

corroborate, verb
to provide supporting
evidence
craven, adjective
cowardly

connoisseur, noun
person competent to
act as a judge of art; a
lover of art

credulous, verb
too trusting; gullible

contention, noun
claim; thesis

cursory, adjective
going rapidly over
something; hasty;
superficial

contentious, adjective
quarrelsome

daunt, verb
intimidate; frighten

contravene, verb
to come into conflict
with

decadent, adjective
decaying; deteriorating

contrite, adjective
feeling regret and
sorrow for ones sins or
offenses; penitent

decorum, adjective
propriety; orderliness
and good taste in
manners

conundrum, noun
riddle; difficult problem

default, verb
failure to act

convalescent,
adjective

deference, noun
respect; courteous

regard for anothers

wishes

two parts (especially

contradictory ones)

deferential, adjective
respectful; to yield
judgment to

diffident, adjective
lacking or marked by a
lack of self-confidence;
shy and timid.

deign, verb
to think fit or in
accordance with ones
dignity

diffuse, verb
to spread widely or
thinly

delude, verb
to mislead the mind of
judgment of, deceive

digression, noun
wandering away from
the subject

denigrate, verb
blacken

dilatory, adjective
inclined to delay or
procrastinate

deride, verb
ridicule; make fun of
derision, noun
contemptuous or
jeering laughter;
ridicule.
derivative, noun
unoriginal; obtained
from another source
desiccate, verb
to dry out thoroughly
desultory, adjective
aimless; haphazard;
digressing at random
deterrent, adjective
something that
discourages; hindrance
dichotomy, noun
split; branching into

dilettante, noun
someone with an
amateurish and
superficial interest in a
topic
dirge, noun
lament with music
disabuse, verb
correct a false
impression; to set right;
to free from error
discerning, adjective
mentally quick and
observant; having
insight
discordant, adjective
not harmonious;
conflicting
discredit, verb

defame; destroy
confidence in;
disbelieve
discrepancy, noun
lack of consistency;
difference
discrete, adjective
separate; unconnected;
consisting of distinct
parts
disingenuous,
adjective
lacking genuine
candor; insincere
disinterested,
adjective
unprejudiced
disjointed, adjective
lacking coherence;
separated at the joints
dismiss, verb
eliminate from
consideration; reject
disparage, verb
belittle
disparate, adjective
fundamentally distinct
or different in kind;
entirely dissimilar
disquiet, noun
a lack of calm or peace
dissemble, verb
disguise; pretend; to
disguise ones real

intentions or character

doctrinal

presumptuousness

disseminate, verb
distribute; spread
widely; scatter (like
seeds)

doleful, adjective
sorrowful, mournful

elicit, verb
draw out by discussion

dormant, adjective
sleeping; lethargic;
latent

elocution, noun
art of clear and
expressive speaking

dour, adjective
sullen, gloomy

embellish, verb
adorn; ornament;
enhance, as a story

dissolution, noun
disintegration;
looseness in morals
dissonance, noun
discord; opposite of
harmony
distend, verb
to expand by
stretching; swell out
distill, verb
purify; refine;
concentrate
diverge, verb
vary; go in different
directions from the
same point
doctrine, noun
a principle or body of
principles presented for
acceptance or belief;
dogma
document, verb
provide written
evidence
dogma, noun
a firmly held opinion,
often a religious belief
dogmatic, adjective
opinionated; arbitrary;

dupe, verb
to deceive; a person
who is easily deceived
duplicity, noun
deceitfulness in speech
or conduct; doubledealing
ebullient, adjective
showing excitement;
overflowing with
enthusiasm
eclectic, adjective
selective; composed of
elements from a
variety of sources
efficacy, noun
effectiveness ; power
to produce desired
effect
effigy, noun
a dummy; a likeness or
image, especially of a
person.
effrontery, noun
impudence; shameless
boldness; sheer nerve;

empathy, noun
the identification with
the feelings or
thoughts of others
empirical, adjective
based on experience
emulate, verb
imitate; rival
endemic, adjective
prevailing among a
specific group of people
or in a specific area or
country
engender, verb
to produce, cause or
bring about
enhance, verb
increase; improve
enigma, noun
a puzzle; a mystery
ephemeral, adjective
short-lived; fleeting
equanimity, noun

calmness of
temperament;
composure

exult, verb
to show or feel
triumphant joy

forestall, verb
prevent by taking
action in advance

equivocate, verb
lie; mislead; attempt to
conceal the truth

facetious, adjective
joking (often
inappropriately);
humorous

fractious, adjective
irritable, peevish

erudite, adjective
learned, scholarly,
bookish
eulogy, noun
expression of praise,
often on the occasion
of someone's death
euphemism, noun
an inoffensive
expression that is
substituted for one that
is considered offensive
exacerbate, verb
worsen; to increase
bitterness or violence
execrable, adjective
abominable
exigency, noun
urgent situation;
pressing needs or
demands; state of
requiring immediate
attention

facilitate, verb
help bring about; make
less difficult
fallacious, adjective
false; misleading
fatuous, adjective
brainless; inane;
foolish, yet smug
fawning, adjective
trying to please by
behaving obsequiously,
flattering, or cringing
fervor, noun
glowing ardor; intensity
of feeling
flag, verb
droop; grow feeble; to
decline in vigor or
strength
fledgling, adjective
inexperienced

exigent, adjective
urgent; requiring
immediate action

flout, verb
reject; mock; show
contempt for

expound, verb
to set forth in detail

foment, verb
to arouse or incite

frugality, noun
thrifty; economy
fusillade, noun
continuous discharge of
firearms or outburst of
criticism
futile, adjective
useless; hopeless;
ineffectual
garrulous, adjective
loquacious; talkative;
wordy
goad, verb
urge on
grandiloquent,
adjective
pompous or inflated in
language; bombastic;
using high-sounding
language
gregarious, adjective
sociable
guile, noun
deceit or trickery
guileless, adjective
without deceit
gullible, adjective
easily deceived

calm; placid
harangue, noun
long, passionate, and
vehement speech
homogeneous,
adjective
of the same kind
hyperbole, noun
exaggeration;
overstatement
hypocritical, adjective
affecting virtues or
qualities one does not
have
idolatry, noun
worship of idols;
excessive admiration
immutable, adjective
unchangeable
impair, verb
injure; hurt
impassive, adjective
without feeling;
imperturbable; showing
or feeling no emotion
impede, verb
hinder; block
impermeable,
adjective
impervious; not
permitting passage
through its substance
imperturbable,
adjective

impervious, adjective
impenetrable;
incapable of being
damaged or distressed
impetuous, adjective
quick to act without
thinking
implacable, adjective
incapable of being
pacified
implicit, adjective
understood but not
stated
implode, verb
burst inward
inadvertently,
adjective
unintentionally; by
oversight; carelessly
incongruity, noun
lack of harmony;
absurdity
inconsequential,
adjective
insignificant;
unimportant
incorporate, verb
introduce something
into a larger whole;
combine; unite
incursion, noun
a hostile entrance into
a place

indeterminate,
adjective
uncertain; not clearly
fixed; indefinite
indigence, noun
poverty
indigent, adjective
experiencing want or
need; impoverished.
indolence, noun
state of being lazy or
slothful
induce, verb
to move or lead by
influence
inert, adjective
inactive; lacking power
to move
infusion, noun
liquid extract so
obtained
inherent, adjective
firmly established by
nature or habit
inimical, adjective
hostile, unfriendly
innocuous, adjective
harmless
insensible, adjective
unconscious;
unresponsive
insidious, adjective

intended to trap or
beguile

uncertain how to act;

weak

insinuate, verb
hint; imply; creep in

itinerary, noun
plan of a trip

insipid, adjective
lacking in interest or
flavor; dull

laconic, adjective
brief and to the point;
using few words

insolent, adjective
boldly rude or
disrespectful

lassitude, noun
languor; weariness

insularity, noun
narrow-mindedness;
isolation
interloper, noun
someone who intrudes
in the domain of others
intractable, adjective
unruly; stubborn;
unyielding
intransigence, noun
refusal of any
compromise;
stubbornness
intransigent,
adjective
refusing to agree or
compromise
inundate, verb
overwhelm; flood;
submerge
irascible, adjective
irritable; easily angered
irresolute, adjective

latent, adjective
potential but
undeveloped; dormant;
hidden
laud, verb
praise
lethargic, adjective
drowsy; dull
levee, noun
earth or stone
embankment to
prevent flooding
levity, noun
lack of seriousness or
steadiness; frivolity
litigate, verb
to make the subject of
a lawsuit
log, noun
record of a voyage or
flight; record of day-today activities
loquacious, adjective
talkative

lucid, adjective
easily understood;
clear; intelligible
luminous, adjective
shining; issuing light
magnanimity, noun
generosity
magnanimous,
adjective
generous in forgiving
an insult or injury
magnate, noun
a powerful or influential
person
maladroit, adjective
clumsy, tactless
malevolent, adjective
characterized by or
expressing bad will
malign, verb
to speak harmful
untruths about, to
slander
malingerer, noun
one who feigns illness
to escape duty
malleable, adjective
capable of being
shaped by pounding;
impressionable
maverick, noun
rebel; nonconformist

maxim, noun
an expression of
general truth or
principle
mendacious, adjective
lying; habitually
dishonest

having a slanting or
sloping direction
obsequious, adjective
overly submissive and
eager to please;
servile; sycophantic

ostentatious,
adjective
showy; pretentious;
trying to attract
attention

obsolescent, adjective
becoming obsolete

panoply , noun
a wide-ranging and
impressive array or
display

obstreperous,
adjective
noisily defiant, unruly

paragon, noun
model of excellence or
perfection

mitigate, verb
to soften, to lessen

obtuse, adjective
not sharp, pointed or
acute

partisan, adjective
one-sided; prejudiced;
committed to a party

mollify, verb
to calm or make less
severe; soothe

obviate, verb
to prevent; make
unnecessary; get rid of

pathological,
adjective
pertaining to disease

morose, adjective
ill-humored; sullen;
melancholy

officious, adjective
meddlesome;
excessively pushy in
offering ones services

paucity, noun
smallness of quantity;
scarcity; scantiness

metamorphosis, noun
change of form
meticulous, adjective
excessively careful;
painstaking; scrupulous

mundane, adjective
worldly as opposed to
spiritual; everyday
nascent, adjective
starting to develop
negate, verb
cancel out; nullify;
deny
obdurate, adjective
stubborn, hardened in
feelings; resistant to
persuasion
oblique, adjective

omnivorous, adjective
eating or absorbing
everything
onerous, adjective
troublesome and
oppressive;
burdensome
opprobrium, noun
public disgrace;
infamy; vilification
oscillate, verb
vibrate; waver

pedantic, adjective
showing off learning;
bookish
penchant, adjective
strong inclination;
liking
penury, noun
severe poverty;
stinginess
perennial, adjective
something long-lasting
perfidious, adjective
treacherous; disloyal;

willing to betray ones

trust

calm; not easily

disturbed

perfunctory, adjective
superficial; not
thorough; lacking
interest, care, or
enthusiasm; done in a
routine way;

piety, noun
devoutness; reverence
for God
placate, verb
pacify; conciliate

precocious, adjective
unusually advanced or
mature in mental
development or talent

peripatetic, adjective
walking or traveling
about; itinerant

plasticity, noun
ability to be molded

precursor, noun
forerunner

platitude, noun
trite remark;
commonplace
statement

predilection, noun
preference, liking

permeable, adjective
penetrable; porous;
allowing liquids or gas
to pass through
pervasive, adjective
spread throughout
petulant, adjective
showing sudden
irritation, esp. over
some annoyance
philanderer, noun
one who carries on
flirtations
philanthropy, noun
charity; a desire or
effort to promote
goodness
philology, noun
the study of literary
texts to establish their
authenticity and
determine their
meaning
phlegmatic, adjective

plethora, noun
excess; overabundance
plummet, verb
fall sharply
porous, adjective
full of pores; like a
sieve
pragmatic, adjective
practical (as opposed
to idealistic);
concerned with the
practical worth or
impact of something
preamble, noun
introductory statement
precarious, adjective
uncertain; risky
precipitate , adjective
adj. rash, premature,
hasty, sudden

preclude, verb
to prevent the
presence of

presentiment,
adjective
a feeling of anticipation
over a future event
presumptuous,
adjective
arrogant; taking
liberties
prevaricate, verb
to lie or deviate from
the truth
pristine, adjective
characteristic of earlier
times; primitive;
unspoiled
probity, noun
honesty; uprightness;
incorruptibility
problematic, adjective
doubtful; unsettled;
questionable;
perplexing

prodigal, adjective
lavish; wasteful;
reckless with money
profound, adjective
deep; not superficial;
complete
prohibitive, adjective
tending to prevent the
purchase or use of
something; inclined to
prevent or forbid
proliferate, verb
grow rapidly; spread;
multiply
propensity, noun
natural inclination
propound, verb
to set forth for
consideration
propriety, noun
correct behavior or
conduct, obedience to
rules and customs
proscribe, verb
to condemn as harmful
or odious; ostracize;
banish; outlaw
protract, verb
to prolong, draw out,
extend
provident, adjective
having or showing
foresight
prudence, noun

wisdom, caution or
restraint
puerile, adjective
childish, immature
pugnacious, verb
to quarrel or fight
readily
punctilious, adjective
strict or exact in the
observance of
formalities
pungent, adjective
stinging; sharp in taste
or smell; caustic
pusillanimous,
adjective
lacking courage or
resolution
qualified, adjective
limited; restricted
querulous, adjective
full of complaints
quibble, noun
minor objection or
complaint
quiescence, noun
n. the condition of
being at rest, still,
inactive
quiescent, adjective
adj. at rest; dormant;
temporarily inactive;
motionless

rarefied, adjective
made less dense (of a
gas)
recalcitrant, adjective
obstinately stubborn;
determined to resist
authority; unruly
recant, verb
disclaim or disavow;
retract a previous
statement; openly
confess error
recluse, noun
hermit; loner
recumbent, adjective
lying down; reclining;
leaning
refute, verb
disprove
rejoinder, verb
to reply, retort
relegate, verb
banish to an inferior
position; delegate;
assign
remonstrate, verb
to say or plead in
protest, objection, or
reproof
reprehensible,
adjective
deserving rebuke or
censure; blameworthy.
reprisals, noun

retaliation against an
enemy
reproach, verb
express disapproval or
disappointment
reprobate, noun
person hardened in sin;
wicked person; devoid
of a sense of decency
repudiate, verb
disown; disavow; to
reject the validity of
resolution, noun
determination
resolve, verb
to make a firm decision
about
reticent, adjective
silent; reserved;
uncommunicative;
inclined to silence
reverent, adjective
respectful; worshipful
sage, noun
person celebrated for
wisdom
salient, adjective
prominent or
conspicuous
salubrious, adjective
conducive or favorable
to health or well-being
sanction, noun

approve; ratify
satiate, verb
satisfy fully
saturate, verb
soak thoroughly
savor, verb
enjoy; have a
distinctive flavor, smell,
or quality
secrete, verb
hide away or cache;
produce and release a
substance
sedition, noun
incitement of
discontent or rebellion
against a government
skeptic, adjective
doubter; person who
suspends judgment
until having examined
evidence supporting a
point of view
sociopath, noun
a person whose
behavior is antisocial
and who lacks a sense
of moral responsibility

specious, adjective
having the ring of truth
or plausibility but
actually fallacious)
spectrum, noun
colored band produced
when a beam of light
passes through a prism
sporadic, adjective
occurring irregularly
stigma, noun
a mark of shame or
discredit
stint , verb
to restrict or limit, as in
amount or number; be
sparing with
stipulate, verb
to lay down as a
condition of an
agreement; require by
contract
stolid, adjective
dull; impassive;
unemotional; lacking
sensitivity
strut, verb
walk pompously wal

solicitous, adjective
worried; concerned

subjugate, verb
to conquer

soporific, adjective
sleep-causing;
lethargy; marked by
sleepiness

subpoena, noun
a writ requiring
appearance in court to
give testimony

subside, verb
settle down; descend;
grow quiet
substantiate, verb
establish by evidence;
verify; support
subterfuge, noun
an artifice or expedient
used to evade a rule
supercilious,
adjective
arrogant, haughty,
condescending

tenacious, adjective
holding fast; holding or
tending to hold
persistently to
something
tirade, noun
extended scolding;
denunciation; harangue
torpor, noun
lethargy; sluggishness;
dormancy
tortuous, adjective
winding; full of curves

supersede, verb
cause to be set aside;
replace; make obsolete

tractable, adjective
docile; easily managed
or controlled

supplicate, verb
to make humble and
earnest entreaty

transcendent,
adjective
going beyond ordinary
limits

supposition, noun
hypothesis; surmise
tacit, adjective
understood; not put
into words
taciturn, adjective
silent, not talkative
tangential, adjective
peripheral; only slightly
connected; digressing
tenable, adjective
capable of being held,
maintained or
defended

transgression, noun
violation of a law; sin
truculence, noun
aggressiveness;
ferocity
vacillate, verb
waver; fluctuate
venerate, verb
revere

wordy
verity, noun
truthfulness
viable, adjective
practical or workable
vicarious, adjective
performed, exercised,
received or suffered in
place of another
vilify, verb
to slander, to defame
viscous, adjective
sticky, gluey
vituperative,
adjective
abusive; scolding
vociferous, adjective
crying out noisily
volatile, adjective
changeable; explosive;
evaporation rapidly
volition, noun
free choice, free will;
act of choosing
voracious, adjective
having a great appetite
warranted, adjective
justified; authorized

veracity, noun
filled with trust and
accuracy

wary, adjective
very cautious

verbose, adjective

whimsical, adjective

capricious; fanciful
zealot, noun
fanatic; person who
shows excessive zeal